Matthew Heiner 
Music has been good this year! Each week, I tried to sample at least a song from each new single, EP, or album. As I did so, I created a playlist, and that playlist exceeded 250 tracks by the end of the year. I took the top 10% and made a list. I didn’t discriminate … Read more
J.S. Ondara Tales Of America Verve Forecast [2019] Fire Note Says: Stunning debut from a unique voice. Album Review: It’s always exciting to hear a distinct, surprising new voice. That was my experience when firing up Tales of America, J.S. Ondara’s full-length debut. The Kenya native, who now resides in Minneapolis, MN, has a dulcet … Read more
Girlpool What Chaos Is Imaginary ANTI- [2019] Fire Note Says: Girlpool continues to evolve on their third album. Album Review: Cleo Tucker and Harmony Tividad are back with their third LP. Following 2017’s impressive Powerplant, which incorporated fuzzy guitars and haunting harmonies, the new collection goes for more of the same, but with mixed results. … Read more
Guster Look Alive Nettwerk Music Group [2019] Fire Note Says: Not just an excuse to go on tour! Album Review: Fun and harmony. Two words that come to mind when thinking about Guster. Look Alive fits that bill, while allowing for comment about some of societal issues we face today. This is the Boston band’s … Read more
Tallies Tallies Kanine Records [2019] Fire Note Says: Fun, promising debut from Toronto band. Album Review: Coming out of Toronto in the middle of the winter, Tallies is a welcome, surprising blast of summer guitar rock. With surf rock influences like the Beach Boys, as well as Johnny Marr-inspired New Wave smoothness, Tallies melds these … Read more
Hippo Campus Bambi Grand Jury Music [2018] Fire Note Says: Hippo Campus’s sophomore LP is a stunning achievement. Album Review: St. Paul’s Hippo Campus has emerged over the past few years on the strength of several singles and EP’s. Bambi is their second LP, and it is a revelation. Hippo Campus takes their base sound, … Read more
Matt and Kim Almost Everyday Fader Label [2018] Fire Note Says: Matt and Kim bring the energy and a renewed focus. Album Review: Whether it’s dealing with the current political climate or wrestling with their own mortality, Matt and Kim have found a sense of urgency and focus on their latest album, Almost Everyday. The … Read more
Animal Collective Tangerine Reef Domino Recording Company [2018] Who: Established experimental electronic rock band. Sound: Aquarium/laser-light-show music. TFN Final Take: It’s an admirable idea. Make a record that benefits the fading presence of the coral reef in our world. And it’s meant to be an audiovisual experience. But as a standalone LP, Tangerine Reef is … Read more
Houndmouth Golden Age Rough Trade Records [2018] Who: Louisville trio going through a transition. Sound: High energy synth-pop. TFN Final Take: Giving Golden Age its first listen, you may wonder if you’ve got the right album. While Houndmouth’s trademark sound had been loose, guitar-driven, harmony-laden blues and folk, this LP is electric and crackling. That’s … Read more
Damien Jurado The Horizon Just Laughed Secretly Canadian [2018] Fire Note Says: Damien Jurado continues to enchant with his latest effort. Album Review: Damien Jurado has released 17 albums in 21 years – the man is prolific. With such a body of work to look back to, there are common sounds and themes that you … Read more
Iceage Beyondless Matador Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Iceage is energetic, dark, and surprising on their latest effort. Album Review: Danish punk four-piece Iceage is back with their first album in four years (and fourth LP overall), Beyondless. Punk is going a lot of directions these days, and Iceage has decided to enlist horns and … Read more
Beach House 7 Sub Pop Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Beach House puts out another very good album. Album Review: Seven albums in, it is a challenge for any band to continue to grow and refine their sound. You would never know it from listening to Beach House’s aptly named LP, 7. Victoria Legrand and … Read more
Father John Misty God’s Favorite Customer Sub Pop Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Father John Misty narrows his scope with improved results. Album Review: Josh Tillman is once again a music writer (and thinker’s) dream. He provides material in each song, each album, that invites a strong reaction and curious reflection. While his 2017 LP … Read more
