Deep Time release new video for "Gold Rush"

VIDEO - "Gold Rush" [dir. Cassandra Hamilton]

Here is our review of the album  - Deep Time: Deep Time [Fire Note Review 7/11/12]

Deep Time are currently in the middle of a third string of U.S. tour dates (with a European tour on the horizon), and their new self-titled record has been garnering tons of acclaim; Dusted called it "one of the best debuts in recent memory," The Portland Mercury said it's "one of the year's most appealing and rewarding records," and Brooklyn's Other Music dubbed it an "instant classic." "Gold Rush" provides further evidence of Deep Time's brilliance, and this new clip from Californian director Cassandra Hamilton pairs the song's eccentric cheeriness with a day in the life of the coolest ghosts you've ever seen. Watch it at the link above and see below for Deep Time's current and upcoming tour dates. 

Tour Dates:

08.22.12 - Athens, GA - Farm 255
08.23.12 - New Orleans, LA - TBD
08.24.12 - Austin, TX - Mohawk
09.14.12 - Tilburg, NL - Incubate Festival
09.15.12 - Groningen, NL - Vera
09.17.12 - Brighton, UK - Sticky Mike's Frog Bar
09.18.12 - Sheffield, UK - The Harley
09.19.12 - Newcastle, UK - Star & Shadow
09.20.12 - Manchester, UK - Kraak Gallery
09.21.12 - London, UK - The Lexington
09.22.12 - Amsterdam, NL - OCCII
09.24.12 - Brussels, BE - Botanique *
09.25.12 - Gent, BE - Cafe Video
09.26.12 - Heidelberg, DE - Kunstverein
09.27.12 - Hamburg, DE - Astra-Stube
09.28.12 - Berlin, DE - Schokoladen
09.29.12 - Koeln, DE - King Georg
10.01.12 - Erfurt, DE - Schauplatz am Dom
10.02.12 - Prague, CZ - Klub 007
10.03.12 - Vienna, AT - Arena
10.04.12 - Graz, AT - CuntRa la Kunsthure
10.05.12 - Brescia, IT - Lio Bar
10.06.12 - Freiburg, DE - Slow Club

* - w/ Dan Deacon

Bob Mould: Silver Age

Bob Mould
Silver Age
Merge Records [2012]









Fire Note Says: Bob Mould is back with a new loud and melodic record that clearly shows that he has no intention of ever slowing down!

Album Review:
I am not sure if there were any expectations for Bob Mould's new full length, Silver Age, but I guarantee it is going to surprise a lot of fans with its pedal to the floor rock attitude. The Sugar/Hüsker Dü founder has always went back n forth with his styles when it comes to his solo material, which I think fans always respected but deep down really wanted the amps turned up.

Well after opening for the Foo Fighters and playing the 20th anniversary Sugar shows I believe that Mr. Mould was truly inspired to revisit the vigor of his past because Silver Age is packed full of venomous melodic pop rock that fans will absolutely love. Right from the beginning guitar riff on album opener "Star Machine" you have a feeling that this is the record Bob is going to let everything loose. The song has a ripping pulse and a screaming guitar solo as Mould forcefully sings "You say you want it!" Next up is the title track which does nothing to slow the record down and in fact pumps it up as Mould sings "I am never too old to contain my rage - a silver age" with the proper placed explicative just to highlight that he is not fooling around.

Silver Age continues to play to Mould's strengths and has a very Sugar style with melodic vocals that just hoover above the noise assaultive rock. The record benefits from the addition of Bob's live band drummer of Jon Wurster (Superchunk) and bassist Jason Narducy (Split Single, Verbow) as each song has a very rich and spontaneous energy that comes from each musician. Silver Age is an album that plays like its own tribute to Mould as you are not going to hear anything new from this album but with that in mind - this is exactly the Bob Mould I want to hear and something tells me - so do you!

Key Tracks: "Star Machine", "The Descent", "Keep Believing"

Bands With Similar Fire:
Foo Fighters
Big Star
Pixies

Bob Mould: Life And Times [Fire Note Review 4/6/09]
Bob Mould: District Line [Fire Note Review 2/5/08]
Sugar: Copper Blue/Beaster EP/File Under Easy Listening [Deluxe Editions] [Fire Note Review 7/27/12]

Bob Mould Website
Bob Mould Facebook
Bob Mould Twitter
Merge Records

-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony

California Wives: Art History

California Wives
Art History
Vagrant Records [2012]









Fire Note Says: California Wives present a warm debut that pulls from the past with a modern 80's undertone.

Album Review:
Do not let the band name fool you as California Wives are a four piece out of Chicago and Art History represents their debut full length. The group actually does however have a connection to the Golden State as they possess a west coast warmth to their sound while they blend their bright pop melodies with a somewhat retro 80's environment.

The pulsing first track "Blood Red Youth" leads things out of the gate with their strongest song on the album. The track has a quick tempo back beat while it is driven with guitar and keyboards and features singer Jayson Kramer delivering a likable hush and even vocal that floats along until the song peaks at its conclusion. It is a track that is rewarding every time you hear it. This modern 80's genre has been growing quickly the last several years and California Wives settle into this groove throughout the rest of Art History.

