Brian Q. Newcomb 
Death Cab For Cutie Kintsugi Atlantic Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Kintsugi is a break up record that doesn’t hit all of its marks. Album Review: Death Cab for Cutie hit it in a big way, over a decade ago along with a host of other young bands, like Dashboard Confessional, labeled as emo for … Read more
Madonna Rebel Heart Boy Toy / Interscope Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Rebel Heart is a pretty safe and predictable offering. Album Review: We have to give Madonna her due. In 1983, it was easy to assume that she was just one more “Lucky Star,” a flash in the pan, one and done. Dance/disco acts … Read more
The Church Further / Deeper Unorthodox Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Further/Deeper finds The Church doing what they do best! Album Review: In the 35 years since Aussie band The Church formed in 1980, they’ve largely been the collaborative effort of Steve Kilbey on lead vocals, bass and guitars, Marty Wilson-Piper on guitars and bgv’s, … Read more
Steve Earle & The Dukes Terraplane New West Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Terraplane finds Earle & his Dukes exploring the swampy blues stomps of the Deep South. Album Review: One of the benefits of a long career is that it gives an artist a chance to celebrate their influences and explore artistic tangents without … Read more
Rhiannon Giddens Tomorrow Is My Turn Nonesuch Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Carolina Chocolate Drop Giddens spreads her wings on new solo record. Album Review: Rhiannon Giddens is not a name new to us, she was part of the critically lauded roots/string & jug band, the Carolina Chocolate Drops, and then signed on as part … Read more
Björk Vulnicura One Little Indian Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Few and far between artists can compare, Björk again makes her own way. Album Review: In the over 20 years since Björk broke out of the Icelandic band Sugarcubes, she has created a unique body of work, driven by her experimental and eclectic sonic choices, … Read more
D’Angelo & The Vanguard Black Messiah RCA Records [2014] Fire Note Says: It has been 14 years but time didn’t seem to phase D’Angelo. Album Review: Arriving 14 years after his much-praised sophomore album, Voodoo, it appears that reports of D’Angelo’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. The neo-soul singer first burst on the scene with … Read more
Justin Townes Earle Absent Fathers Vagrant Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Earle delivers a heart felt album with the new Absent Fathers. Album Review: It looks to be hard enough to make a name for one’s self, shape a sound, build a following, but when you add climbing out from beneath the shadow of a … Read more
The Decemberists What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World Capitol Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Lighter and a bit brighter, The Decemberists have greater focus on their 7th studio record. Album Review: The folky harmonica driven song that gives this 7th studio album from Portland, Oregon’s The Decemberists its title is “12-17-12,” a song … Read more
The Smashing Pumpkins Monuments To An Elegy Martha’s Music/BMG [2014] Fire Note Says: If you don’t over-think it, Monuments to An Elegy has a lot to offer. Album Review: Billy Corgan is one of those smart rockers, maybe too smart for his own good. One clue you may be dealing with someone who over-thinks their … Read more
Cracker Berkeley To Bakersfield 429 Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Cracker still matters 20 years later. Album Review: Okay, let’s begin with a favorite rock star interview moment. Back in 1994, Cracker was on tour promoting its successful sophomore effort, Kerosene Hat, in an opening slot with Gin Blossoms and headliner Spin Doctors in major … Read more
The New Basement Tapes Lost On The River Harvest Records [2014] Fire Note Says: A pleasant exploration of early Dylan through the eyes of some very different songwriters. Of course, the original “Basement Tapes,” were recordings made in Woodstock, NY in 1967, when Bob Dylan, recovering from a motorcycle accident, spent 5 months woodsheding songs … Read more
Steve Taylor & The Perfect Foil Goliath Splint Entertainment [2014] Fire Note Says: Goliath is a loud, fast, rock & roll record. Album Review: It’s easy to get excited about a bright band of youngsters who appear on the scene with a fresh burst of creativity and energy (see The Strypes), or celebrate a band … Read more
Wilco Alpha Mike Foxtrot: Rare Tracks 1994-2014 Nonesuch Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Rarities compilation aimed at the sweet spot of many of Wilco’s hard-core fans. Album Review: Twenty years is a long time. And if you’re industrious or plagued by insomnia you can make a lot of music in twenty years. That seems to … Read more
Prince Art Official Age Warner Bros. Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Prince has arisen from cold storage hibernation to rock a new generation. Album Review: While Prince’s self-released albums of the last decade or so have been strong enough to satisfy long-time fans, there has been real excitement about his return to a relationship with … Read more
Pink Floyd The Endless River Columbia Records [2014] Fire Note Says: The Endless River provides a closing gesture for a band. Album Review: Depending on whom you’re talking to, The Endless River is the final album from experimental rock band Pink Floyd, ending a recording career spanning 47 years. Of course, for some Floyd fans … Read more
Lucinda Williams Down Where The Spirit Meets The Bone Highway 20 Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Lucinda Williams has settled into a comfortable groove. Album Review: Two things come to mind with the mention of Lucinda Williams: that voice and those songs. That voice has found her singing on records by some of the best … Read more
Gary Clark Jr. Live Warner Bros. Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Gary Clark Jr. Live is a solid and spirited performance. Album Review: Earlier this year, Eric Clapton was interviewed by David Fricke for Rolling Stone Magazine, as his tribute to JJ Cale, The Breeze, was hitting stores and talk of the guitar god’s retirement … Read more
Tweedy Sukierae dBpm Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Sukierae paints a musical portrait of a talented family in a challenging transitional period. Album Review: It’s never been all that obvious that Jeff Tweedy, the creative center of the thriving indie alt/rock band Wilco, ever needed to step out and make a solo album. He was … Read more
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Hypnotic Eye Warner Bros. Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Hypnotic Eye finds Petty & the Heartbreakers continuing to stretch, grow, and inspire. Album Review: For nearly four decades, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers embodied a truly singular American rock band sound (perhaps second on that front only to Bruce Springsteen … Read more
David Bazan + Passenger String Quartet Volume 1 Self-Released [2014] Fire Note Says: Bazan intensifies the emotional breadth and tenor of his original songs. Album Review: I’d really be surprised if any fans of Seattle indie band Pedro the Lion or David Bazan’s post-Pedro solo albums ever thought “I really like these songs, but they’d … Read more
The Strypes Snapshot Virgin EMI Records [2014] Fire Note Says: The Strypes show that age means nothing on contagious debut! Album Review: Every now and then you run across a new band whose debut is so strong that you want to remember the first time you heard them. First time, many of us heard The … Read more
Chuck E. Weiss Red Beans And Weiss ANTI- Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Chuck E. Weiss’ new record is a way cool concoction. Album Review: There was a time, back in the day, when it wasn’t just “cool” to be into jazz, beat poets, talkin’ blues and scat singing, but it was commercially fortuitous. Joni … Read more
My Chemical Romance May Death Never Stop You: The Greatest Hits 2001-2013 Reprise Records [2014] Fire Note Says: May Death Never Stop You works as a primer if you are looking back at the alt/rock world of the last decade. Album Review: The thing about My Chemical Romance, the pop/punk band from Jersey that had … Read more
Lydia Loveless Somewhere Else Bloodshot Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Loveless is a true original – raw, edgy and willing to rock! Album Review: You might say that country/punk rock, singer/songwriter Lydia Loveless wears her heart on her sleeves on the songs on this her third full-length album. And you might say that’s an understatement. … Read more