Christopher Tahy 
Charles Bradley Changes Dunham/Daptone Records [2016] Fire Note Says: The Screaming Eagle of Soul returns with another honest helping of soul. Album Review: To quote the album introduction given by Charles Bradley “God Bless America”. Bradley says, “America you’ve been real, honest, hurt, and sweet to me. But, I wouldn’t change it for the world. … Read more
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Nonagon Infinity ATO Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Once Nonagon Infinity starts it’s really hard to stop! Album Review: Ever since their formation, septet King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard have always released something interesting. We originally got started with the heavy “connected” psychedelic jams of 2014’s I’m In … Read more
Sunwatchers Sunwatchers Castle Face Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Sunwatchers produce a strange, intoxicating mix. Emphasis on the strange. Album Review: To assemble and write an album like this it takes a group of interesting heavy hitters. Luckily, New York’s Sunwatchers do just that. Comprised of Jim McHugh (Guitar, Electric Phin), Peter Kerlin (Bass), Jeff … Read more
Holy Wave Freaks Of Nurture Reverberation Appreciation Society [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: Again, psychedelic music comes in many forms today. With their newest release, Freaks of Nurture, Holy Wave pulls no punches and dreamily drifts into the 1960’s. I’m going to make a bold statement, Freaks of Nurture will be the most pleasant psych … Read more
Heron Oblivion Heron Oblivion Sub Pop [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: As far as debuts go, San Francisco’s Heron Oblivion puts forth a strong effort. Drawing off sounds old and new, Heron Oblivion’s influences range from Sandy Denny/Fairport Convention to Jefferson Airplane, Six Organs of Admittance to Dead Meadow, and the cosmic antics of Endless … Read more
The Black Queen Fever Daydream Self-Released [2016] Album Review: The Black Queen is a group that has quite a bit of potential behind it. A record involving Greg Puciato of Dillinger Escape Plan, Joshua Eustis of Nine Inch Nails and Puscifer, and Steven Alexander former tech for Nine Inch Nail and Dillinger Escape Plan. This … Read more
Night Beats Who Sold My Generation Heavenly Recordings [2016] Fire Note Says: Night Beats return to try and ask the question Who Sold My Generation? Album Review: It is my privilege here at The Fire Note to review many psychedelic bands. For the three years that I’ve been doing this there has been quite the … Read more
Baby Jesus Baby Jesus Yippee Ki Yay Records [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: My second review of 2016 and it just so happens to be another international psychedelic act. Formed after an intense trip to India, Halland County, Sweden’s Baby Jesus is a noisy and raw trip back to the 60’s. As soon as track … Read more
Magic & Naked Magic & Naked Casbah Records [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: Music is a medium that knows no bounds. So when Magic & Naked’s “Anna” hits your ears and you hear “Breathe” with a bit of “Wish You Were Here.” Then you know that they’re starting off on the right foot. The French … Read more
Clutch Psychic Warfare Weathermaker Music [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: To say that I’m impressed with Clutch is a bit of an understatement. Psychic Warfare is their 11th studio album and the Maryland based group is also celebrating their 25th anniversary. In the riff based hard-rock and stoner-rock genres, Clutch have released some impressive albums … Read more
FUZZ II In The Red Recordings [2015] Fire Note Says: Ty Segall and his volatile trio return with another molten, time bender Album Review: Until we heard it, FUZZ was a band we didn’t know that we needed. With their debut self-titled album, high school friends Ty Segall (Drums, Vocals), Charles Mootheart (Guitar), and Roland … Read more
Wand 1000 Days Drag City Records [2015] Fire Note Says: After Ganglion Reef and Golem Wand try to tie it all together to find balance. Album Review: When I first heard Wand’s Ganglion Reef I was blown away. Concluding my original review I said, “Wand is the band that the Elephant Six Collective never produced.” … Read more