California Wives are at their best on the more upbeat numbers like "Marianne" which keep your feet tapping and humming along to the words. Lyrically, Art History is all about growing up and the loss of youth. This is something that just about every listener can identify with and it helps pull the audience into their songs. The album does have some repetitiveness at its midpoint but overall is still a solid "windows down" type of album. The record was produced by Claudius Mittendorfer (Interpol, Neon Indian, Wild Nothing) in NYC and has enough highlights to make Art History a memorable experience and California Wives a band to keep an eye on for the future.

Key Tracks: "Blood Red Youth", "Marianne", "Light Year"

Bands With Similar Fire:
Smith Westerns
Joy Division
Wild Nothing

California Wives Website
California Wives Facebook
California Twitter
Vagrant Records


-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony

Heavenly Beat: Talent

Heavenly Beat
Talent
Captured Tracks Records [2012]









Fire Note Says: Beach Fossils bassist John Pena creates a solid bedroom pop listen with his Heavenly Beat!

Album Review:
As we all patiently await a new record from Beach Fossils, whose self-titled album was one of 2010's real surprises, we have bassist John Pena's project, Heavenly Beat's new album, Talent, to tide us over until then. Talent is an often times very pretty album. It has a laid back groove, some nice beats, some groovy bass, lush synths, strings, nice guitar work and Pena's exquisite voice that completely enriches the songs found here, and ties the whole thing together.

Album opener, "Lust", starts things off on a solid note. The track opens with several synth strings that call to mind the opening of the great Genesis album Foxtrot [1972], the song then shifts into a nifty little pop song that gets the toes tapping. I'm not sure what gets stuck in my head more often, the keyboard lines, or the melody, but either way, you will find yourself humming this song long after the album is over.

"Messiah" adds a funky bassline to the mix, but the rest of the song sounds about the same as "Lust". My main criticism of the album is that it all sounds the same. Granted it sounds lovely, but there's not a lot of diversity here. It's very smooth, not many peaks and valleys, it all sort of floats by you. At the same time, you will find yourself randomly humming different bits and pieces of the album. It's very catchy; just I couldn't honestly tell you one song from the next without looking, with the exception of three or four songs.

"Faithless" is one of the songs that I could definitely pick out of a crowd, it's the best song on the album, and perfectly encapsulates the Heavenly Beat sound. In fact, now that I think about it, Heavenly Beat is a really good name for the project, because it doesn't really sound of this world, it sounds like music that's played on a cloud somewhere overhead. I like it, but I don't love it. It's an interesting project, and I hope Pena keeps releasing these Heavenly Beat albums, hopefully the next one mixes things up a little more.

Key Tracks: "Faithless", "Lust", "Messiah"

Bands With Similar Fire:
Beach Fossils
Washed Out
Wild Nothing

Heavenly Beat Facebook
Captured Tracks Records

-Reviewed by Kevin Poindexter

The Civil Wars | The Lumineers: Daytrotter Vinyl Series No. 1

The Civil Wars | The Lumineers
Daytrotter Vinyl Series  No. 1
Daytrotter Recordings [2012]




Fire Note Says: Daytrotter makes a hit with the release of Vinyl Series No. 1!

Album Review:
I am not even sure when Daytrotter had this idea of their first "official" vinyl series release featuring The Civil Wars and The Lumineers did they know that The Lumineers hit "Ho Hey" would take off like it did but that is what even makes this split 12 inch release that much better. If you have ever listened to anything off of Daytrotter you already know what to expect here but if you are new to the site Daytrotter offers exclusive, re-worked, alternative versions of old songs and unreleased tracks by bands you love and quite possibly your next favorite.

Clearly the Grammy winning Civil Wars have come along way since their Barton Hollow release in early 2011 and their four songs here kick off the series right. The best part of course comes on track two which is the band's cover of The Smashing Pumpkins "Disarm". It is a respectful folk conversion that still holds the same anguish that was originally delivered by lead singer Billy Corgan as it was about the shaky relationship he had with his parents growing up and is still listed by Corgan as the most personal song on Siamese Dream [1993]. The rest of side one is a solid performance from The Civil Wars that also includes a crowd favorite, "Oh Henry", which was not included on their debut full length. The two album tracks here are slightly stripped down but the duo still sound very close to the studio versions of these songs which fans will appreciate.

The flip side of this vinyl release features four songs from Denver's Lumineers and it is just as engaging as their self-titled debut. The live rendition of "Ho Hey" soars, maybe even a little more compared to the studio version, as it offers some slight imperfections that actually draw the listener in closer. All four tracks by the Lumineers on this session can be found on their debut but these more raw renditions just show how "real" The Lumineers are because the songs have a very "lived in" quality to them especially when the layered vocals and harmonies kick in. This is what makes Daytrotter such a great setting for artists because they can just be themselves.

