Daniel Taylor 
Moon Duo Occult Architecture, Vol. 1 Sacred Bones Records [2017] Moon Duo Occult Architecture Vol. 2 Sacred Bones Records [2017] Who: Portland, Oregon’s Moon Duo return for their fourth album which was released in two separate volumes. Sound: Moon Duo have a heavy psychedelic krautrock sound that is layered with clever flourishes of synth and … Read more
Smug Brothers Disco Maroon Gas Daddy Go! Records [2017] Who: Smug Brothers, a Dayton-based quartet, return with their 10th release. Sound: Disco Maroon sees the Smug Brothers carry on their tradition of delivering ultra-catchy rock to their listeners. TFN Final Take: Even though they are 10 releases into their discography, the Smug Brothers continue to … Read more
Baked Farnham Exploding In Sound Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Baked may have released one of the best albums of 2017 with the genre blending and bending second LP, Farnham. Album Review: New York’s Baked features a new lineup that consists of RJ Gordon (Titus Andronicus) on vocals and guitar, Isabella Mingione on vocals, keyboards, … Read more
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah The Tourist CYHSY, Inc. [2017] Who: CYHSY’s fifth LP has Alec Ounsworth steering the band back on course . Sound: The Tourist has a handful of tracks that will remind you of why CYHSY were such indie rock darlings in 2005. TFN Final Take: To be honest, I was surprised … Read more
Meatbodies Alice In The Red Records [2017] Who: Meatbodies are a California-based trio with connections to Fuzz and Mikal Cronin . Sound: Alice is a heavy psychedelic stoner rock epic. Fans of Ty Segall, Wand, Fuzz and Mikal Cronin will eat this up. TFN Final Take: Alice is fantastic. Chad Ubovich (Fuzz, Mikal Cronin) Kevin … Read more
Sleaford Mods English Tapas Rough Trade Records [2017] Who: Ghetto-tech beats fused with punk rock rant/rap from Nottingham, UK. Sound: Sleaford Mods 4th LP sees the UK duo belting out another albums worth of pissed off English banter layered with beats, bass and mixed results. TFN Final Take: English Tapas is very uneven. There is … Read more
Priests Nothing Feels Natural Sister Polygon Records [2017] Who: D.C. based experimental punk. Sound: Priests have toned down the surf punk rock distortion and rage for a more nuanced and precise sound peppered with bitter and biting social commentary. TFN Final Take: I have been listening to Priests for a few years and was impressed … Read more
Graham Repulski I’m Even Younger Now Shorter Recordings [2017] Who: Graham Repulski is a prolific lo-fi songwriter based in Philadelphia that has a plethora of releases which are full of catchy melodies and one minute master pieces. Sound: Lo-fi auteur Graham Repulski follows up 2016’s triple album release with a concise slab of psychedelic noise … Read more
Tobin Sprout The Universe And Me Burger Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Tobin Sprout’s first album in seven years is wistful, poignant and brings the rock. Album Review: Tobin Sprout returns with his first solo record since 2010’s The Bluebirds of Happiness Tried to Land on My Shoulder. The Universe and Me is a real … Read more
Cattle Nature’s Champion Hominid Sounds [2016] Who: Precise, rough-hewn heavy noise rock from Leeds. Sound: Cattle boasts an intense heavy sound that fans of Dope Body and Slint would appreciate. TFN Final Take: Cattle hit me right across the jaw with their opening track, “Tanking the Piss” off their new LP Nature’s Champion. This is … Read more
Votaries Psychometry Wharf Cat Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Jackson Scott has created something very special and trippy with his new band, Votaries. Album Review: Jackson Scott’s new project, Votaries, has released their first LP, Psychometry, and it is a rather stunning collection of psychedelic drone-rock. I was hooked earlier in the year when I … Read more
Sat. Nite Duets Air Guitar Father/Daughter Records [2016] Who: Sat. Nite Duets are six-piece band from Milwaukee, WI. Sound: Sat. Nite Duets have a bit of Pavement and Silver Jews in their DNA and deliver unpretentious jangle/Americana rock. TFN Final Take: Sat. Nite Duets’ latest LP, Air Guitar maintains the band’s loose and fun approach … Read more