Josh Rouse Love In The Modern Age Yep Roc Records [2018] Who: Singer/songwriter with strong influences. Sound: Folk-pop that is inspired by 80’s songwriters. TFN Final Take: Josh Rouse’s twelfth album, Love In The Modern Age, is an interesting listen. Rouse has always excelled in his storytelling and he succeeds this time around, in particular … Read more
Wye Oak The Louder I Call, The Faster It Runs Merge Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Wye Oak puts out an album that’s worth going back to again and again. Album Review: The Baltimore duo Wye Oak (Jenn Wasner and Andy Stack) continue to hone and evolve their sound on their sixth studio album, The … Read more
The Fratellis In Your Own Sweet Time Cooking Vinyl [2018] Who: Scottish three-piece with their fifth full-length album. Sound: Barroom rock that you can dance to. TFN Final Take: The new Fratellis album gets off to a great start with “Stand Up Tragedy” and “Starcrossed Losers.” Both are bouncy numbers that showcase the ebullience of … Read more
Zola Jesus Okovi: Additions Sacred Bones Records [2018] Who: Nika Roza Danilova, back for seconds after last year’s release. Sound: Goth-pop with deep, soulful vocals. TFN Final Take: Okovi: Additions is a companion to last year’s LP, Okovi. Additions has four new tracks and four reimagined songs from its predecessor. Of the previously unreleased work, … Read more
No Age Snares Like A Haircut Drag City Records [2018] Fire Note Says: No Age hit the mark again. Album Review: The last No Age album, An Object, was released five years ago. What I most appreciated about that album was the significant experimentation with noise and empty space. It was quiet and mellow, encouraging … Read more
First Aid Kit Ruins Columbia Records [2018] Who: Swedish sisters with their fourth full-length. Sound: Americana with a country-western influence. TFN Final Take: Klara and Johanna Soderberg have put out their fourth full-length album since 2010. Their sound has bounced between folk and occasional pop since then; Ruins see the band settle more deliberately on … Read more
Stars There Is No Love In Fluorescent Light Last Gang Records [2017] Who: Veteran indie pop band from Canada. Sound: Indie pop with a heart and a head. TFN Final Take: Stars is like a well-worn glove that is comfortable, reliable, but lacking in surprise or unpredictability. There is nothing wrong with that; they are … Read more
R.E.M. Automatic For The People (25th Anniversary Edition) Craft Recordings [2017] Fire Note Says: A masterpiece for all times! Album Review: R.E.M.’s Automatic For the People is a masterpiece that gets a lot of love on its 25th anniversary. A live disc and 20 demos/outtakes accompany the original album. The extras are interesting and noteworthy; … Read more
Girlpool Powerplant ANTI- [2017] Fire Note Says: Girlpool comes and goes too quick! Album Review: Girlpool is an LA band that consists of its two founding members, Cleo Tucker and Harmony Tividad, plus a new drummer, Miles Wintner, for their sophomore album. Their debut came out two years ago, and with the addition of a … Read more
Wolf Alice Visions Of A Life RCA Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Wolf Alice stay strong on their sophomore album. Album Review: Visions of a Life is Wolf Alice’s follow-up to their stellar 2015 debut, My Love Is Cool. The first album established the Brits as a rock band that could play many different styles … Read more
Alvvays Antisocialites Polyvinyl Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Alvvays’s second album is an indie pop delight. Album Review: Alvvays made a splash three years ago with their self-titled debut. Their jangle pop was both interesting and fun, and it produced a couple of solid singles. The question is: will Alvvays be able to revisit those … Read more
Cage The Elephant Unpeeled RCA Records [2017] Fire Note Says: A clever way to appreciate a consistent rock band. Album Review: As someone who’s writing his third Cage The Elephant review, it surprises me how much I enjoyed Unpeeled. Let me explain: Each studio album for Cage The Elephant has varied in its highs and … Read more