From a collector standpoint Daytrotter only pressed as many records as were ordered, so it is anyone's guess how limited this release actually turned out to be. I can tell you that the music from both The Civil Wars and The Lumineers here is solid which should only increase the worth of this release over time. The true reality about Daytrotter's vinyl series No. 1 is that for fans of the two bands and vinyl lovers alike - this release is priceless!

Key Tracks: "Disarm", "Oh Henry", "Ho Hey", "Slow Down"

Bands With Similar Fire:
The Avett Brothers
Daniel Martin Moore & Joan Shelley
Vandaveer

The Lumineers: The Lumineers [Fire Note Review 6/21/12]
The Civil Wars: Barton Hollow [Fire Note Review 2/22/11]
Iron & Wine | The Low Anthem: Daytrotter Split LP [Fire Note Review 5/20/11]

The Civil Wars Website
The Civil Wars Facebook
The Lumineers Website
The Lumineers Facebook
Daytrotter

-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony

Boom Chick change name to Crushed Out - Debut full length out Nov 6

CRUSHED OUT

(Formerly Boom Chick)  

                 Announcing their debut full-length "Want to Give"

                 (November 6, 2012; Cool Clear Water Records)  

                    Download MP3 for "Weigh You Down" HERE 

             Boom Chick: Show Pony [Fire Note Review 11/29/10]

August 29, 2012: Crushed Out is an explosive hit of surf-garage momentum and rock & roll from Brooklyn, NY consisting of Frank Hoier on guitar and vocals and Moselle Spiller on drums. After four national tours and a well-received EP, 2010's Show Pony, the couple, formerly known as Boom Chick, are set to release their debut full-length, Want to Give, on Nov. 6, 2012 on their own Cool Clear Water imprint.  Want to Give is a pure guitar/drum adrenalin rush - plenty of fuzz, tremolo, riffs, chunky chords, slide and Black Sabbath power chords. The songs are tight and lean; no fat, no studio fairy dust. Recorded both at Brooklyn's Bunker Studio as well as at Crushed Out's own analog studio in a rural New Hampshire barn, the tracks were all self-produced and mixed by John Davis.

The bulk of Want To Give was created during Charles Shaw-fueled jam sessions at the duo's practice space in Red Hook, Brooklyn in 2011. Moselle was working as a freelance graphic artist and Frank taught guitar lessons. At night, they'd jam in their industrial space in Red Hook's Ohm Acoustics speaker factory. Deciding to escape NYC rents, they moved their gear up to Moselle's childhood town in rural Effingham, NH, where they set up their own 16-track recording studio in the old barn on the property. Lacking a home base, they finished the songs on the road, writing lyrics to their many instrumentals and songs that had manifested organically through those late-night Brooklyn jam sessions. Four of their "barn demos" ended up on Want To Give. The other six were recorded over three days at Brooklyn's Bunker Studio. 

Standout tracks include "Black & Purple," a true song about Frank's mother getting dressed down for listening to a Black Sabbath record when she was a teenager; the vocals manage to reference Buddy Holly and the Everly Brothers (as well as the Ravonettes, who have a similar musical aesthetic). "Temper Tantrum" is an explosive rocker dealing with anger and its effects. "Adults can be more childish than children," Frank says.  "Anger is selfish, funny, always silly and sometimes scary and the song tries to capture that. It's a soft-to-loud surf-punk explosion, with a powerful build up to the chorus." The title track, "Want To Give," is a swinging, double-kick drum track with Frank's powerful, high tenor vocals and lyrics that reflect the band's open, positive attitude.

Crushed Out formed as Boom Chick in September 2009. Southern California native Frank came out of the skate punk scene and learned his way around a recording studio (as well as his wariness of record labels) from his father, a musician who was in the first white band signed to Motown Records.Moselle grew up in New Hampshire and is a former junior Olympic downhill skier who later studied graphic design. She produces all of Crushed Out's distinctive artwork, videos, posters and merchandise and makes a lot of her own stage clothes. Moselle's ability to learn to drum - she decided to play the drums and three months later the two were playing Brooklyn loft gigs - was a highly discussed topic in early interviews. Now an accomplished drummer with four national tours under her belt, she is the thunderous beat in the band, with Frank taking on lead vocals, even while shredding on lead guitar.

Along with early features in NYC publications (Village Voice, New York Post), Crushed Out's early supporters included So-Cal skate bible Thrasher Magazine and Element Skateboards, who used several of the band's Show Pony EP songs in their skateboard videos. Their song "Ghost of Bo Diddley" (as Boom Chick) was also featured in ESPN's X series, The Kids. 

Want to Give explodes out of the speakers, delivering on the promise of Crushed Out's EP and live shows. It's a testament to Frank and Moselle's ecstatic love for early American rock & roll, surf guitar and country blues -- what Bob Dylan called the "atomic era" of rock & roll."  They'll be announcing tour dates soon; watch this space for updates: http://www.crushedoutmusic.com.  