Spray Paint Feel The Clamps Goner Records [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: Spray Paint‘s newest LP, Feel the Clamps was a really big surprise for this Fire Note writer. I had heard a few tracks over the course of the year, but only one had really caught my ear earlier this summer. The more I … Read more
Marriage + Cancer Demonstrations II EP Self-Released [2016] Fire Note Says: Marriage + Cancer have had a complete sound overhaul. Album Review: I have been a longtime follower of Robert Komets’ music. His Nucular Aminals’ albums and the earlier versions of Marriage + Cancer were some wonderfully off beat, sometimes goofy, sometimes dour, but always … Read more
Sleepies Natural Selection Mirror Universe Tapes [2016] Fire Note Says: Wake up people! Sleepies third album needs your attention. Natural Selection will more than likely end up my favorite album of 2016. Album Review: I would like to say third time is a charm for this wonderful Brooklyn based band, but honestly Sleepies has been … Read more
Pink Mexico Fool Burger Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Do not build that wall just yet Trump; let Pink Mexico continue to cross the border as long as it delivers albums like Fool. Album Review: Robert Preston (aka Pink Mexico) deftly steers his latest creation clear of the dreaded sophomore slump on Fool. Not only … Read more
Honey Radar Blank Cartoon What’s Your Rupture? [2016] Fire Note Says: Lo-fi pop gems that are similar to Guided by Voices, if GBV was part of the Elephant 6 Collective. Album Review: Blank Cartoon continues Honey Radar’s trend of releasing incredibly catchy lo-fi gems at a steady clip. This is their second full length release … Read more
Yak Alas Salvation Octopus Electrical/Kobalt [2016] Fire Note Says: It might be a bit early in the year to call Album of the Year…but Debut of the Year is a lock. Album Review: London –based Yak has hit the ground running. Alas Salvation is a frenetic and enormously interesting debut LP. Alas Salvation is a … Read more
Black Mountain IV Jagjaguwar [2016] Fire Note Says: Black Mountain return with a solid effort. Album Review: It has been a few years since we have had a Black Mountain LP. Wilderness Heart was out in 2010, so what shape and sound does a 2016 Black Mountain take on? Well, they have welcomed keyboard-tinged psych-rock… … Read more
B Boys No Worry No Mind Captured Tracks [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: I for one am relieved the B Boys are not a retro outfit of dancers trying to recapture the glory of Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo. Instead, I got eight tracks of very listenable indie punk rock. I have had the No Worry … Read more
Future Of The Left The Peace & Truce Of Future Of The Left Prescriptions [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: Everything about The Peace and Truce of Future of the Left is bigger, better, meaner and tighter than ever. Andrew Falkous certainly has not softened over the course of five LPs. If anything, he is getting … Read more
Big Ups Before a Million Universes Exploding In Sound Records [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: Big Ups 2nd LP, Before a Million Universes, is a post-hardcore juggernaut. No sophomore slump here for the Brooklyn-based quartet. It sounds like Big Ups have been listening to 90’s indie post-rock legends Slint and Rodan. Their first LP had … Read more
Kal Marks Life Is Alright, Everybody Dies Exploding In Sound Records [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: Boston’s Kal Marks sophomore effort, Life Is Alright, Everybody Dies, is brilliant. The album evokes and pulls you towards tones of deep and dark, murky then jangly, and emotions that are dour and anguished but somehow hopeful despite feeling … Read more
Mike and the Melvins Three Men and a Baby Sub Pop Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Mike and the Melvins revive a long-shelved project from arrested development hell. Album Review: In 1998 godheadSilo bassist/vocalist, Mike Kunka joined the Melvins on tour and recorded the bulk of Three Men and a Baby with them in ’99. … Read more
So Pitted Neo Sub Pop Records [2016] Fire Note Says: So Pitted’s Neo resonates as if it were a behemoth robotic demon beating up a bunch of pansy robots. I say good…those smarmy droids need a good trashing and so do your ears. Album Review: Kent, Washington-based So Pitted just stormed out of the gate … Read more