Fire Drills Moving: Going Back Home

Hey Fire Drills Fans - We moved to The Fire Note (Click Here)

Starting today you can find the Fire Drill reviews at The Fire Note. They will follow the featured release of the day at the Note.

Cotton Jones: Paranoid Cocoon

Cotton Jones
Paranoid Cocoon
Suicide Squeeze Records [2009]








Fire Drill Review:
Ex Page France frontman Michael Nau has recently released his new musical moniker called Cotton Jones, which has elements of soul, psychedelic, rock, and gospel fastened together in a sort of jingle haze. The description may sound bizarre but the record really is a throwback to 60's inspired pop that sways and moves peacefully like a faint wind is pushing it along. What helps Cotton Jones hit a striking cord is the additional vocals of Whitney McGraw, which adds just enough female backdrop vocals and harmonies to the mix for Paranoid Cocoon to surprise you around certain corners.

Key Track: "Gotta Cheer Up"

Band With Similar Fire: Wooden Wand

Cotton Jones MySpace

-Reviewed by Aidan Rox

The Kokoon: We Didn't Go [EP]

The Kokoon
We Didn't Go [EP]
New Average Records [2009]








Fire Drill Review:
The Kokoon are a new import euro-pop rock band from Berlin that over the past eight years have released two full length albums before the We Didn't Go EP. This experience comes through on the EP because lead vocalist Danyx Simone seems perfectly confident as she delivers a slight snarl and attitude song after song. I am not sure these five songs will get The Kokoon noticed over here but given the right media exposure the single might find its way onto a college radio near you and possible beyond.

Key Track: "We Didn't Go"

Band With Similar Fire: Siouxsie And The Banshees

Life Seems So Delicate (mp3)

Official Kokoon Website
The Kokoon MySpace

-Reviewed by Aidan Rox

Marked Men: Ghosts

Marked Men
Ghosts
Dirtnap Records [2009]








Fire Drill Review:
No one will ever convince me that pop punk rock is dead and Denton, Texas band Marked Men help keep the genre alive and do it proud. Their new record Ghosts is 15 songs in 30 minutes, which simply means that every track averages 2 minutes. Bands that are good at this can pack hooks in this format and that is exactly what the Marked Men accomplish. Ghosts is full of tight, short, raw and memorable tracks that will make it the record I first roll down my windows to this year!

Key Track: "Ditch"

Band With Similar Fire: The Riverdales

Official Marked Men Website
Marked Men MySpace

-Reviewed by Natalie Colibri

The Love Language: The Love Language

The Love Language
The Love Language
Bladen County Records [2009]








Fire Drill Review:
The Love Language is an indie band from North Carolina that you will start hearing about very soon as they recently have been the opening band for The Rosebuds and Cursive. Their debut self-titled record is a catchy lo-fi affair that was written, performed and recorded by band leader Stu McLamb. The basement feeling of the record is what makes it likable as McLamb offers simplistic catchy pop songs that are full of instrumentation, spirit and his crooning, which will keep you going back to The Love Language for more!

Key Track: "Lalita"

Band With Similar Fire: Vampire Weekend

The Love Language MySpace

-Reviewed by Natalie Colibri

Clem Snide: Hungry Bird

Clem Snide
Hungry Bird
429 Records [2009]








Fire Drill Review:
Hungry Bird puts away the rumors that Clem Snide were over following a four year spell between records. Leader Eef Barzely has been releasing more folk oriented solo records and that influence is felt on Hungry Bird. It is an album that plucks along with a small dose of vigor, which is not a bad thing because the songwriting and playing are solid. Personally, "I Love The Unknown" is still one of my favorite tracks from the band and that pop zest is nowhere on Hungry Bird but nine years changes things and for Barzely, Clem Snide is still a forum but one that is now more entrenched in lower key offerings - and here that is ok.

Key Track: "Born A Man"

Band With Similar Fire: Bonnie 'Prince' Billy

Official Clem Snide Website
Clem Snide MySpace

-Reviewed by Sam DaMatta

Here We Go Magic: Here We Go Magic

Here We Go Magic
Here We Go Magic
Western Vinyl Records [2009]








Fire Drill Review:
You might know the more folk oriented singer/songwriter Luke Temple from his previous solo outings but Here We Go Magic is his new musical adventure that expands way past his normal genre into a spacey electronic 4-track pop recording. It has a multitude of indie moments that include some instrumentals and blips and beats that spring up while being complemented by Temple's vocals both up front and hidden beneath the layers. Here We Go Magic is a record that you instantly like when you let it play and in its relatively short 38 minutes there is enough layers packed in that upon each listen new elements can be discovered. This is the type of indie you should adore.

Key Track: "Tunnelvision"

Band With Similar Fire: Animal Collective

Official Here We Go Magic Website
Here We Go Magic MySpace

-Reviewed by Sam DaMatta