Six Organs Of Admittance: Ascent

Six Organs Of Admittance
Ascent
Drag City Records [2012]









Fire Note Says: A guitar experience worth taking on the new long player from Six Organs Of Admittance!

Album Review:
Six Organs Of Admittance grabs you right away on the scorching guitar instrumental opener "Waswasa" and never lets up as the group's newest record Ascent ranks up there with their best. It is an album that will force many fans to throw away what they know best about group mainstay Ben Chasny's softer acoustic introverted offerings and think more about his history with the now defunct psych rock group Comets On Fire.

Ascent succeeds because it has the one major component fans of music love - an experience.  From the psych jamming rock in the over seven minute "Close To The Sky" to the more back to basics acoustic driven "Your Ghost", Six Organs Of Admittance continually challenge the listener to just sit back and absorb the style shifts. Ascent has extremely smooth transitions that all work together to create a full picture that continually has guitar highlights. "One Thousand Birds" is another free floating rock number that shines from its intricate guitar work and you can visually imagine the player's hands quickly changing strings and sweat flying throughout the intense number. On most of the tracks here on Ascent the soft washed out vocals mostly take a backseat to the musicianship which is not always one of my favorite directions but for Six Organs Of Admittance it works.

Six Organs Of Admittance's Ascent may take several listens to completely win over long time followers just because it is different but I guarantee that is all it takes. The record is entrancing from the opening psyched-out electric guitar and becomes one of the more unique indie listens you will hear this year. Six Organs Of Admittance always keep things interesting and Ascent is no different as it provides an experience from its album art to its 8 song 41 minute running time. With all of these pieces working together Six Organs Of Admittance just keep giving you a reason to come back!

Key Tracks: "Waswasa", "One Thousand Birds", "Your Ghost"

Bands With Similar Fire:
Acid Mothers Temple
Moon Duo
The UFO Club

Six Organs Of Admittance Website
Drag City Records

-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony

The Joy Formidable Video Preview for "Wolf's Law"

'WOLF'S LAW' VIDEO PREVIEW

First track from sessions for the new album now online

The Joy Formidable have spent the first half of 2012 gearing up for the release of their second album, 'Wolf's Law', due out in early 2013. As a taster for fans of the new material, today the band have uploaded a video for a track inspired by the album title. 'Wolf's Law' (the track) will not be featured on the album but is a perfect pointer for the band's second album, both musically and thematically. With the film for 'Wolf's Law' the band worked with director Cat Botibol to create a film that, in the words of Ritzy and Rhydian:

To see 'Wolf's Law' now go to http://atlr.ec/WolfsLaw 

Full details on Wolf's Law will follow soon.

Poor Moon: Poor Moon

Poor Moon
Poor Moon
Sub Pop Records [2012]









Fire Note Says: Poor Moon brings some familiar qualities to the party.

Album Review:
I don't think we can call Poor Moon an indie supergroup but this is also not your typical full length debut as the talent making up this quartet is comprised of longtime friends Christian Wargo, Casey Wescott and brothers Ian and Peter Murray. Wargo and Wescott have played together in Pedro The Lion, Crystal Skulls and now are current members of Fleet Foxes while the Murray brothers are from Seattle's lesser known Christmas Cards. This history sets the bar extremely high for Poor Moon and not comparing them to the Fleet Foxes is even harder considering their similar softer delivery and the fact that this debut is out on Sup Pop Records.

I am not sure that you would expect a different sound from Poor Moon as I believe that Wargo and Wescott are fully integrated into the Foxes creative process, but this album also only differentiates itself slightly. This hinders its overall success because you keep expecting those familiar big sprawling harmonies which never quite hit the surface. With that said there is still much to enjoy on Poor Man.

On album opener "Clouds Below" you get a memorable whistle that not only pulls the listener right into the song but also puts you at ease with its laid back delivery. The loungy "Holiday" has a warmth to it that keeps your mind at ease right down to the concluding "oo-oohs." This same style continues through Poor Moon which injects a bit more western swagger into its overall presentation that does give the record its own niche and reason to listen.

Poor Moon's self-titled debut does not surpass most of the bands previous work experience but it still represents a solid outing and showcases their talented musicianship. It is not a record that will wow you immediately but is much more of a grower. It is a light affair all the way through which makes it an easy 30 minute ride and just as easy to put it away. Poor Moon should be especially checked out by Fleet Foxes fans because the subtle similarities will most certainly entertain and will probably even keep you coming back for more.

Key Tracks: "Clouds Below", "Birds", "Holiday"

Bands With Similar Fire:
Fleet Foxes
Crosby, Stills & Nash
Calexico

Poor Moon Website
Poor Moon Facebook
Sub Pop Records

-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony

TEEN: In Limbo

TEEN
In Limbo
Carpark Records [2012]









Fire Note Says: TEEN offer up an inviting dream pop debut.

Album Review:
TEEN is comprised of Teeny Lieberson, former keyboardist of indie group Here We Go Magic, with her two sisters and a longtime friend. In Limbo represents their debut record of modern dream pop that offers a mix of tempos that makes for a very balanced record.

