Matthew Heiner 
Ra Ra Riot Need Your Light Barsuk Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Ra Ra Riot’s fourth LP calms things down while the band grows up. Album Review: The first two tracks on Ra Ra Riot’s newest long-player, Need Your Light, are also its first two singles and the best two tracks on the album. It … Read more
Shearwater Jet Plane And Oxbow Sub Pop Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Shearwater’s new LP is deep and colorful. Album Review: Shearwater’s newest album (Jet Plane and Oxbow) has all that you ask for out an LP. It is engaging from beginning to end; it reveals new parts of itself with each listen; it has … Read more
Chairlift Moth Columbia Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Chairlift’s eclectic pop is fun and engaging. Album Review: Chairlift comes to us from Brooklyn by way of Colorado. The electronic pop duo consists of Caroline Polachek and Patrick Wimberly; Moth is their third released LP and first in four years. For those of you not familiar … Read more
Cage The Elephant Tell Me I’m Pretty RCA Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Cage The Elephant returns with an impressive fourth LP. Album Review: When I heard the first single, “Mess Around,” from Cage The Elephant’s latest album, I was less than impressed. The same was true with the album as a whole. However, after … Read more
Wolf Alice with Radkey: Madison Live, Covington, Kentucky – December 16, 2015 Let’s get this out of the way: If you get the chance to see Wolf Alice in concert, you need to do it. The sooner the better. Why? The British four-piece has been on the brink for the past year and justified the … Read more
Faith Healer Cosmic Troubles Mint Records [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: Canada’s Faith Healer is the name under which Jessica Jalbert performs. Cosmic Troubles is the debut album for Faith Healer, although Jalbert has been kicking around the indie scene for a while now. The album is full of dream pop nuggets that are perfect … Read more
Chelsea Wolfe Abyss Sargent House [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: Chelsea Wolfe brings a lot of her native California’s sunniness to her work…well, maybe not. Wolfe has a knack for the dark and brooding. I enjoyed her haunting vocals on label-mates Russian Circles’ album Memorial. However, the synth-heavy approach of Abyss lacked the depth of … Read more
Beach House Thank Your Lucky Stars Sub Pop Records [2015] Fire Note Says: 2015 has been a good year for Beach House. Album Review: Seems like I was just writing a review for a new Beach House album because, well, I was. The Baltimore duo has followed up their August release (Depression Cherry) two months … Read more
Heyrocco Teenage Movie Soundtrack Old Flame Records [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: Heyrocco’s debut album is a throwback to the alternative rock of the 1990s. I was in high school then; the members of Heyrocco are just a couple of years removed from high school now. The lyrics and themes of the album remind me … Read more
Born Ruffians RUFF Yep Roc Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Born Ruffians’ slick posturing is hit and miss. Album Review: Toronto’s Born Ruffians’ fourth LP, RUFF, is power pop with a punk attitude. Band members Luke Lalonde (guitar/vocals), Mitch Derosier (bass), Andy Lloyd (guitar/keyboard) and Adam Hindle (drums) have a penchant for creating easily digested … Read more
Blitzen Trapper All Across This Land Vagrant Records [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: In the track “Nights Were Made For Love” off of the new Blitzen Trapper album All Across This Land, lead singer Eric Earley repeats “All I wanna do is rock and roll.” That line captures the band’s goal on their eighth studio … Read more
City And Colour If I Should Go Before You Dine Alone Records [2015] Fire Note Says: City and Colour’s latest is full-bodied. Album Review: City and Colour’s latest release, If I Should Go Before You, is a full band effort and it shows. Formerly, Dallas Green (of Alexisonfire) was the primary creative force for City … Read more
Silversun Pickups Better Nature New Machine Recordings [2015] Fire Note Says: Silversun Pickups’ latest is a solid effort and stays the course. Album Review: Silversun Pickups is back with their fourth studio album Better Nature. The Los Angeles band is a throwback to 1990s grunge with a synth pop element, blending sounds from the previous … Read more
Telekinesis Ad Infinitum Merge Records [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: I will stand by Telekinesis’ debut album (Telekinesis!) as one of the best power pop collections in the past ten years. Sadly, Michael Lerner (the artist behind the Telekinesis moniker) continues to drift away from the sound that worked so well then. His latest album, … Read more
Beach House Depression Cherry Sub Pop Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Beach House brings the mellow, with a dash of urgency, on their latest effort. Album Review: Beach House (Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally) has returned with their fifth studio album, Depression Cherry. The Baltimore duo’s trademark sound is on display once again, and with … Read more
Radkey Dark Black Makeup +180 Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Radkey’s full-length debut is fast and furious. Album Review: Beware the speed when listening to Radkey’s debut album, Dark Black Makeup. I found this out the hard way when recently traveling down the highway. The album was blaring in my car and within seconds I … Read more
Destroyer Poison Season Merge Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Dan Bejar is back with the right-on-target Poison Season. Album Review: It’s easy to see why Dan Bejar is so embraced by music critics. He makes music that is unique and complex; distinctive yet accessible to the patient listener. Bejar is back under the Destroyer name … Read more
The Fratellis Eyes Wide, Tongue Tied Cooking Vinyl [2015] Fire Note Says: The Fratellis perfect their formula. Album Review: Sometimes an album comes along that is so likable that it begs to be listened to. Some albums are creative, experimental, different, and noteworthy. We can recognize those albums as being “great” but it doesn’t mean … Read more
The Mynabirds Lovers Know Saddle Creek Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Mynabirds return with a dream-pop gem. Album Review: The current landscape in pop music is dominated by women; this is now extending to rock music as well. With acts like Speedy Ortiz, Sleater Kinney, Sharon Van Etten, and Jenny Lewis (to name a few), … Read more
Of Monsters And Men Beneath The Skin Republic Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Of Monsters and Men return with their sophomore effort. Album Review: Of Monsters and Men is the Icelandic band who had a huge hit with 2011’s “Little Talks,” and is currently gaining traction with “Crystals.” “Crystals” is the lead single from their … Read more
Great Lake Swimmers A Forest Of Arms Nettwerk Music Group [2015] Fire Note Says: Great Lake Swimmers have a pleasant, peaceful sound. Album Review: Great Lake Swimmers know their lane and stay in it during their most recent LP, A Forest of Arms. That lane is aptly described by the album’s title; triumphant and scenic, … Read more
Matt And Kim New Glow Harvest Records [2015] Album Review: Matt and Kim’s fifth studio album, New Glow, serves up the expected energy-infused pop music that the duo has down to a tee. Known as a spectacularly frenetic live act, Matt and Kim lose some of that frenzy in the studio on this album. Minimalist … Read more
Sharon Van Etten I Don’t Want To Let You Down EP Jagjaguwar [2015] Album Review: Sharon Van Etten’s new 5-track EP, I Don’t Want To Let You Down, feels like a coda to last year’s standout LP Are We There. However, this release is lacking some of the humor and fire that had Are We … Read more
Linden Rest And Be Thankful Slumberland Records [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: Linden is the new project from Joe McAlinden, formerly of the band Superstars. The Scotsman’s sophomore LP under the Linden moniker is a fine listen. Decidedly low-key but with layers of sound, McAlinden warmly invites you to enter his abode and feel at … Read more
Wolf Alice My Love Is Cool RCA Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Wolf Alice’s debut is ambitious and, for the most part, delivers. Album Review: Buzz has been building around Wolf Alice for a few years now. With several singles and two EP’s already under their belt, the London band has put in a lot … Read more