The Dead Weather Dodge And Burn Third Man Records [2015] Fire Note Says: The Dead Weather storm back into play with the fun and scuzzy Dodge And Burn. Album Review: I have to get something off my chest. Jack White’s last album, Lazaretto was not a 4 headphone record. With a handful of good tracks, … Read more
The Sword High Country Razor & Tie Records [2015] Fire Note Says: The Sword return, slashing in several different directions. Album Review: Ever since battling the cover of The Sword’s “Freya” in video game Guitar Hero 2, I’ve found myself hooked by the Austin, TX-based band’s sound. Picking up both 2006’s Age of Winters and … Read more
Titus Andronicus The Most Lamentable Tragedy Merge Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Risking over-ambition and failure, The Most Lamentable Tragedy has it merits—just hope you’ve done your homework. Album Review: From a literary standpoint, Titus Andronicus could be considered William Shakespeare’s first tragedy, a gruesome tale of rape, violence, and revenge. While New Jersey’s Titus … Read more
Tame Impala Currents Interscope Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Frontman Kevin Parker returns from the void as Tame Impala sweeps us up in his Currents. Album Review: This could be one of the toughest reviews I’ve ever written. Tame Impala’s new album Currents makes it hard not to write Kevin Parker off as a traitor. … Read more
Native Lights Native Lights Passive Recordings [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: The members of Tulsa, Oklahoma’s Native Lights have been contributing their fair share of captivating sounds for 20+ years. Their self-titled debut is a huge win for fans of the dark ambient and shoegaze genres as they lift influences from titans My Bloody Valentine … Read more
Male Gaze Gale Maze Castle Face Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Ripping through space and time, Male Gaze burns with their debut. Album Review: One of the most exciting labels today has to be John Dwyer‘s Castle Face Records. Scooping up artists from the underground and piping them into our ear holes, Dwyer‘s newest discovery … Read more
Rose Windows Rose Windows Sub Pop Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Rose Windows return for their sophomore and final album. Album Review: For a band that will only put out two albums, the Rose Windows will always have a special place in my heart. Not only was their debut album, The Sun Dogs, one hell … Read more
Thee Oh Sees Mutilator Defeated At Last Castle Face Records [2015] Fire Note Says: After Drop, Thee Oh Sees return to form. Album Review: Thee Oh Sees have always been an interesting band. While—in my humble opinion—2014’s Drop wasn’t a huge success, it wasn’t a total failure either. Drop provided some killer tracks, which is … Read more
Unknown Mortal Orchestra Multi-Love Jagjaguwar [2015] Fire Note Says: UMO redefine what you thought you knew. Album Review: If you would have told me this time last year that I‘d be shaking my ass to a Unknown Mortal Orchestra album, I‘d have called you crazy. Having sprung out of New Zealand in 2011 with their … Read more
Jack Name Weird Moons Castle Face Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Jack Name returns with an ever-eccentric brand of far-out space pop. Album Review: The first time that I heard Jack Name’s debut album, Light Show, it was easy to place him in the hall of pop eccentrics. Name wasn’t afraid to add concept to … Read more
Speedy Ortiz could easily produce songs that sound rote. But within their 90’s indie trappings a distinct personality develops with the help of angular guitars, barely-disguised pain, and poetically-delivered wit. They’ve delivered before, so it can only be assumed that this personality will transfer over to their new release Foil Deer. After the exciting release … Read more
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion Freedom Tower – No Wave Dance Party 2015 Mom + Pop Music [2015] Fire Note Says: The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion return with no class-believe me that’s a good thing. Album Review: After asking to pay respects during opener “Funeral,” Spencer then asks “Fellas, are you ready to hit it … Read more
Wand Golem In The Red Records [2015] Fire Note Says: The title says it all; Wand’s Golem is a fantastical, heavy monster. Album Review: Please do yourself a favor and shout it from the mountain tops, “WAND IS BACK!” Coming out of nowhere with their debut Ganglion Reef—my number six top album for 2014—Wand devised … Read more