TEEN are at their best when the tempos are cranked up as the catchy "Come Back" and "Electric" stand out with their intense groove and consistent subtle drum beat. Especially on "Electric", TEEN let it all loose and show what they are made of with four dimensional vocal interplays, soaring guitar, some interesting hovering background spacey noises and a building song intensity that takes the song out.

The rest of In Limbo never quite hits that high point again but on other songs like the slower "Sleep Is Noise" the pace is consistent while Lieberson strolls the song along with her likable vocal that becomes positively hypnotizing. On other tracks here, TEEN take their dream pop to the more drone off extreme, which for me is not their strongest component as it lets several songs drift off too far and loses the pieces that make TEEN unique and fun. Regardless of some of the slower points in the album, In Limbo is a good debut and does successfully separate the band from an ever growing genre. With some refinement in their direction TEEN could easily grow their indie success and fan base because the high points of In Limbo should set the tone for a sophomore outing that could be great!

Key Tracks: "Come Back", "Electric", "Sleep Is Noise"

Bands With Similar Fire:
tUnE-yArDs
Dirty Projectors
Purity Ring

TEEN Website
TEEN Facebook
Carpark Records

-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony

Welcome back James Iha - First single "Speed Of Love" released from new album Look To The Sky out September 18

To get fans excited for the release of his new album Look To The Sky, James Iha is premiering the first single "Speed Of Love" on Paste Magazine today, August 27. Listen to the sweeping and cinematic pop rock track HERE.

Written and recorded at Stratosphere Sound in NYC, a studio owned by James and Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne, Look To The Sky showcases James' talent as a musician, songwriter, lyricist, arranger, and producer. This is evident in "Speed Of Love" and "To Who Knows Where," two of the ten impressive tracks that tie together James' diverse and stylistic career. Over the years, James has been a member of A Perfect Circle, collaborated with Hanson, Cheap Trick and Fountains of Wayne to form supergroup Tinted Windows and was of course the co-founder and long-time guitarist of Smashing Pumpkins.

Look To The Sky, out September 18, was produced by James and Nathan Larson of Shudder To Think and features special guests Karen O and Nick Zinner of The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Sara Quin of Tegan and Sara, Nina Persson of the Cardigans, Schlesinger and Tom Verlaine, frontman of New York rock band Television.

Click HERE to pre-order Look To The Sky on iTunes.

Stay tuned for more news!

http://jamesiha.com/

https://www.facebook.com/jamesihamusic

https://twitter.com/#!/james_iha

www.theendrecords.com

Tour Dates

September 22               Umekoji Park                              Kyoto, Japan

September 24               Club Quattro                               Osaka, Japan

September 26               Club Quattro                               Tokyo, Japan

October 4                        The Church Of Boston             Boston, MA

October 5                        Mercury Lounge                        New York, NY

October 6                        Maxwell's                                     Hoboken, NJ

October 7                        World Café Live                          Philadelphia, PA

October 8                        U Street                                        Washington, DC

Wild Nothing: Nocturne

Wild Nothing
Nocturne
Captured Tracks Records [2012]









Fire Note Says: Wild Nothing return with another batch of 80's driven pop.

Album Review:
Nocturne is the highly anticipated sophomore album from Wild Nothing which once again recreates a smooth 80's vibe that embraces the listener at every corner of its rounded off edges. Jack Tatum of course is the man behind the moniker and this time out he gives followers a record that he claims feels most at home in a sleepless state of mind.

When placed in this context Nocturne takes a life of its own as first track "Shadow" builds with its laid back instrumentation and acoustic guitar which eventually gives way to strings. The 80's pop vocals of Tatum reigns supreme on each and every track which will thrill fans of Wild Nothing but might still get in the way of new listeners trying to fit the group into the modern scene. This is the only place that Nocturne does not succeed compared to their debut Gemini [2010] as several tracks here take a similar path and become indistinguishable upon the album's conclusion.

The good news for fans is that the hooks on Nocturne spring out at you consistently which make the very upbeat and catchy "Only Heather" stand above the rest while the more overall subdued track "Counting Days" continues along until the sunny hook kicks in and becomes memorable. Overall, Nocturne is filled with smooth downbeat grooves that fit into the intended nightly setting. The record continues Tatum's enjoyment of the 80's retro scene and even if it does not quite reach the highlights of his debut it still is a very good listen and makes every minute you dedicate to Nocturne well worth the effort.

Key Tracks: "Only Heather", "Paradise", "Shadow"

Bands With Similar Fire:
Ocean Blue
Echo & The Bunnymen
Ride

Wild Nothing: Gemini [Fire Note Review 8/10/10] [#40 Top 50 of 2010]

Wild Nothing Website
Wild Nothing Facebook
Captured Tracks Records

-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony

Los Lobos: Kiko [20th Anniversary Edition] / Kiko Live

Los Lobos
Kiko [20th Anniversary Edition] / Kiko Live
Shout! Factory [2012]




Fire Note Says: A Los Lobos classic is introduced to a different generation while Kiko Live is a great addition for the fans!

