Redd Kross: Researching The Blues [Album Review]
Redd Kross Researching The Blues Merge Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Redd Kross know power pop and bring it full force on their first album … Read more
Buffalo Killers: Dig. Sow. Love. Grow. [Album Review]
Buffalo KillersDig. Sow. Love. Grow.Alive Natural Sound Records [2012] Right from the opening heavy blues rock of the first track, “Get It,” it’s clear that … Read more
Dirty Projectors: Swing Lo Magellan [Album Review]
Dirty Projectors Swing Lo Magellan Domino Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Dirty Projectors give us a beautiful summertime headphone record! Album Review: Is it possible … Read more
The Gaslight Anthem: Handwritten [Album Review]
The Gaslight AnthemHandwrittenMercury Records [2012] Longevity is what every band dreams of from the very first day they place an ad in the paper to … Read more
Twin Shadow: Confess [Album Review]
Twin Shadow Confess 4AD Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Twin Shadow explores the darker side of pop music with his second lp, Confess. Album Review: … Read more
King Tuff: King Tuff [Album Review]
King Tuff King Tuff Sub Pop Records [2012] Fire Note Says: King Tuff expands their rock n roll resume on the solid self-titled sophomore record. … Read more
Best Coast: The Only Place [Album Review]
Best Coast The Only Place Mexican Summer Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Best Coast shakes the lo-fi and puts a spotlight on Bethany Cosentino’s vocals … Read more
Beach House: Bloom [Album Review]
Beach House Bloom Sub Pop Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Bloom is another solid collection of indie dream pop from Baltimore’s Beach House! Album Review: … Read more
Father John Misty: Fear Fun [Album Review]
Father John Misty Fear Fun Sub Pop Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Josh Tillman follows up his exit with the Fleet Foxes with his excellent … Read more
Allo Darlin’: Europe [Album Review]
Allo Darlin’ Europe Slumberland Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Allo Darlin’ pour on the mature indie pop with their sophomore record Europe! Album Review: Allo … Read more
Chromatics: Kill For Love [Album Review]
Chromatics Kill For Love Italians Do It Better [2012] Fire Note Says: Another synth driven record that works! Album Review: Right from the opening cover … Read more
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
The Black Keys: El Camino [Album Review]
The Black Keys El Camino Nonesuch Records [2011] Album Review: El Camino is the seventh studio album from Akron duo The Black Keys, and it’s … 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] Emerging from the same lo-fi Dayton scene that produced Guided By … 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
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings: I Learned The Hard Way [Album Review]
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings I Learned The Hard Way Daptone Records [2010] Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings never felt like a retro novelty, and … 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