Brian Q. Newcomb 
Gaz Coombes World’s Strongest Man Hot Fruit / Caroline International [2018] Fire Note Says: Third solo album from Supergrass’ Gaz Coombes is a reflective, modern pop affair. Album Review: Britain’s Supergrass, running their course in the 90’s and 00’s, were popular throughout the UK and Europe, but never quite got the attention they deserved in … Read more
Derri Daugherty The Color of Dreams Lo-Fidelity Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Singer and guitarist with The Choir, and side bands Lost Dogs and Kerosene Halo, strikes off for a more personal solo album, backed by friends from Jars of Clay and Sixpence NTR. Album Review: Back in 2016, Derri Daugherty, the lead vocalist and … Read more
Walter Wolfman Washington My Future Is My Past ANTI- Records [2018] Fire Note Says: New Orleans’ blues & jazz veteran steps away from his longtime show-band the Roadrunners for an intimate set emphasizing his inner romantic crooner. Album Review: Walter Wolfman Washington has been a mainstay around the New Orleans music scene playing traditional blues … Read more
Johnny Marr Call The Comet New Voodoo Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Johnny Marr, groundbreaking guitarist with The Smiths, The The, Modest Mouse, delivers all the goods – solid songs, satisfying vocals, and of course great guitar sounds – on his 3rd solo album. Album Review: During The Smiths short brilliant career they released 4 … Read more
Snow Patrol Wildness Republic Records [2018] Fire Note Says: No. Irish/Scottish band, Snow Patrol return after 6 years with their most accessible, pop-friendly album yet. Album Review: When a band puts out a “best of” album it is often the sign of a big change, either they are breaking up, or looking for a quick … Read more
The Choir Bloodshot Galaxy 21 Music [2018] Album Review: In the economically fragile world of indie alternative rock, career longevity is a rare thing. In that regard, The Choir – who I first saw play at a Chicago music festival in 1984 and have produced 14 full-length original studio recordings, plus at least five live … Read more
Neko Case Hell-On ANTI- Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Indie rock icon, chanteuse and auteur, Neko Case returns after 5 years with a strong self-produced collection of songs, her best yet. Album Review: It’s been five years since Neko Case’s last album, but it’s not as if she’s been silent since the release of The … Read more
U2: “eXPERIENCE + iNNOCENCE Tour”; United Center; Chicago, IL – Wednesday, May 23, 2018 Much like our political affiliations in these profoundly partisan days, we often wear our musical preferences as a flag about our own preferences and values. When I wear my tour t-shirts, whether it’s Wilco, Steve Earle, or Lollapalooza ’92, it’s often … Read more
Wire Pink Flag (Special Edition Reissue) Pinkflag [2018] Chairs Missing (Special Edition Reissue) Pinkflag [2018] 154 (Special Edition Reissue) Pinkflag [2018] Fire Note Says: Influential British punk band Wire is re-issuing their three earliest albums, including special editions that unearth b-sides, demos, rarities and previously unreleased recordings. Album Review: I think it was Brian Eno … Read more
Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks Sparkle Hard Matador Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Stephen Malkmus’ 7th album with The Jicks continues to explore diverse musical approaches from his own post-punk point of view, with the aid of producer Chris Funk, of the Decemberists. Album Review: If you include the 5 albums Stephen Malkmus made as … Read more
Dr. Dog Critical Equation We Buy Gold/Thirty Tigers [2018] Fire Note Says: On its tenth band outing, Dr. Dog continues its legacy of indie rock that mixes 60’s style songwriting and harmonies with just enough instrumental psychedelia to keep things interesting. Album Review: Philadelphia’s quintessential indie rock outfit, Dr. Dog has never stretched too far … Read more
Franz Ferdinand Always Ascending Domino Records [2018] Fire Note Says: On their fifth album, Franz Ferdinand embrace a polished pop sensibility. Album Review: If you’ve been paying attention to creative movement in the rock music scene for long enough you begin to notice how sounds and styles tend to recycle even as new artists are … Read more