Album Review:
I am going to give our readers credit and assume they know there is much more to Los Lobos than "La Bamba." With that said, I am sure there are an abundant amount of music fans out there that have never given the band's 1992 classic Kiko a spin before. Well, now there are two new releases that celebrate its release and not only give you a remastered studio version with 5 bonus tracks but also the new Kiko Live captures their February 24, 2006, performance at the House Of Blues in San Diego, CA, where the band performed the release in its entirety.

With these two releases bringing the record forward to 2012 is it worth your time to reinvest if you are a fan or at least investigate for anyone new to the Los Lobos club? I think at the very least it is worth a stream for first timers as Kiko by far is an album that can be enjoyed by all as it expanded the roots rock of Los Lobos and really showed how deep their talent ran both musically and lyrically. Even if this is not your scene one listen to the rustic groove on "Wake Up Dolores" will hold your interest while the haunting stylistic spaces that boost "Kiko And The Lavender Moon" will gain your respect as it plays great in any setting. The record was produced by Mitchell Froom, who received a Grammy nomination for Producer of the Year for his work on the album, so it is really no surprise that the remastered version sounds spectacular. The 5 extras tracks here consist of two studio demo tracks and three live cuts taken from the Holiday House Party with Los Lobos at Capitol Studios in 1992. I don't believe the extras add that much to the release but the live tracks do show how at ease Los Lobos are with their fans which is always nice to hear.

Kiko Live is a nice new take on the record as Los Lobos performance is spotless. Several stand out tracks on the album emerge near its conclusion with an almost 10 minute version of "Just A Man" that features a much more bluesy style of the song with a memorable jam at its midpoint. "Peace" also doubles its normal 4 minute running time here live and offers a bigger rock side to the song. If you are a fan of Los Lobos then Kiko Live will not disappoint because it sounds spot on when compared to the album. It should also be noted that this release has a corresponding DVD and Blu-ray that features several bonus performances and interviews with the band which also should be a huge interest to fans.

If there ever was a question on how Los Lobos fit into the rock world, Kiko and Kiko Live are excellent proof. The band not only shakes off the notion that they can only play one style of roots rock but showcase a multitude of musical talent that will forever seal their place in rock n roll history!

Key Tracks: "Wake Up Dolores", "Just A Man (Live)", "That Train Don't Stop Here (Live)"

Bands With Similar Fire:
The Blasters
Tom Petty
Steve Earle

Los Lobos Website
Los Lobos Facebook
Shout! Factory

-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony

Guided By Voices release cover art for upcoming 3rd lp The Bears For Lunch

Sometimes album covers say it all! Due in November The Bears For Lunch will be Guided By Voices 3rd long player released in 2012.

The Features new video for "Another One" + Tour Dates

Check out the new video "Another One" from The Features off their full length Wilderness which was #14 in our Top 50 of 2011! 

The Features "Another One" video

Check out our review here: 

The Features: Wilderness [Fire Note Review 7/27/11]

Upcoming tour dates..

Purchase Tickets Here:

August 25 | Redmond, WA | The End 107.7 Summer Camp 2012

September 12 I London, UK | Bush Hall

September 13 | Manchester, UK | The Deaf Institute

September 14 | Glasgow, UK | King Tuts Wah Wah Hut

September 15 | Birmingham, UK | Birmingham Ballroom

September 17 | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Paradiso

September 18 | Berlin, Germany | Magnet Club

September 19 | Ghent, Belgium | Cafe Video

September 24 | Sacramento, CA | Harlow's Restaurant and Nightclub 

September 26 | Los Angeles, CA | Troubadour

September 27 | San Diego, CA | The Casbah

September 28 | Las Vegas, NV | Beauty Bar

October 2 | Denver, CO | Marquis Theater

October 3 | Colorado Springs, CO | Black Sheep 

October 5 | St Paul, MN | Turf Club

October 6 | Green Bay, WI | Crunchy Frog 

October 8 | Chicago, IL | The Bottom Lounge

October 9 | St Louis, MO | The Firebird

October 12 | Dallas, TX | Trees

October 14 | Austin, TX | Austin City Limits Festival (Sold Out)

October 27 | New Orleans, LA | Voodoo Music Experience

October 28 | Houston, TX | Warehouse Live

October 31 | Nashville, TN | Cannery Ballroom

November 1 | Atlanta, GA | Terminal West

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Divine Fits: A Thing Called Divine Fits

Divine Fits
A Thing Called Divine Fits
Merge Records [2012]









Fire Note Says: Divine Fits debut creates a solid starting point for the talented trio.

Album Review:
I think everyone will agree that band supergroups are always crazy exciting but that instant adrenaline also leads to high expectations. Divine Fits is no different as it represents indie heaven as the trio is comprised of Spoon's Britt Daniel, Wolf Parade's Dan Boeckner and Sam Brown of Columbus, OH's New Bomb Turks. With this talent I don't think you could ever go wrong and for the most part A Thing Called Divine Fits is a satisfying listen.

