Heartless Bastards: Arrow [Album Review]
Heartless Bastards Arrow Partisan Records [2012] Fire Note Says: The Heartless Bastards once again shine bright with their pulsing rock record Arrow! Album Review: Erika … Read more
Sharon Van Etten: Tramp [Album Review]
Sharon Van Etten Tramp Jagjaguwar Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Sharon Van Etten will win you over quickly on her new long player Tramp! Album … Read more
Nada Surf: The Stars Are Indifferent To Astronomy [Album Review]
Nada Surf The Stars Are Indifferent To Astronomy Barsuk Records [2012] Fire Note Says: A big sprawling return of an album from Nada Surf that … Read more
Motel Beds: Tango Boys [Album Review]
Motel Beds Tango Boys No More Fake Labels [2011] Fire Note Says: The Dayton, Ohio music scene is alive and well with the Motel Beds … Read more
Manchester Orchestra: Simple Math [Album Review]
Manchester Orchestra Simple Math Columbia Records [2011] Fire Note Says: Manchester Orchestra shines on the epic rock album Simple Math! Album Review: Concept albums always … Read more
Swearing At Motorists: Postcards From A Drinking Town (Collected Singles From ’96-’02) [Album Review]
Swearing At MotoristsPostcards From A Drinking Town (Collected Singles From ’96-’02) Secretly Canadian [2011] Rising out of the same lo-fi scene as their hometown friends … Read more
Leeroy Stagger: Little Victories [Album Review]
Leeroy StaggerLittle VictoriesRebeltone Records [2011] Want to discover a singer/songwriter that absolutely won’t let your Americana ear down? Then look no more and check out … Read more
The Decemberists: The King Is Dead [Album Review]
The DecemberistsThe King Is DeadCapitol Records [2011] After The Decemberists’ last two cerebral concept full-lengths, the band takes a leisurely breath of fresh air and … Read more
Richard Thompson: Dream Attic [Album Review]
Richard Thompson Dream Attic Shout! Factory Records [2010] Fire Note Says: Dream Attic highlights why Richard Thompson just recently received the Les Paul Award at … Read more
The Gaslight Anthem: American Slang [Album Review]
The Gaslight AnthemAmerican SlangSideOneDummy Records [2010] The critical acclaim showered upon The ’59 Sound (2008) certainly set a high bar for The Gaslight Anthem, putting … Read more
Teenage Fanclub: Shadows [Album Review]
Teenage FanclubShadowsMerge Records [2010] It’s hard to believe that it has been 20 years since Teenage Fanclub launched their debut record, A Catholic Education in … Read more
The Hold Steady: Heaven Is Whenever [Album Review]
The Hold SteadyHeaven Is WheneverVagrant Records [2010] The Hold Steady make albums not singles. Their work takes time to absorb, multiple listens to like and … Read more
Beach House: Teen Dream [Album Review]
Beach HouseTeen DreamSub Pop Records [2010] Teen Dream is the third album from duo Alex Scally and Victoria Legrand, aka Beach House, which represents a new … Read more
Spoon: Transference [Album Review]
SpoonTransferenceMerge Records [2010] Sometimes simple is good and when you are on your seventh full length like Spoon, reverting back to your strengths is never … Read more
Real Estate: Reality EP [Album Review]
Real EstateReality EPMexican Summer [2010] We’ve thoroughly enjoyed getting to know this band better, so we were excited to check out this EP of new … Read more
Monsters Of Folk: Monsters Of Folk [Album Review]
Monsters Of Folk Monsters Of Folk Shangri-La Music [2009] Fire Note Says: The rebirth of the “Supergroup” Album Review: It seems in our current age … Read more
Wussy: Wussy [Album Review]
WussyWussyShake It Records [2009] Wussy are one of Cincinnati’s best-kept secrets, and they have just released their self-titled third album, Wussy, which continues the group’s … Read more
Marked Men: Ghosts [Album Review]
Marked Men Ghosts Dirtnap Records [2009] Album Review: No one will ever convince me that pop punk rock is dead and Denton, Texas band, Marked … Read more
Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit: Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit [Album Review]
Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit Jason Isbell And The 400 UnitLightning Rod Records [2009] For his sophomore solo record, Jason Isbell wants to emphasize … Read more
A Shoreline Dream: Recollections Of Memory [Album Review]
A Shoreline DreamRecollections Of MemoryLatenight Weeknight Records [2009] Denver’s beloved shoegazers, A Shoreline Dream make a soundscaping return on their sophomore full length that is … Read more
James Jackson Toth: Waiting In Vain [Album Review]
James Jackson Toth Waiting In Vain Rykodisc Records [2008] Fire Note Says: Toth sheds Wooden Wand name and plays it straight up for excellent solo … Read more
Be Your Own Pet: Get Awkward [Album Review]
Be Your Own PetGet AwkwardUniversal Records [2008] Be Your Own Pet might seem like your typical young and snotty punk rock aspirants, but after giving … Read more
Wussy: Left For Dead [Album Review]
Wussy Left For DeadShake It Records [2007] Wussy is a four-piece indie rock band from Cincinnati that alternates between male and female vocals, enhanced by … Read more
Swearing At Motorists: Exile On Gipsstrasse [Album Review]
Swearing At MotoristsExile On GipsstrasseSecretly Canadian [2006] Recorded in a Berlin Ubahnhof (an underground train station), Exile On Gipsstrasse captures Swearing At Motorists at their … Read more
Beach House: Beach House [Album Review]
Beach HouseBeach HouseCarpark Records [2006] Baltimore’s Beach House is in a league of their own when it comes to current modern music. There are not … Read more