The Bonnevilles Dirty Photographs Alive Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Northern Irish guitar/drum duo, The Bonnesvilles stay true to their “garage punk blues” ethos on Dirty Photographs, with modest accents as a sign of growth. Album Review: The Bonnevilles, the guitar/drum duo of Andre McGibbon, Jr., and Chris McMullan of Northern Ireland, have made a … Read more
The Voidz Virtue Cult/RCA Records [2018] Fire Note Says: If The Strokes fail to get their act together for another full-length – The Voidz are working out just fine. Album Review: With The Strokes sitting back most of the 2010’s it’s not a real surprise to find singer Julian Casablancas getting busy with his side … Read more
Eels The Deconstruction E Works/[PIAS] [2018] Fire Note Says: The Eels 12th outing. Album Review: On the 12th Eels album in 22 years, principal singer/songwriter Mark Oliver Everett, known as E, continues a long and lengthy practice of deconstructing the major myths of the American Dream, and the myths and fables of romance, Capitalism and … Read more
Ben Harper and Charlie Musselwhite No Mercy In This Land ANTI- Records [2018] Fire Note Says: The warm humanity of the songs on No Mercy In This Land with the melding of emotion and technique in the two performers solos leaves a satisfying feeling. Album Review: The last time bluesman Charlie Musselwhite and jam band … Read more
David Byrne American Utopia Nonesuch Records [2018] Fire Note Says: David Byrne brings his years of musical experimentation, as a primary creative force in Talking Heads, and through his ten studio albums, collaborations with Brian Eno and others, as well as his work on various film scores into conversation with American pop culture, and has … Read more
Phil Madeira Providence Mercyland Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Phil Madeira, one of Emmylou Harris’ Red Dirt Boys, delivers an album of piano songs – that mix pop song craft with soulful jazz tendencies – about the town he grew up in, Providence, Rhode Island. Album Review: Phil Madeira is one of those Nashville-based Jack-of-all-trades … Read more
Erika Wennerstrom Sweet Unknown Partisan Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Erika Wennerstrom of Heartless Bastards takes a solo run. Album Review: Last May, when Lucinda Williams and her band made their way to the intimate confines of the Victoria Theater in Dayton, the unexpected special guest opening the show was Erika Wennerstrom, best known for … Read more
Kansas: “Leftoverture” 40th Anniversary Tour; Victoria Theater; Dayton, OH – Wednesday, March 21, 2018 So, over the years, my appreciation and interest in the band Kansas has diminished my standing on the “Cool” quotient data board, that’s a given which I’ve managed to live with for decades. RollingStone magazine once declared that Kansas made music … Read more
The Decemberists I’ll Be Your Girl Capitol Records [2018] Fire Note Says: This one is a keeper. Album Review: When The Decemberists’ first single for I’ll Be Your Girl, “Severed” showed up on the appropriate alternative-friendly satellite radio stations a few weeks ago, I bet I wasn’t the only fan to begin worrying that the … Read more
Barrence Whitfield & The Savages Soul Flowers Of Titan Bloodshot Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Barrence Whitfield & The Savages play oldschool R&B with the energy of garage-rock punkers, serving up passion and intensity, giving life to familiar blues riffs. Album Review: Soul Flowers Of Titan, the fourth album from Boston-based R&B soul shouter Barrence … Read more
Moby Everything Was Beautiful, And Nothing Hurt Little Idiot/Mute Records [2018] Fire Note Says: On his 15th studio album, Moby creates an atmospheric soundtrack for the post-apocalyptic age to come. Album Review: Moby was making electronic dance music hits before we knew to call it EDM, when it was still called techno/dance pop, but his … Read more
Jimi Hendrix Both Sides Of The Sky Legacy Recordings [2018] Fire Note Says: Both Sides Of The Sky will be especially appreciated by collectors and hardcore fans who want to hear everything. Album Review: It is strange here in 2018 to be talking about “new” music from Jimi Hendrix, who died tragically in 1970 after … Read more
Finn’s Motel Quinta del Sordo Victory Over Gravity Records [2017] Fire Note Says: St. Louis power pop/rock quartet returns with a second album in a year, with the emphasis on solid songwriting and smart, catchy songs. Album Review: Finn’s Motel came out of hibernation last year, 12 years after their last full-length recording, with a … Read more