The record starts off with the first single "My Love Is Real" which is an unmistakable Boeckner track with its heavy synths and deep toned vocals which is not a bad track but it also does not make the best first impression for followers expecting something different. This same feeling holds true on the next track "Flaggin' A Ride" which is a Daniel led composition which would have easily fit into the Spoon catalog. Now don't get me wrong, there is nothing upsetting with Boeckner sounding like Handsome Furs or Daniel sounding like Spoon but c'mon - this is Divine Fits dammit!

Well the good new for interested parties is that the blending starts to happen on the next several songs "What Gets You Alone" and "Would That Not Be Nice" which not only uses both singer's talents but is propelled by Brown's lively skins. The beats, the groove, the swagger and the confidence all pour out of these tracks and represent exactly why fans should be excited about Divine Fits.

The rest of A Thing Called Divine Fits holds true to offering a mix of the groups talents and switching music styles behind the lead singers. "The Salton Sea" has a very front and center crescendoing keyboard as Daniels vocals float in the background while the charming acoustic number "Civilian Stripes" puts Boeckner out there in a new place compared to his last several records. There is also the solid ballad "Shivers" by Britt that is very Spoon like but turns into a more Divine Fits style as it slowly goes out of control near its conclusion. The only style that gets a bit shunned here is Brown's New Bomb Turks punk but I will tell you that his drum playing absolutely does not go unnoticed and is the glue that makes the Daniels/Boeckner combo work.

Divine Fits may not be the indie debut that some expect but it is a solid listen. It is a record that does take more than one listen to really get into and gives a good mix of each members previous work while staying fresh. A Thing Called Divine Fits definitely forecasts some good things to come if this trio stay together for another round and most certainly will have the same high expectations. 

Key Tracks: "Would That Not Be Nice", "Baby Get Worse", "Shivers"

Bands With Similar Fire:
White Rabbits
Gang Of Four
Shearwater

Divine Fits: My Love Is Real 7" [Fire Note Review 8/10/12]

Divine Fits Website
Divine Fits Facebook
Merge Records

-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony

Black Pistol Fire: Big Beat '59

Black Pistol Fire
Big Beat '59
Rifle Bird Records [2012]









Fire Note Says: Black Pistol Fire serve up familiar but well-executed Southern blues rock on Big Beat '59.

Album Review:
Black Pistol Fire is a two-person outfit (Kevin McKeown and Eric Owen) who come from Austin, TX by way of Toronto. Big Beat '59 is their second full-length album, the first coming out last year. The Southern influence is evident in the blues-rock feel from the band. (Observation: Blues-rock must be the go-to genre for male duos these days.)

While there is a been-there-done-that feel to the album, I must admit the execution was admirable. Knowing very little about Black Pistol Fire before giving this album a listen, I found the sound familiar and accessible. The second track "Stripes of Keys" references two of the influences I most heard throughout the record. I was most reminded of early The Black Keys before Danger Mouse took over production. In fact, I jonesed for some "Just Got To Be" as I was listening to Big Beat '59. "Busted and Blue" recalls The White Stripes fairly strongly. If you happen to enjoy these two bands, then Black Pistol Fire will be right up your alley.

Standout tracks include "Beelzebub" which opens the album with a loose vibe and "Crows Feet." Both of these tracks have a call-and-response element in them, which I am quite often a sucker for. "Hot Mess" also stood out. The common theme among these tracks is that they are more mid-tempo paced which is in contrast with the rest of Big Beat '59, which is more up-tempo and energetic. My main complaint with blues-rock is the sameness of the songs in the context of an LP; I found enough diversity on Big Beat '59 to not be fatigued by the end of the album's 33 minute run time. In my book that's quite the accomplishment.

I was pleasantly surprised by Black Pistol Fire and Big Beat '59. While not offering anything particularly new to the genre I enjoyed the songs and wondered why I had not heard of these guys before. I'll definitely be listening to more of this album in the future, which is always a good sign!

Key Tracks: "Beelzebub", "Hot Mess", "Crows Feet"

Bands With Similar Fire:
The Black Keys
The White Stripes
Kings Of Leon

Black Pistol Fire Website
Black Pistol Fire Facebook

-Reviewed by Matthew Heiner

Yellow Ostrich Announce Fall Headlining Tour & 6 Song Ghost Release

YELLOW OSTRICH ANNOUNCE FALL HEADLINING TOUR

RELEASING GHOST ON OCTOBER 23

Barsuk Records is excited to announce that Yellow Ostrich are heading out on a fall tour in support of their latest album Strange Land. The headlining tour begins October 26th at Kung Fu Necktie in Philadelphia and wraps up November 14th at the Bowery Ballroom in New York. The jaunt also includes dates with Sharon Van Etten. In conjunction with the tour, the band is releasing a 6-song effort entitled Ghost on October 23rd, available digitally and on vinyl exclusively at these shows. Full tour dates are below.

