DIIV: Oshin

DIIV
Oshin
Captured Tracks Records [2012]









Fire Note Says: The debut from DIIV will be one of the best releases you hear in 2012!

Album Review:
Which came first? The music or the lyrics? When it comes to the new band from Beach Fossils touring guitarist Zachary Cole Smith called DIIV it might be a question you have as you are mesmerized by their debut Oshin and find that the two components are so well blended into one unit here that you may just never have an answer.

The above conundrum of course is the beauty and grace of Oshin as each song has an effortless flow of focused and intense guitar work that in a split second is pushed to the next level with its integrated lyrics that ever so slightly hover above the instruments. With that being the case you might think that the lyrics are only a complement to the music but when you peel back the layers you quickly find out that the lyrics are just as intense as the quick stand out guitar strumming that takes place. On the song "Oshin (Subsume)" you get the lyric line "salt makes blood, red with clay, black with mud, fuck the world, alien love" which is all in a neat controlled one beat rhythm that just has the guitar treading along with the line.  The ever so pleasant closer "Home" states one line over and over which is "you'll never have a home until you go home". The catchy "How Long Have You Known?" also just gives you the one repeated statement of "how long have you known, how long has it shown, forever if ever". 

This is the simplistic magic of DIIV as they truly don't try to win you over with crazy deep lyrics but still can make you think while their musical structure becomes addictive. Oshin is a record that you might hear once and sort of shrug your shoulders but another spin gets you moving along with its rhythm, a third listen brings the lyrics forward and by the fourth play the stars align and Oshin's  40 minutes represents everything good about indie rock, dream-pop, shoegaze, classic alternative, and tight song structures. DIIV have not only released a debut to remember in Oshin but also one of the best records this year!

Key Tracks: "Past Lives", "Air Conditioning", "How Long Have You Known", "Doused"

Bands With Similar Fire:
Real Estate
The Cure
The Drums

DIIV Facebook
Captured Tracks Records

-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony

Left Lane Cruiser & James Leg: Painkillers

Left Lane Cruiser & James Leg
Painkillers
Alive Natural Sound Records [2012]









Fire Note Says: Left Lane Cruiser and James Leg team up to give you blues with an attitude on their new covers record Painkillers.

Album Review:
What do you get when you combine the punk blues duo Left Lane Cruiser with a keyboardist/howler from the Black Diamond Heavies named James Leg? Any idea? Did I mention that their collaboration Painkillers is a covers record? I didn't? Did I mention Painkillers also includes Jim Diamond (The Dirtbombs) on bass and 66 year old bluesman Harmonic Shah on harmonica? Any guesses yet? No? What if you knew that Painkillers has tracks from Jr Kimbrough, Jimi Hendrix, John Lee Hooker, Robert Johnson, Taj Mahal, The Rolling Stones and even Led Zeppelin?

Alright enough with the questions because from the information above I am sure that most music addicts will come to the conclusion that Left Lane Cruiser & James Leg have released one bad ass dirty blues covers record that is gritty, tight and a fun ride right up to the last lick. The songs take a life of their own on Painkillers as the in your face rock out of Taj Mahal's "Chevrolet" is a true winner and the almost unrecognizable "When The Levee Breaks" will have you hitting repeat to hear their interpretation again. The crazy sick harmonica playing by 66 year old Harmonic Shah is nuts on the Willie Dixon classic "Red Rooster" which is an album highlight.

Not all the tracks here shine as bright as the listed ones above on Painkillers but this is a record that does nothing but honor the artists LLC and James Leg tackle here which is what you want from a solid covers album. Fans of all the members included in the collaboration will enjoy this 35 minute record and honestly it is one of those albums that you play which always creates conversation. From that perspective Painkillers is a winner and I would love to see this collective put something else out because it has the potential to be stellar!

Key Tracks: "Red Rooster", "Chevrolet", "Come To Poppa"

Bands With Similar Fire:
Tom Waits
The Black Keys
Radio Moscow

Left Lane Cruiser Facebook
Alive Natural Sound Records

-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony

Ty Segall Band: Slaughterhouse

Ty Segall Band
Slaughterhouse
In The Red Records [2012]

  
 Fire Note Says: The new Ty Segall lp confirms that he is indeed the new king of garage rock!

