Brian Q. Newcomb 
The Breeders All Nerve 4AD [2018] Fire Note Says: Kim Deal reunites the Last Splash Breeders line-up for another dark ride around her inner world and she’s All Nerve. Album Review: In 2013, I had the good fortune to be in Nashville for a conference on a night that coincided with The Breeders’ reunion tour … Read more
Ruby Boots Don’t Talk About It Bloodshot Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Aussie country rocker with promise debuts States-side for Bloodshot Records. Album Review: The second album from Ruby Boots roars out of the gate with “It’s So Cruel,” a cow-punk rocker that recalls the energy of Jason & The Scorchers. But before you get … Read more
Bill Mallonee & The Big Sky Ramblers Forest Full Of Wolves Self-Released [2018] Fire Note Says: Bill Mallonee is one of those best-kept secrets you really want to share with the rest of the music loving world. Album Review: No one is ever going to call singer/songwriter Bill Mallonee an under-achiever. His latest release, a … Read more
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club: Wrong Creatures Tour, Newport Music Hall, Columbus, Ohio – Friday, February 9, 2018 The Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, with it’s gloriously long moniker, arrived in middle America in support of their 8th album, Wrong Creatures (see album review HERE) on Friday night, playing the Columbus club closest to the Ohio State … Read more
Calexico The Thread That Keeps Us ANTI- [2018] Fire Note Says: Arizona’s Calexico offers up alt rock anthems and eclectic musical ruminations on the world at risk and the love that will sustain us in “the age of extremes,” on their ninth album, The Thread That Keeps Us. Album Review: The ninth album from Arizona-based … Read more
Neil Young + Promise Of The Real The Visitor Reprise Records [2017] Fire Note Says: At 72, Neil Young is still making a difference, wearing his politics on his sleeve, and producing anthems for the resistance. Album Review: Neil Young has never been an artist to shrink back from a difficult political moment and leave … Read more
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club Wrong Creatures Vagrant Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club delivers another solid outing shaped by riff-rock and post-punk distortion. Album Review: There are those bands that you just want to root for, they may not yet have produced that breakthrough album you know they are capable of, but … Read more
Glen Hansard Between Two Shores ANTI- [2018] Fire Note Says: Irish folk rocker Glen Hansard, of The Swell Season and The Frames, continues to deliver strong songs. Album Review: One of my favorite musical scenes in film is that long opening sequence at the beginning of the movie “Once,” where you can hear Glen Hansard … Read more
Björk Utopia One Little Indian Records [2017] Fire Note Says: While highly recommended, Björk’s tenth album is still a challenging listen. Album Review: Listening to the latest from Icelandic chanteuse Björk, can feel like stepping through the curtain to enter an audio/visual piece at the Museum of Modern Art in NYC. At first it can … Read more
Hüsker Dü Savage Young Dü Numero Group [2017] Fire Note Says: This 69 track box set delivers a rare and complete look at seminal Minneapolis hardcore punk trio, Hüsker Dü’s early beginnings, a collector’s dream. Album Review: By the time Hüsker Dü – Grant Hart, Greg Norton and Bob Mould – were playing their first … Read more
Mavis Staples If All I Was Was Black ANTI- [2017] Fire Note Says: In the Trump era, Mavis Staples – who earned her chops with the Staples Singers, and lately has been backing up Bob Dylan – works with producer Jeff Tweedy to provide positive anthems for the resistance. Album Review: B.B. King once told … Read more
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings Soul Of A Woman Daptone Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Sharon Jones’ last will is a testament to classic R&B, and a celebration of life. Album Review: Most of the time you don’t know when something will be your last time. When I took my son over to St. Louis … Read more
U2 Songs Of Experience Interscope Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Music doesn’t have to be inspirational to be good, but U2 at their best is just that. Album Review: One of the challenges when your band’s the second highest grossing touring bands of the year, is “Getting Out of Your Own Way.” Of course, that’s … Read more
St. Vincent Masseduction Loma Vista Recordings [2017] Fire Note Says: St. Vincent builds on the success of her last album, bringing her performance art mechanics, manic guitar noise and energetic electro-pop hysterics face to face with tragedy and lives to tell about it. Album Review: St. Vincent’s eponymously titled 4th solo album, released in 2014, … Read more
Chris Taylor Down A Dead End Street Self-Released [2017] Fire Note Says: San Antonio singer/songwriter with a half dozen albums of original LPs under his belt, offers up a tribute to Bob Dylan. Album Review: These days, San Antonio singer/songwriter and painter, Chris Taylor can be heard regularly around his hometown playing The Cove and … Read more
The Church Man Woman Life Death Infinity Unorthodox [2017] Fire Note Says: On their 25th album, The Church from Australia continue to deliver those floating guitar lines that intertwine and grow to create that dreamy, ethereal sound that fans have come to expect. Album Review: On their 25th studio album, Australia’s The Church maintains the … Read more
Pearl Jam Let’s Play Two Republic [2017] Fire Note Says: The audio companion to the Danny Clinch film of the same title, features the concert performances of some of Pearl Jam’s best known songs recorded during the band’s two day stand at Chicago’s home of the Cub’s baseball club in August, before they won the … Read more
CousteauX CousteauX Silent X Records [2017] Fire Note Says: CousteauX creates music that recalls James Bond soundtracks and Las Vegas show bands, echoing the likes of Burt Bacharach and Nick Cave. Album Review: Cousteau, a London-based pop band that scored a European hit back at the end of the last century with “The Last Good … Read more
The Replacements For Sale: Live At Maxwell’s 1986 Sire/Rhino [2017] Fire Note Says: Minneapolis’ 80’s punk heroes captured live in all their raw, ragged glory. Album Review: Gather round my children, and I’ll tell you a story about a far distant time called the 80’s when punk bands weren’t mere fashion statements marketed by corporations, … Read more
Weezer Pacific Daydream Crush/Atlantic Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Weezer’s Rivers Cuomo continues his infatuation with the Beach Boys while mixing his power chord anthems with mellower pop inclinations. Album Review: You can’t say Weezer’s Rivers Cuomo doesn’t wear his influences on his sleeve. On last year’s self-titled (White Album) everything pointed to the Beach … Read more
Big Head Todd And The Monsters New World Arisin’ Big Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Colorado jam band, Big Head Todd & the Monsters get better with age. Album Review: There are some bands that peak early. They come fresh out of the box with that one big idea that will set them apart, all … Read more
Bruce Cockburn Bone On Bone True North Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Bruce Cockburn may be the most successful living singer-songwriter that most Americans have never heard of. Album Review: Even with 33 albums to his name and a host of music awards in his native Canada, Bruce Cockburn may be the most successful living … Read more
Robert Plant Carry Fire Nonesuch Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Carry Fire is Plant’s passion for life and love as expressed in music. Album Review: At 69, Robert Plant has been on a musical journey of discovery for a long, long time, but it only became obvious once he stepped out of the shadow of … Read more
Foo Fighters: Concrete & Gold Tour, US Band Arena, Cincinnati, Ohio – October 20, 2017 Dave Grohl is an everyperson’s rock star, he’s the rock star you think you would want to have a beer with, hell, he’s the rock star that would buy you a beer, and you’d gladly buy a round yourself. There’s … Read more
Prophets Of Rage Prophets Of Rage Fantasy Records [2017] Fire Note Says: This rap/rock supergroup converts the live energy and potent political lyrics of their past works into new rage-filled music for these challenging times. Album Review: One of the best live tours in the Fall of last year’s election season was the collaboration of … Read more