Recently, Yellow Ostrich released the video for "The Shakedown." Directed by the band, the clip premiered via NYLON today. Singer/guitarist Alex Schaaf described the making of the video: "We made this video ourselves in Michael's basement.  With no budget and minimal gear, we explored the beauty of darkness.  The white light represents the past, and the black light represents the future.  Should I stay or should I go?"

Watch| Share | Post  Yellow Ostrich  “The Shakedown (Video)” [from Strange Land out now Barsuk Records]

Strange Land is the follow-up to the acclaimed The Mistress, and is self-produced with engineer Beau Sorenson (Death Cab for Cutie, Sparklehorse). With multi-instrumentalist Jon Natchez and drummer Michael Tapper in the fold, Strange Land presents Yellow Ostrich fully formed, no longer a bedroom project, but rather now a full-fledged power trio.

"The Mistress was a guy in a bedroom," says Schaaf, who grew up in Wisconsin and moved to New York in 2010.  "Strange Land is a band.  In a slightly bigger room."  They recorded most of the tracks in six days in a little studio outside of Woodstock, New York, and so while The Mistressused a purposely limited palette of sounds, Strange Land has a dramatically expanded one: Tapper's inventive, downright catchy drumming provides a polyrhythmic foundation for many of the songs while Natchez plays no less than 11 different kinds of horns on the album, lending an almost symphonic air, while his nimble bass playing helps propel the music in its exciting new direction.

Yellow Ostrich Tour Dates:

10/26 - Kung Fu Necktie - Philadelphia, PA

10/27 - Black Cat - Washington, DC

10/28 - Kings Barcade - Raleigh, NC

10/29 - Caledonia Lounge - Athens, GA

10/30 - Club Downunder - Tallahassee, FL &

11/1 - Fitzgerald's - Houston, TX &

11/2 - Fun Fun Fun Fest - Austin, TX

11/3 - Trees - Dallas, TX &

11/5 - Hi-Tone Cafe - Memphis, TN

11/6 - Zanzabar - Louisville, KY

11/7 - The Gramophone - St. Louis, MO

11/9 - The Bishop - Bloomington, IN

11/10 - Brillobox - Pittsburgh, PA

11/11 - The Haunt - Ithaca, NY

11/12 - The Garrison - Toronto, ON

11/13 - Casa Del Popolo - Montreal, QC

11/14 - Bowery Ballroom - New York, NY

& - w/ Sharon Van Etten

The UFO Club: The UFO Club

The UFO Club
The UFO Club
The Reverberation Appreciation Society [2012]









Fire Note Says: Rock n Roll will never die and neither will the garage rock reverb from The UFO Club!

Album Review:
Besides having one of the cooler band names I have heard in awhile The UFO Club play a very stylistic neo-psych surf-garage rock that is infectious. Of course you might not know the band name but The UFO Club is actually a collaboration between The Black Angels' Christian Bland and Night Beats' Lee Blackwell. Now that I have you even more interested I will tell you that the duo of guitarists bring their best work forward here for the full 40 minutes on this self-titled debut.

The name of the group is a homage to the legendary UFO Club of Pink Floyd-era 1960s London and you can definitely hear this same tribute in the record's 60s psych undertone while interlacing several straightforward pop moments during the album. I do say undertone though because what stands out on The UFO Club is their ease at which the guys let loose and just rock. The consistent guitar riff during "Bo Diddley Was The 7th Son" keeps your heart pumping while the slight reverbed vocals soar. On "Wolfman" there of course is some howling that coincides with the hand claps as the song rollicks along as you start singing along "full moon baby, don't you worry its alright!" Production wise the track sounds out of the 60's but The UFO Club not only make it modern they make it cool as its recklessness is its strength. On the stellar "Surf Shitty" you of course get a solid surf guitar cranking along on the mostly instrumental track except for the fun yelling out of the title at its beginning and end.

The UFO Club succeed here because they are absolutely not afraid of any type of song structure. From the 3 minute cover of the Ronettes "Be My Baby" to the over 7 minute grooving "Up In Her Room" the group still brings the same energy, effort and quality to the table. This is a record that Black Angels fans should eat up as well as garage rock followers but in all reality this release could draw in a large indie crowd if it got in front of them. That is what makes The UFO Club such a solid listen because it has a little something for everyone and delivers a great time with every spin!

Key Tracks: "Wolfman", "Surf Shitty", "Bo Diddley Was The 7th Son"

Bands With Similar Fire:
The Doors
The Black Angels
Crystal Stilts

Christian Bland & The Revelators: The Lost Album [Fire Note Review 12/7/10]
The Black Angels: Watch Out Boy/I'd Rather Be Lonely 7" [Fire Note Review 4/24/12]
The Black Angels: Phosphene Dream [Fire Note Review 9/16/10]
The Black Angels: Directions To See A Ghost [Fire Note Review 9/8/08]
The Black Angels: Passover [Fire Note Review 5/15/06] [#14 Top 25 of 2006]

The UFO Club Facebook
The Reverberation Appreciation Society

-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony