Brian Q. Newcomb 
Watermelon Slim Traveling ManNorthernBlues Music [2020] Watermelon Slim, originally born as William P. Homans III, has come to his career in blues music by a unique path, which explains the nearly 30 years between his first recorded work and his next. A Vietnam vet, Homans tried farming, made a living as a truck driver, earned … Read more
Pearl Jam GigatonMonkeywrench/Republic Records [2020] It’s too easy to look at a band in its 30th year, long established as an arena filling commercial force, with cynicism when they release their 11th studio album as an attempt to hold on to past glories or as tired veterans taking advantage of fans with one more attempt … Read more
Soccer Mommy color theoryLoma Vista [2020] On her fourth full-lenth album, Soccer Mommy (born, Sophie Allison) has used color coding to telegraph the emotional content of her songs, but her tactic of hiding her darker, emotionally charged lyrics in up-tempo pop melodies remains on “color theory.” In fact, her quick rise in popularity following the … Read more
Brian Fallon Local HoneyLesser Known Records/Thirty Tigers [2020] Brian Fallon’s freshly released third solo album, Local Honey, had to have been written and recorded prior to this period of physical distancing with much of the nation locked down in the forced intimacy of their homes. Yet, the eight songs here from Gaslight Anthem’s former lead … Read more
Lilly Hiatt Walking ProofNew West Records [2020] Nashville singer/songwriter Lilly Hiatt has known most of her existence that life is rarely just one thing. On her fourth album’s title track, she sings “I could tell you that it’s easy/but that wouldn’t be the truth/if you ever need to call me, well you know that’s walking … Read more
THICK5 Years BehindEpitaph Records [2020] The debut from Brooklyn-based DIY punk trio, THICK, was the perfect record to pick up as our country was shutting down due to the Coronavirus/COVID-19, bringing enough noise, angry energy and musical muscle to make the required lock-down relatively tolerable. No doubt, Nikki Sisti (voice/guitar), Kate Black (voice/bass, guitar and … Read more
Rookie RookieBloodshot Records [2020] The debut album of 6-piece Chicago band Rookie comes out of the box just dripping with references to a much earlier time in rock music history. From the opening crunchy guitar chords of “Hold On Tight,” it’s clear this band’s goals are to relive in a fresh way the musical highlights … Read more
Yumi Zouma Truth Or ConsequencesPolyvinyl Records [2020] The third full-length effort from the quartet of New Zealanders who got their start playing shows around Christchurch in 2014, finds the popsters delivering another album of light electronic dance grooves focused on listener friendly melodies. While the four no longer live close together on one continent, they … Read more
The DistrictsYou Know I’m Not Going AnywhereFat Possum Records [2020] For The Districts’ fourth full-length release, You Know I’m Not Going Anywhere, singer/songwriter Rob Grote withdrew to his bedroom with a guitar, a synthesizer, and a drum machine during a period of introspection and creative exploration while juggling “this desperate desire to escape and the … Read more
Stephen Malkmus Traditional TechniquesMatador Records [2020] Stephen Malkmus has been on a creative tear of late, releasing a band record with The Jicks in 2018 after four years away, Sparkle Hard, and an experimental solo record dabbling in electronica last year, Groove Denied. On his third release in as many years, Malkmus continues to experiment, … Read more
Sonny Landreth Blacktop RunMascot Label Group [2020] Sonny Landreth is a guitar player’s guitarist, much the way John Hiatt and John Prine are songwriter’s songwriters. Bob Dylan is one of the most beloved and respected songwriters of the modern era, yet back in ’87 he covered John Hiatt’s song, “The Usual.” Bonnie Raitt has written … Read more
The Proper Ornaments Mission BellsTapete Records [2020] After a few enjoyable listens to this fifth album from London’s The Proper Ornaments, I was surprised to pull up their bio on the label website and read that “this is not a retro band.” Now “retro” wasn’t a word that had come to mind while listening exactly, … Read more
Greg Dulli Random DesireRoyal Cream/BMG [2020] Greg Dulli may just now be getting around to making a solo studio album, but both as the lead singer for alt/rock heroes Afghan Whigs, and as the creative center of The Twilight Singers he’s cut a wide musical swath across a variety of music genres in his 30-plus … Read more