Album Review:

Ty Segall’s last two solo lps, Melted and Goodbye Bread were the sound of a young man laying claim to the unfortunately vacated throne of garage rock king (vacated by the sad, untimely demise of Jay Reatard). Those two records were full of melody, grunge, Lennonisms and grit. His singles 2007-2010 collection on Goner Records, also confirmed he was a master in the art of the 45. His first lp this year, the excellent collaboration with psych garage folkster White Fence, was the confident sound of a man who had ascended to the peak of the Mt Everest of his genre, firing on all cylinders and at the absolute top of his game. What’s next for Ty Segall? What can we expect Slaughterhouse to sound like? The answer is simple, this album has everything these other album have and more. It’s the sound of a band begging you to try and knock them out of that top spot. You simply can’t do it, they are that good.

Slaughterhouse, his first album with his touring band which includes Mikhal Cronin (who put out an excellent lp himself last year) is everything you would expect…and more. It’s loud, it’s got melody, it sounds like it was recorded live, and most importantly it’s FUN! The fact that there is an actual band in the studio with Ty this time gives the album a more cohesive feel. They play off of each other, and the joy inherent in that is completely audible to the listener.

“Wave Goodbye”, “Muscle Man” and “Tell Me What’s Inside Your Heart" are just 3 of the highlights on this lp. All rock loud fast and hard, with melody to spare. The only questionable moment is the last track, “Fuzz War”. It’s nearly 11 minutes of excess noise that ends an otherwise tight album. It’s not bad; it’s just questionable if it’s necessary. It doesn’t deter from the fun at all, it’s more of a head scratcher than anything else. I highly recommend Slaughterhouse, as well as some of the other records listed above. Newbies to Ty Segall might be better served by Goodbye Bread or Singles 2007-2010, but otherwise, take a chance, it’s worth it! Ty Segall is on a roll right now, I’m excited to see where he goes next!

Key Tracks: “Wave Goodbye”, “Diddy Wah Diddy”, “Tell Me What’s Inside Your Heart”

Bands With Similar Fire:

Jay Reatard 

Reigning Sound

Black Lips

Ty Segall: Goodbye Bread [Fire Note Review 1/4/12]

Ty Segall Band Website

In The Red Records

-Reviewed by Kevin Poindexter

Pomegranates: Heaven

Pomegranates
Heaven
Modern Outsider Records [2012]









 Fire Note Says: Fourth lp from Cincy band Pomegranates showcases their growth, risk and confidence in their current style of indie dream-pop.

Album Review:
Heaven marks the fourth studio long player from Cincinnati band Pomegranates and it represents some of their most adventurous work to date. Right from the opening title track the band shifts its dream art-pop style into high gear with the strumming guitar in the background, some reverb and a floating vocal that sits just above the music. The group once again splits vocal duties between Joey Cook and Isaac Karns which gives the album some diversity just based on the guys much different pitch.

The tempos on Heaven really give the record its tone as Pomegranates quickly shift them throughout the album as "Pass Away" is a flowing dance-pop song while the upbeat and feverish "Sisters" whooshes by your ears and keeps your feet tapping. One of the album highlights comes on the much slower ballad like track "Something Everybody Wants" that is a free floating ambient number which is entrancing, peaceful and completed with a very Flaming Lips type vocal delivery. Another stand out here on Heaven is "Night Run" which finds the catchy layered multi-vocals playing back n forth while an increased foot tapping beat grabs your attention immediately The song then crescendos into a much louder rock piece before settling back down only to rev up again in its very last minute making its complex song structure shine bright as it is the perfect top notch example of what the Pomegranates can achieve.

The album was co-produced by the band and Miguel Urbiztondo (Cracker, Sparklehorse, Daniel Johnston) which gives it its sonic superiority. I don't feel that it surpasses the bands excellent 2010 release One Of Us but has many top moments and a track that rivals that records best work. Heaven takes several listens to finally get into as some of the higher falsettos take some adjusting to but once you are hooked on this record it is very hard to shake. Heaven is an album that gets better with every spin and feels like a band hitting their stride while still having so much more to offer. The good news is that I don't think the Pomegranates are going anywhere and with just a small amount of tweaking this is one band that has even better things still out in front of them!

Key Tracks: "Night Run", "Something Everybody Wants", "Heaven"

Bands With Similar Fire:
Bear In Heaven
Joy Division
DIIV

Pomegranates: One Of Us [Fire Note Review 10/25/10] [#25 Top 50 of 2010]
Pomegranates: Everybody, Come Outside! [Fire Note Review 4/7/09]

Pomegranates Website
Pomegranates Facebook
Modern Outsider Records

-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony

Langhorne Slim & The Law: The Way We Move

Langhorne Slim & The Law
The Way We Move
Ramseur Records [2012]









Fire Note Says: Langhorne Slim returns after 3 years with The Law and a fourth record that is solid and sincere right down to the last track!

