Matthew Heiner 
Two Door Cinema Club Gameshow Glassnote Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Try not to dance to the newest from Two Door Cinema Club. Album Review: It’s taken Two Door Cinema Club four years to release their third full-length album. The Irish three-piece took their time to craft a confectionary gem with Gameshow. It’s dance rock … Read more
St. Lenox Ten Hymns From My American Gothic Anyway Records [2016] Fire Note Says: St. Lenox’s second album is a poignant reflection on identity. Album Review: Andrew Choi and friends are back on his sophomore album, Ten Hymns From My American Gothic. Choi’s folk-electronic style is alive and well on this effort – it may … Read more
Dawes We’re All Gonna Die HUB Records [2016] Who: Dawes is a four-piece band from Los Angeles, CA. Sound: Versatile rock that reminds you of 1970’s singer/songwriters and 1980’s pop rock. TFN Final Take: You’ve gotta respect Dawes for one thing: their insistence on sticking to their artistic vision no matter how out-of-style or anachronistic … Read more
Phantogram Three Republic Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Phantogram’s exciting first half lifts up the second half of the album. Album Review: Phantogram, the New York duo consisting of Sarah Barthel and Josh Carter, has released their third album. It’s title, Three, doesn’t win many points for creativity. It’s a good thing that the psychedelic … Read more
Kings of Leon WALLS RCA Records [2016] Who: Three Tennessee brothers and their cousin. Grizzled veterans of rock. Sound: Southern arena rock. TFN Final Take: Kings of Leon were so close last time! Perceived band discord led to an album, Mechanical Bull, that felt fresh after a few albums of retreads. WALLS sees Kings of … Read more
Day Wave Headcase / Hard To Read Grand Jury Music [2016] Fire Note Says: Day Wave’s debut is an engaging jangle-rock emo experience. Album Review: Day Wave is Oakland’s Jackson Phillips; he tours with other musicians who comprise the band. Headcase / Hard To Read is a full-length consisting of two EP’s, last year’s Headcase … Read more
The Radio Dept. Running Out Of Love Labrador Records [2016] Fire Note Says: The Radio Dept. gets political. Album Review: The Radio Dept. have been around for almost twenty years, yet they’ve only put out four albums in that period. That fact is in part due to trouble with their previous label; nevertheless, you can … Read more
How To Dress Well Care Weird World/Domino Records [2016] Fire Note Says: How To Dress Well plays with new toys with mixed results. Album Review: Tom Krell is back for his fourth full-length album under the moniker How To Dress Well. So far, his first three albums have fit nicely into a specific theme: the … Read more
Kishi Bashi Sonderlust Joyful Noise Recordings [2016] Fire Note Says: Kishi Bashi takes some chances and expands on his sound three albums in. Album Review: Kishi Bashi (Kaoru Ishibashi) has released his third full-length album and it’s quite a departure for the artist. Kishi Bashi’s first two albums have been hybrids of chamber pop and … Read more
The Head And The Heart Signs Of Light Warner Bros. [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: Are you in the market for a likeable rock album? The Head and the Heart may have something to interest you with their third LP, Signs of Light. The band has a knack for meticulous harmonies and soaring singalongs. Album … Read more
Local Natives Sunlit Youth Loma Vista Recordings [2016] Fire Note Says: Local Natives release an excitingly hifi new album. Album Review: How much you like the new Local Natives album, Sunlit Youth, depends on how much you’re a fan of music production. This is the third album that the California band has released, and has … Read more
Frank Ocean Blonde Self-Released [2016] Fire Note Says: Frank Ocean fans are awaited for their patience. Album Review: It’s easy to automatically reject that which the Internet deems as being worthy of our time and attention. I had peripherally been made aware of Frank Ocean’s impending release and all of the buzz surrounding it. Appreciating … Read more
Angel Olsen My Woman Jagjaguwar [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: Angel Olsen’s third album makes a loud, brash entrance; My Woman’s first three tracks are top notch, including the remarkable “Shut Up Kiss Me.” That track will make you stop what you’re doing and take notice. It sounds like a Blondie song with its in-charge … Read more
Gregory Alan Isakov Gregory Alan Isakov With The Colorado Symphony Suitcase Town Music [2016] Fire Note Says: Gregory Alan Isakov revitalizes some of his best work. Album Review: The cover of Gregory Alan Isakov’s new album depicts an outstretched hand with a flame in it. I won’t pretend to understand what Isakov was going for … Read more
Russian Circles Guidance Sargent House Records [2016] Fire Note Says: The consistency of Russian Circles is remarkable. Album Review: I was a big fan of Russian Circles’ last album, Memorial. I was excited to give their new album, Guidance, a listen and it didn’t disappoint. I would describe Russian Circles as a dreamy-heady-metal band. At … Read more
Yeasayer Amen And Goodbye Mute Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Dance along to Yeasayer’s trippy breakup album. Album Review: It took a while for Yeasayer’s new album to sink in. Judging by musical tone alone, Amen and Goodbye sticks with the band’s expected poppy, psychedelic sound. But the truth of the album is right there … Read more
M. Ward More Rain Merge Records [2016] Fire Note Says: M. Ward gets back to basics. Album Review: It’s been ten years since M. Ward’s amazing album, Post-War, came out. This was one of my favorite albums, front to back, of the aughts. Three albums later M. Ward returns to near-form with More Rain. Matt … Read more
DMA’S Hills End Mom + Pop Music [2016] Fire Note Says: DMA’S full-length debut is a fond call back to another time. Album Review: DMA’S is a three-piece band from Australia. With an introductory (and very solid) EP under their belt last year, Hills End is the group’s debut LP. Johnny Took, Tommy O’Dell, and … Read more
Black Pistol Fire Don’t Wake The Riot Modern Outsider Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Black Pistol Fire keep hitting the target. Album Review: Black Pistol Fire’s third full-length album, Don’t Wake The Riot, continues to build on the duo’s sound. Kevin McKeown (vocals, guitar) and Eric Owen (drums) have an infectious energy and swagger that … Read more
Pity Sex White Hot Moon Run For Cover Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Pity Sex keep growing on their newest LP. Album Review: As an Ohioan, I’m not sure if I am allowed to admit that anything good comes out of Ann Arbor, Michigan. That good thing is Pity Sex. No, this is not a … Read more
Radiation City Synesthetica Polyvinyl Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Radiation City impresses on new label Polyvinyl. Album Review: Portland’s Radiation City is a band I’d never heard of before checking out some of their stuff on a whim. They caught my attention with their single “Juicy” and kept my attention with their excellent third album, … Read more
Seth Bogart Seth Bogart Burger Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Seth Bogart’s self-titled solo album is a wild and colorful ride. Album Review: You’re a member of a punk band (Hunx and His Punx) with a cult following. You’re also a hairdresser. You want to make your first album under your own name – Seth … Read more
Dr. Dog The Psychedelic Swamp ANTI- [2016] Fire Note Says: Dr. Dog’s latest is a throwback album. Album Review: I respect when a band takes a risk. Dr. Dog has done just that on their latest album, The Psychedelic Swamp. The songs on this LP were originally recorded in 2001 by the founding members of … Read more
Daughter Not To Disappear 4AD [2016] Fire Note Says: Daughter’s sophomore album gets stronger from start to finish, and with repeated listens. Album Review: Daughter has put out a lot of material prior to the January release of their latest album, Not To Disappear. However, this happens to be only the Brits’ second LP. With … Read more
The Gloaming 2 Brassland Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Take a moment to sit still and enjoy The Gloaming. Album Review: The Gloaming makes beautiful traditional Irish music. I am not Irish, Irish American, nor well-versed in Irish music so I won’t pretend to try to fit The Gloaming into some kind of genre-specific context. … Read more