Phil Madeira Open HeartMercyland [2020] At this late date, Phil Madeira must still feel that he has something to prove. Besides his “day job” as part of Emmylou Harris’ backing band, The Red Dirt Boys,” he’s recorded three solo albums in the last two years, after producing an all-star tribute to the songs of the … Read more
Ethan GruskaEn GardeWarner Records [2020] On this sophomore effort by Ethan Gruska, his producer chops are on display as much as his melodic sensibilities as a singer/songwriter. And apparently, he’s inherited his musical skill sets and interests quite naturally. The son of Jay Gruska, a singer/songwriter and composer best known for composing music for TV … Read more
Wire Mind HivePinkflag [2020] It’s the rare band that stays together over 40 years, and even rarer not to have evolved musically over time. AC/DC perhaps being the exception that proves the rule. Wire arrived on the British punk scene with their aggressive debut, “Pink Flag,” in ’77, chock full of short, minimalist guitar-driven attacks. … Read more
Green Day The Father Of All Motherfuckers Reprise Records [2020] Generally speaking, even the most popular punk rock bands are not designed to stay vital for the long haul. Sex Pistols delivered an explosive 3 years, and everything since has been cashing in on that early reputation and music, thus the “Filthy Lucre” reunion tour … Read more
Drive-By Truckers The Unraveling ATO Records [2020] Album Review: The Drive-By Truckers are back with their 12th album, an obvious follow-up to their politically charged ’16 release, “American Band.” If anything, on The Unraveling, songwriters Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley have taken their inspiration right from the headlines as they write songs of protest over … Read more
Okay Kaya Watch This Liquid Pour Itself Jagjaguwar [2020] Fire Note Says: There’s a quirky artfulness in the minimalist experimental pop of Okay Kaya, as she mixes wry lyrical observations with simple vocal melodies. Album Review: Arriving just a week after the passing of Monty Python’s Terry Jones, the debut of Okay Kaya has a … Read more
Coldplay Everyday Life Parlophone/Atlantic Records [2019] Fire Note Says: The eighth album from Coldplay benefits from world music influences and a scattershot approach to incorporating a variety of old school musical influences. Album Review: Dropping late in the year, Colplay’s eighth album became an unexpected contender on a lot of folk’s year in lists, due … Read more
Wolf Parade Thin Mind Sub Pop Records [2020] Fire Note Says: Wolf Parade, stripped back to the original Montreal power trio, create a strong mix of 80’s new wave sounds and forward-thinking modern rock on Thin Mind, their 5th album. Album Review: Thin Mind, the fifth full-length album from Montreal’s Wolf Parade, arrives with the … Read more
of Montreal UR Fun Polyvinyl Records [2020] Album Review: For the 16th album form the Athens, GA-based of Montreal, principal songwriter and band leader, Kevin Barnes opted to make the album in isolation, playing all of the instruments himself. While Barnes often takes the band out on tour as a quintet and will likely do … Read more
Joseph Arthur Come Back World Moonage Rebel [2019] Album Review: Given all the artists who Joseph Arthur has collaborated with, it’s always surprising to me that he’s not achieved the kind of ‘household name’ notoriety that come with music industry breakthroughs. An early singer/songwriter discovery, Arthur’s earliest albums were on Peter Gabriel’s Real World label, … Read more
Chris Taylor Lovers, Thieves, Fools + Pretenders Self-Released [2019] Album Review: While I’ve been a fan and acquaintance of San Antonio singer/songwriter, band leader and visual artist Chris Taylor for more than two decades, I have to admit when I recently checked out his bandcamp page, it was immediately obvious that he’s a lot more … Read more
The Flaming Lips The Soft Bulletin: Live At Red Rocks Warner Records [2019] Fire Note Says: The Flaming Lips join together with the Colorado Symphony to recreate their 1999 masterpiece “The Soft Bulletin” at the landmark Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Album Review: Back in 2016, somebody had the smarts to imagine a 20th anniversary celebration of … Read more