Album Review:
Not that I am complaining but sometimes I get a bit overwhelmed with the new music that flows through the doors and everything starts to just get stale. That is when a record like The Way We Move from Langhorne Slim & The Law completely draws me in and puts me back in focus.

The Way We Move is Langhorne Slim's fourth LP and first to feature his band "The Law" in the moniker which is a no frills straight ahead rootsy folk-rock-Americana record that has plenty of upbeat live energy and loosely tells a story of a relationship going south. The fact that in the background here Langhorne Slim rolls through the emotions that everyone can identify with like surprise, then denial and finally the path of moving on truly engages the listener and makes the connection for album staying power.

Of course over The Way We Move's 41 minutes Langhorne Slim offers much more than the story here with his slightly weathered vocal as the title track kicks the record off with its saloon type rocker style that sways with stressed voice versus and rolls on with piano. The pick me up next track "Bad Luck" lays down the chorus "bad luck got in me but I will survive" which sets the tone on the album that even when things feel awful there is still a way out. Other tracks that help The Way We Move succeed are songs like the bluesy "Fire" with its memorable groove and the touching "Song For Sid" which is dedicated to his late grandfather as he asks several times "where do the great ones go when they're gone?"

From the fun 2 minute romp of "Two Crooked Hearts" to the emotional outpouring in "On The Attack" Langhorne Slim puts his all into The Way We Move. The Law definitely deserve billing here as the band is spot on in every track and give the album a true depth that sounds confident and focused. This is a record that just sounds great in just about every setting and even though it is completely removed from any gimmicks or tricky transitions it is one record that stands tall for doing it old school by supplying great written songs, emotional vocals and plenty of memorable rock moments that will keep you coming back to Langhorne Slim & The Law well after the record ends!

Key Tracks: "The Way We Move", "Fire", "Two Crooked Hearts", "Song For Sid"

Bands With Similar Fire:
Good Old War
The Gaslight Anthem
The Avett Brothers

Langhorne Slim: Be Set Free [Fire Note Review 10/22/09]
Langhorne Slim: Langhorne Slim [Fire Note Review 5/14/08]

Langhorne Slim Website
Langhorne Slim Facebook
Ramseur Records

-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony

Walk The Moon: Walk The Moon

Walk The Moon
Walk The Moon
RCA Records [2012]









Fire Note Says: Walk The Moon deliver a pop rock album that you would expect from the catchy first single "Anna Sun".

Album Review:
Cincinnati band Walk The Moon have been riding high on the catchy "Anna Sun" single for some time now and the songs energy and instant pop gratification really increased my anticipation for their self-titled sophomore album. The Anna Sun EP released in February gave some indication of what to expect and the self-titled album delivers in the categories of fun, brisk and pop rock.

The key about "getting" Walk The Moon is how deep you want to take them. I think when you have the women driven songs like "Lisa Baby", "Next In Line" and "Jenny" it shows the groups youthfulness but probably will lose some indie kids and older fans from sticking around. The plus side of these tracks is that Walk The Moon are very good at blending pulsing synths and quick guitar bursts. This is what Walk The Moon thrives on throughout this album and when you combine it with poppy hooks and adrenalized choruses it makes for a bright record.

I don't think anyone will proclaim that Walk The Moon has released the best album of the year and probably not even in the top 50 but I could easily vote for "Anna Sun" as one of the catchiest tracks and think from a very lighthearted perspective Walk The Moon succeeds. Sure I think some of the lyrics here lack depth but when you can make a song like the closing "I Can Lift A Car" the positive feeling force that it becomes, Walk The Moon don't pretend to be anything they are not and I can respect that and honestly it is the same bright quality here that brings me right back to certain tracks on the record to hear again.

Key Tracks: "Anna Sun", "Quesadilla", "I Can Lift A Car"

Bands With Similar Fire:
Semisonic
The Killers
Passion Pit

Walk The Moon: Anna Sun EP [Fire Note Review 2/24/12]

Walk The Moon Website
Walk The Moon Facebook
RCA Records

-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony

A Place To Bury Strangers: Worship

A Place To Bury Strangers
Worship
Dead Oceans [2012]









 Fire Note Says: Worship just scrapes the surface of what A Place To Bury Strangers are capable of releasing!

Album Review:
I can guarantee that you will not find many albums out there today that sound like Worship, the new long player from Brooklyn's A Place To Bury Strangers. Following their sonically destructive EP back in February, Worship finds the band still expanding their sound with continuing walls of hazy fuzz and thumping bass lines which at times will make your speakers shimmy.

All of Worship has this in your face quality about it that can both be sinister and refreshing all in the same line. Right from the opening pound of the drum machine on first track "Alone" you just know that APTBS is setting the stage as this track is a quick 2:29 but rolls over you like a long wave of sound that fills any space that you are in.

These loud tracks take their place on Worship but where the band really shines are on songs like the building "You Are The One" which has a dark vibe right from the beginning as vocalist Oliver Ackermann increases his intensity right with the songs increasing pace. The track then completely spirals out of control with merging sounds that really sound like a poltergeist in a car crash! Trust me it is a cool sound. On another building, almost ballad type song called "Dissolved", there is a floating shoegaze type of intro that teeter totters in and out with the vocals until it hits a little past midpoint when it completely shifts gears into this upbeat new wave type of strumming guitar with matching vocals that is almost out of the Cure playbook. This track is totally surprising and a bright spot for APTBS showing that they are not a one trick show.

Stylistic moments show up throughout Worship and give the record its uniqueness but I would have liked to have had even more of these quick shifting transitions. There is still plenty of walls of sound that will blow your head off if turned up loud and for fans that is also a good thing but Worship suffers a little compared to their EP as its 45 minute running time may be too much without enough diversity in the music that the band seems to be shifting towards. If Worship is more of a transition record then I would say watch out for what A Place To Bury Strangers do next because they are onto something here and even though the album should please fans, as it brings the noise, the bands new found blending of classic new wave just possibly could blow everyone away next time we hear from them!

Key Tracks: "You Are The One", "Dissolved", "And I'm Up"

Bands With Similar Fire:
Ministry
Type O Negative
The Cure

A Place To Bury Strangers: Onwards To The Wall [EP] [Fire Note Review 2/6/12]
A Place To Bury Strangers: Exploding Head [Fire Note Review 10/2/09]

A Place To Bury Strangers Website
A Place To Bury Strangers Facebook
Dead Oceans

-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony

Sloan: Australia 1999

Sloan
Australia 1999
Murderecords [2012]









Fire Note Says: Second release in Sloan's bootleg series will be another fan favorite type of listen.

Album Review:
Australia 1999 is the second release in Sloan's bootleg series as this show was recorded live off the soundboard at Goldman's in Sydney, Australia October 23, 1999. The track list is heavy highlighting songs off Between The Bridges [1999] as its release date was September 12 of that year and finds 7 of the 10 tracks here on the vinyl coming from that record. Fans of course won't care about that as the recording is clean and a solid representation of what the band typically offers on stage.

The bootleg series will probably not attract too many people outside of Sloan's fanbase but it wasn't really released with any other people in mind. With that said, Australia 1999 is a solid almost 40 minute show as it captures all of the typical live Sloan energy. Songs like "Take Good Care Of The Poor Boy" and "Losing California" especially rock on a bit harder compared to their studio versions which I think is always the case for Sloan's live show. A seven plus minute "Sensory Deprivation" is also included here that shows off the bands guitar skills and probably will surprise even fans with this more gritty version shredding up the end of Side A!

Overall Australia 1999 is not an essential listen but if you can get your hands on one of the limited vinyl it is definitely worth checking out. The digital version of the release also adds 4 bonus tracks from the beginning of the concert which is a fine listen and adds another 16 minutes to its total time. This is the type of release which is a nice treat for fans as live Sloan always finds the band in their element and Australia 1999 is no different!

*For the collectors out there make sure to seek out the limited hand-numbered translucent pacific blue vinyl release of this recording as there were only 500 pressed which sold out quickly!

Key Tracks: "Losing California", "Take Good Of The Poor Boy", "Sensory Deprivation"

Bands With Similar Fire:
Zumpano
The Guess Who
The Odds

Sloan: Is That All I Get? [Fire Note Review 11/29/11]
Sloan: The Double Cross [Fire Note Review 5/5/11]
Sloan: B Sides Win: Extras, Bonus Tracks And B-Sides 1992-2008 [Fire Note Review 10/20/10]
Sloan: Hit & Run [EP] [Fire Note Review 12/9/09]
Sloan: Parallel Play [Fire Note Review 6/9/08]
Sloan: Never Hear The End Of It [Fire Note Review 12/22/06]

Sloan Website
Sloan Facebook

-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony

Beachwood Sparks: Tarnished Gold

Beachwood Sparks
Tarnished Gold
Sub Pop Records [2012]









Fire Note Says: Beachwood Sparks return with a warm and timeless sound that after an 11 year break is truly welcomed!

Album Review:
11 years is ages ago in the music scene but that is how long it has been since we have heard from the Beachwood Sparks. Tarnished Gold represents the groups third long player and once again offers up their timeless late '60s and early '70s rich layered harmonies and laid back breezy vibes. On their earlier records the band played an Americana style that was blended in with more trippier moments that drove their indie stock up. What you find on Tarnished Gold is the reunited band much more grounded with their presentation but the quality is maintained here at a high level.

Even though each song on Tarnished Gold has a very laid back California vibe the songs are musically tight as not only are all the original members here but the record also gets a boost from Ben Knight (The Tyde), Neal Casal (Ryan Adams), Dan Horne on pedal steel, Jen Cohen (singer Chris Gunst's wife), first Sparks drummer Jimi Hey, Darren Rademaker (singer Brent Rademaker's brother) and indie critic favorite Ariel Pink. The group even had the producer of the critically praised Once We Were Trees [2001], Thom Monahan, return to man the boards. This collection of talented musicians adds to the depth of Tarnished Gold and keeps its replay value high.

At the end of the day you can have every talented person in the business on your record but it always comes down to the music. Right from the opening warm track "Forget The Song" you know that the Beachwood Sparks have not missed a beat with time off as the song possesses a very lo key vocal that has intertwined layered harmonies which all work together and draw the listener in. "Sparks Fly Again" is up next and as its catchy twangy intro ignites you hear the statement "This goes out to my good friends" roll off in the background which is the perfect set up for its good vibe feeling that is a perfect song for rolling down the highway with your windows down as the sun starts to set. This is the emotional trigger that Tarnished Gold hits again and again that even includes the Spanish track "No Queremos Oro" which adds a little mariachi to the mix.

Tarnished Gold absolutely does not try hard to succeed which is its biggest asset. The Beachwood Sparks do not attempt to relive or recreate their past glories but make a record that fits where they are today. That current creative momentum finds the band in a very lyrical rich spot that also highlights their musical talent as well as the connectivity that still exists between the members even after a lengthy hiatus. Not sure if the band will continue on after Tarnished Gold but if nothing else happens this album will carry them another 11 years - let's just really hope that is not the case!

Key Tracks: "Sparks Fly Again", "Earl Jean", "Forget The Song"

Bands With Similar Fire:
Fleet Foxes
The Flying Burrito Brothers
Monsters Of Folk

Beachwood Sparks Website
Sub Pop Records

-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony

Maxïmo Park: The National Health

Maxïmo Park
The National Health
Daylighting/ Straight To The Sun Records [2012]

Fire Note Says: If you don’t know Maxïmo Park by now, you should, this is their 4^th straight winner!

Album Review:

I’ve been waiting patiently for the 4^th lp from Newcastle’s Maxïmo Park for a few years now,  since 2009’s Quicken The Heart resided near the top of my top 20 list for that year. Here’s what you can count on, and what you hope for from a Maxïmo Park lp, smart, toe tappin punk edged pop songs that stick in your head and demand repeated listenings. Maxïmo Park was originally part of the New Wave of the New Wave that was all the craze back in 2004, when bands like Bloc Party, Kaiser Chiefs, Futureheads and Maxïmo Park all seemed like they were going to be the next big thing. They all put out sensational debut lps, then started to drop out of sight for whatever reason. Bloc Party never could capture the magic of Silent Alarm again, Kaiser Chiefs actually managed to continue to improve, but never caught on in America, Futureheads followed up their debut with a difficult sophomore effort and didn’t really get back on track until their 4^th album, The Chaos, in 2010, and Maxïmo Park could never seem to catch a break in the states.  After calling off the US tour for Quicken The Heart all together, I feared the worst…

Luckily, the lads from Newcastle didn’t pack it in, but took a break and pursued other projects, but they are back in a big way. Working once again with producer Gil Norton, who manned the board for the underrated 2^nd Maxïmo Park lp, Our Earthly Pleasures, they have captured the energy of the first lp, A Certain Trigger and given it the bigger sound that Gil Norton is known for (think Foo Fighters-The Colour and the Shape). Highlights are abundant, but my personal favorites are “Hips and Lips”, “Write This Down”, “This Is What Becomes of the Brokenhearted”, and “Reluctant Love”.

If I had to rank the Maxïmo Park discography, A Certain Trigger is still #1, but this has moved into the #2 slot, with Quicken the Heart 3^rd and Our Earthly Pleasures 4^th.  Give this album a shot, you will not be disappointed!

Key Tracks: “Reluctant Love”,” Hips and Lips”, “This Is What Becomes of the Brokenhearted”, “Until The Earth Would Open”

Bands With Similar Fire:

Kaiser Chiefs

Futureheads

Bloc Party

Maxïmo Park: Quicken The Heart [Fire Note Review 5/19/09]

Maxïmo Park: Our Earthly Pleasures [Fire Note Review 5/31/07]

Maxïmo Park Website

Maxïmo Park Facebook
Straight To The Sun Records

-Reviewed by Kevin Poindexter

The Bouncing Souls: Comet

The Bouncing Souls
Comet
Chunksaah/Rise Records [2012]









Fire Note Says: The Bouncing Souls return with another enjoyable pop-punk outing.

Album Review:
It is hard to believe that The Bouncing Souls are in their 25th year of existence and their new long player, Comet, represents their ninth full length. They are one of the staples of the pop-punk scene and always can be used in the same sentence with the Warp Tour which has been their mainstay concert stage for years. 

Comet is really a return to The Bouncing Souls roots as the album was formed with them in a basement recording songs into a tape recorder. From there the band knocked out the recording process in just 12 days with producer and Descendents drummer Bill Stevenson (Hot Water Music, Rise Against). The end result is a very carefree flowing punk rock record that both shows off high energy like the bombastic opener "Baptized" to a much more mature mid tempo number like "Coin Toss Girl" which has a catchy chorus. Other songs that stand out are the over 5 minute title track which the album was built around and songs like "In Sleep" that have more of a consistent rock vibe that highlights their veteran status.

The Bouncing Souls do a perfect job of not trying to hard on Comet as its 34 minute running time is just right and enables the band to revisit different points in their career while still finding new avenues to explore. This is the joy of listening to Comet with songs like "We Love Fun" that puts a big exclamation point of what The Bouncing Souls have always been about. That of course is making good music that their fans will enjoy and Comet succeeds with this in every way!

Key Tracks: "Baptized", "Static","We Love Fun"

Bands With Similar Fire:
The Descendents
Hot Water Music
The Menzingers

The Bouncing Souls Website
The Bouncing Souls Facebook
Chunksaah Records
Rise Records

-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony

Liars: WIXIW

Liars
WIXIW
Mute Records [2012]









Fire Note Says: Liars once again change things up but still get solid results!

Album Review:
Liars are one of the very few bands that absolutely keep you guessing with every new release. WIXIW is no different as it once again moves into a new direction for Liars and pushes the artistic envelope. The other important thing to know about WIXIW is that the album matches some of their previous excellent work and is another trip into the Liars world.

Like their catalog, WIXIW has its own style which takes a much more new age experimental path as it combines atmospheric elements with periods of drone and then lets its tracks simply float along. All of this is blended by the laid back vocals of Angus Andrew which takes on the roll of conductor in this very large and orchestrated piece of work.

I will warn you that WIXIW is not a record for the casual listener as it is initially a very distant record that pushes its fans away. How the record works though is that no matter how cold some of these tracks get they also create a mystery shroud of intrigue that brings your ears right back into the heart of the album. This is where you absorb the commanding presence and intensity of it on tracks like "No. 1 Against The Rush" with its entrancing beats and smooth vocals while the dirty electronic parts of "Brats" get your feet tapping as the hazy vocals push the track along.

The Liars once again have produced the unique listen here that fans expect and it should enable them to get completely on board after several spins. WIXIW is a complicated listen but one that can be respected after every spin. This is not an album that will be your every day favorite but will still sound sonically superb tomorrow and 10 years from tomorrow - that is the point that makes it solid!

Key Tracks: "No. 1 Against The Rush", "Brats", "III Valley Prodigies"

Bands With Similar Fire:
TV On The Radio
Radiohead
The Rapture

Liars: Sisterworld [Fire Note Review 3/15/10]
Liars: Liars [Fire Note Review 9/5/07]


Liars Website
Liars Facebook
Mute Records

-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony

The Lumineers: The Lumineers

The Lumineers
The Lumineers
Dualtone Music Group [2012]









Fire Note Says: The Lumineers self-titled debut is another entry into the surging folk scene that is worth fans of the genre checking out. 

Album Review:
Denver's The Lumineers play such a nice and simple style of music that it was easy to initially overlook them with the surge of neo-folk bands these days. It wasn't till I recently started hearing a little more of the catchy first single "Ho Hey" that it dawned on me that this record was sitting idle in one of our stacks.

With that awakening, I will say that The Lumineers self-titled debut is an energetic and entertaining listen if you are fan of the folk rock as their presentation is fairly straightforward but their delivery is 100% passion. This dedication to their art is what you will hear in every track which engages the listener quickly and turns you into a fan after the just under 2 minute opener "Flowers In Your Hair".

The three piece comes at you with guitar, piano, percussion and cello which all work together to create The Lumineers just over 42 minute running time and keeps the record very honest. There are no gimmicks here as you get hand clappers like "Classy Girls" to heartfelt tracks like "Dead Sea". "Ho Hey" of course is where the band makes it impossible not to sing along as the chorus kicks in and highlights their cohesiveness. It is a feel good song that is the perfect descriptor for what The Lumineers deliver here on their debut. The record is not perfect all the way through and a little more variety next time out might make their entire album a bit more engaging but overall this is a solid entry into the folk genre and I am positive this will not be the last time we hear from The Lumineers.

Key Tracks: "Ho Hey", "Stubborn Love", "Dead Sea"

Bands With Similar Fire:
The Avett Brothers
Ryan Adams
The Head And The Heart

The Lumineers Website
The Lumineers Facebook
Dualtone Music Group

-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony

The Smashing Pumpkins: Oceania

The Smashing Pumpkins
Oceania
Martha's Music/EMI Music [2012]










Fire Note Says: Billy Corgan and a new Smashing Pumpkins roar back with their best output since Mellon Collie.

Album Review:
Just when it was probably time to write off Billy Corgan and The Smashing Pumpkins he delivers Oceania which rekindles some of the bands past glories and sets the stage for a real potential come back on the rock scene. With Billy now being the only original member and a new band made up from open auditions which now includes Jeff Schroeder (guitar), Nicole Fiorentino (bass) and Mike Byrne (drums) it may sound somewhat crazy but I believe this strategy has worked. Instead of representing a shell of the past the new Smashing Pumpkins are hungry, eager and ready to carry the torch.

This passion and vehicle of course is still reliant on Corgan which delivers in the categories of songwriting and vocals. Oceania feels like a band versus Zeitgeist [2007] which is the biggest leap of success here as the record truly has a pulse. This makes the opening rocker "Quasar" explode in a traditional Pumpkins manner as its instant guitar assault gives away to its rhythmic pulse and Corgan's direction. On the ballad "The Celestials" you get a complete sense as it hits its stride mid song with a burst of instruments that are supported by the now classic Corgan snarl before finishing off with a more muscular percussion finish. Oceania covers a lot of ground as its hour running time offers up plenty of opportunity for Corgan and the band to give past, present and future Pumpkins styles a try. This allows for an epic 9 minute title track, several electronic intros and lots of Corgan lyrical reflection.

All of this leads to Oceania being the best record The Smashing Pumpkins have released since Mellon Collie [1995]. I am not saying it is a perfect album because I think it could have been a bit shorter, could have included more signature melodies and even showed a bit more muscle but given that it is essentially a new band - the output is solid. It also hopefully will lead to another record as this group clearly has gelled here which could lead to something even better next time out as The Smashing Pumpkins make another go at being one of the biggest rock bands in the land!

Key Tracks: "Quasar", "The Celestials", "The Chimera"

Bands With Similar Fire:
Foo Fighters
Garbage
Soundgarden


The Smashing Pumpkins: Gish & Siamese Dream [Deluxe Editions] [Fire Note Review 12/5/11]
The Smashing Pumpkins: Zeitgeist [Fire Note Review 7/12/07]

The Smashing Pumpkins Website
The Smashing Pumpkins Facebook
EMI Music

-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony

Fiona Apple: The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than The Driver Of The Screw And Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do

Fiona Apple
The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than The Driver Of The Screw And Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do
Epic Records [2012]








 Fire Note Says: Fiona Apple returns after seven years with another collection of tracks that will put you in awe!

Album Review:
It has always been about the voice with the piano being a close second when it comes to Fiona Apple. When we go back to the beginning and "Shadowboxer" hit the airwaves it was 1996 and Fiona Apple emerged as a superstar that was fragile, eclectic and had one killer voice. Fastforward 16 years and now Fiona Apple has resurfaced again with just her fourth long player The Idler Wheel (insert crazy long title here). The beauty of this new album is that it all comes back to the voice and piano again!

This mostly acoustic album is filled with Apple's masterful voice that still can display true emotion with very little effort. She draws in the listener with her quick shifting range and passionate lyrics. This is what you expect from Apple and even though it has been seven years since her last album she delivers the expectation right down to the very last song. Besides her voice there are several other little things that make The Idler Wheel shine like the occasional background scream during "Werewolf" or the small percussion solo at the beginning of "Left Alone". The rhythmic vocal interplay on the closing "Hot Knife" is truly memorable while her on the verge rage peaks during the chorus in "Regret" and clearly puts an exclamation point on the lyrics.

These small intricate pieces is what makes Fiona Apple one of the most interesting artists on the scene today and is the reason The Idler Wheel will be one of the best releases this year. It is a record that you instantly respect and will sit back in awe on how Apple can move so graceful but yet be so forceful. It is a true skill and one that returns on The Idler Wheel which quite possibly has become even stronger with age. Hopefully it will not be another seven years before we hear Apple again but with this type of output it will be worth the wait!

Key Tracks: "Every Single Night", "Regret", "Left Alone"

Bands With Similar Fire:
PJ Harvey
Feist
Rachel Yamagata

Fiona Apple Website
Fiona Apple Facebook
Epic Records

-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony

Feeder: Generation Freakshow

Feeder
Generation Freakshow
Big Teeth Music [2012]










Fire Note Says: Feeder return with an album that showcases their talents and delivers exactly what fans will enjoy.

Album Review:
Feeder are at that point in their career where they are aiming to release music that represents their classic melodic alt rock style as their new full length, Generation Freakshow, finds them in full stride. The band has had a solid emergence over their last several records and compared to the high rock energy found on Renegades [2010], I would say that Generation Freakshow is more of a collage of their catalog.

Right from the crashing guitars in opener "Oh My" you hear a confident verse from Grant Nicholas which sets the stage for not only the song but the record as this mid tempo track has all the components you have come to expect from Feeder. The following first single "Borders" comes at you with its bombastic chorus, big guitars and foot tapping tempo that will remind you instantly why you liked Feeder in the first place. The rest of Generation Freakshow follows this same pattern and flows well which should engage new and old fans alike.

Feeder may not have the draw today compared to their past glory days but like Renegades, Generation Freakshow has plenty of highlights that still make the band relevant. Right down to the soaring closer "Children Of The Sun" Generation Freakshow is 100% Feeder and honestly finds the band delivering a quality record that stays in their comfort zone while playing very well upon repeat listens!

Key Tracks: "Borders", "Children Of The Sun", "Generation Freakshow"

Bands With Similar Fire:
Idlewild
Ash
Manic Street Preachers

Feeder: Renegades [Fire Note Review 7/2/10]

Feeder Website
Feeder Facebook

-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony

Bobby Womack: The Bravest Man In The Universe

Bobby Womack
The Bravest Man In The Universe
XL Recordings [2012]

 Fire Note Says: Bobby Womack gives us one of 2012’s best albums!

Album Review:

The Bravest Man in The Universe is the first album of new material from Bobby Womack since 1994’s Resurrection, and what a great comeback album it is! At some point, Damon Albarn had the brilliant idea to work with Womack on some tracks for Gorillaz that appeared on Plastic Beach [2010] and The Fall [2010], and a friendship and collaborative partnership was born. Add in producer Richard Russell and you have the key ingredients that make this album such a success!

It’s immediately obvious that this album is something different, it’s not Albarn and Russell producing a soul album for Womack, it’s something different, it’s modern, it’s futuristic, it’s not like anything else you will hear this year, last year or next year.  It’s old but it’s new. This is not Rick Rubin propping up an old war horse for one last run or to recharge a career. This is three guys working together to create something unique. The Bravest Man In The Universe is a space age gospel album that could only have come from these three individuals.

Bobby Womack’s voice has aged well, he is still capable of hitting the sweet notes, but it now carries a weight that reflects the heaviness, flaws and pain that accompanied 18 years of silence between albums.  The juxtaposition between the futuristic music and the soulful voice can be jarring. At times the electronic element seems to distract from the song and get in the way of Womack, and for that I docked it a half point. But when it works, or even when it’s not there at all as on “Deep River”, it’s amazing.

“The bravest man in the universe is the one who has forgiven first” is the first line on the album, and it also sets the tone for the entire record. These are songs of pain, suffering, love, forgiveness, and ultimately redemption.  This is going to be one of the albums that people are going to be talking about when the end of the year rolls around and Albums of the Year lists come out, and rightfully so. Give it two listens and you will be hooked. 

Key Tracks: "Deep River", "The Bravest Man In The Universe", "If There Wasn't Something There"

Bands With Similar Fire:
Gorillaz
Gil Scott Heron
Don Covay

Bobby Womack Website

Bobby Womack Facebook

XL Recordings

-Reviewed by Kevin Poindexter