C.R. And The Degenerates: Close Encounters [Album Review]

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C.R. and the Degenerates Close Encounters Sniffling Indie Kids/Mint 400 [2017] Who: C.R. and the Degenerates is New Jersey’s Chris Gennone, accompanied on this release by Max Rauch. Sound: Moody electronic psych-pop; think Tame Impala mixed with some Arcade Fire. TFN Final Take: C.R. and the Degenerates (aka Chris Gennone) does a great job of … Read more

Pile: A Hairshirt Of Purpose [Album Review]

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Pile A Hairshirt Of Purpose Exploding In Sound Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Pile’s A Hairshirt of Purpose is an iconic slab of indie noise rock. One of the best releases for 2017! Album Review: Boston-based Pile pull off another stunning effort with A Hairshirt of Purpose. I have been listening to this album for … Read more

The Friday Fire Track: Needles//Pins – “All The Same”

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We first featured the Vancouver BC punk band, Needles//Pins back in 2014 in one of our Bandcamp pieces so TFN is excited to see the band return with a new record. Good Night, Tomorrow will be out June 30th via Mint Records in Canada and on one of our favorites, Dirt Cult Records here in … Read more

Andy Gabbard – “Juice” [Video]

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Andy Gabbard is a singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist from Dayton, Ohio, who plays with Buffalo Killers, a band that he founded with his brother Zachary. He is also a former member of Thee Shams, a garage rock band that he joined when he was seventeen.

Andy’s solo work so far has been compared to Brian Wilson, Matthew Sweet, Superdrag and even Dinosaur Jr. His new sophomore album, Plenum Castle, is a departure from the his debut Fluff as he as it said to feature new sounds and styles, while showcasing his engaging songwriting.

The video for “Juice” is the first single from his forthcoming sophomore solo album which is out July 14th via Alive Naturalsound Records.

Ryan Adams: Prisoner B-Sides [Album Review]

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Ryan Adams Prisoner B-Sides PAX-AM [2017] Fire Note Says: Don’t be fooled by the “b-sides” tag on this collection. Album Review: I have recently read in several places about Ryan Adams being the modern-day Springsteen. That is still hard for me to imagine at this point in the game but considering his latest record, Prisoner, … Read more

Laura Marling: Semper Femina [Album Review]

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Laura Marling Semper Femina Kobalt Music [2017] Fire Note Says: The prolific Laura Marling keeps improving. Album Review: You don’t read or hear much about Laura Marling without her age (27) and number of albums (6) coming up. Now that that has been taken care of, what else is important to know about her? The … Read more

Here Lies Man: Here Lies Man [Album Review]

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Here Lies Man Here Lies Man RidingEasy Records [2017] Who: Marcos Garcia is the guitarist for Antibalas and frontman for Chico Mann. Here Lies Man is his new project. Sound: Here Lies Man is a different outlet for Garcia with its fuzzed-out psych-rock combos that have been labeled as Black Sabbath playing Afrobeat. TFN Final … Read more

Bob Dylan: Triplicate [Album Review]

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Bob Dylan Triplicate Columbia Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Dylan attempts to “uncover” these familiar songs. Album Review: By now, any fan of Bob Dylan is familiar with that hilarious comment to the over-serious music journalist in the now infamous, televised 1965 press conference in San Francisco which can be found on youtube.com. Dylan had … Read more

Slowdive: Slowdive [Album Review]

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Slowdive Slowdive Dead Oceans [2017] Who: Slowdive is Neil Halstead (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Christian Savill (guitar), Nick Chaplin (bass), Rachel Goswell (vocals) and Simon Scott (drums, electronics). Their debut album, Just For A Day, was released in 1991 and after two more records the group disbanded in 1995. Sound: Today Slowdive fall into the dream … Read more

Sean Rowe: New Lore [Album Review]

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Sean Rowe New Lore ANTI- [2017] Fire Note Says: Combining ingredients as limited and plain as vocals, piano, strings and silence, Sean Rowe’s New Lore is an endearing and memorable alt folk achievement. Album Review: If not for Sean Rowe’s voice, the most effective, emotionally-loaded moments of his new record New Lore would the record’s … Read more

The Babe Rainbow: The Babe Rainbow (Forrest Green Vinyl | 1000 Copies)

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With the help of King Gizzard, the Australian music scene has been really getting some spotlight over here and Flightless Records has been leading the charge. Along with the Gizzard’s, Flightless has some other quality music in the queue which includes the self-titled debut from The Babe Rainbow. The group carries a similar retro flare … Read more

TFN New Music Spotlight: Lost Balloons – “Numb”

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Texas and Japan team up for a trans-pacific, 2 man summertime pop explosion! Lost Balloons are Jeff Burke (Radioactivity, Marked Men, etc etc) and Yusuke Okada (of Japan’s Suspicious Beasts). Hey Summer is their 2nd album, following 2015’s self-titled debut on German’s Alien Snatch Records. The 2 play all the instruments and split singing/songwriting duties. … Read more

Perfume Genius – “Die 4 You” [Video]

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Perfume Genius (aka Mike Hadreas) has just released the second video from his album No Shape, which came out last Friday. “Die 4 You” is directed by Floria Sigismondi (David Bowie, Rihanna, Justin Timberlake) and features the artwork of Rosa Verloop.

The No Shape tour starts tomorrow:

Wed, May 10 – Magic Stick Lounge – Detroit, MI
Thu, May 11 – Virgin Mobile Mod Club – Toronto
Fri, May 12 – Theatre Fairmount – Montreal, QC
Sat, May 13 – Royale – Boston, MA
Mon, May 15 – 9:30 Club – Washington, DC
Tue, May 16 – Brooklyn Steel – Brooklyn, NY
Thu, May 18 – Union Transfer – Philadelphia, PA
Fri, May 19 – Cat’s Cradle – Carrboro, NC
Sat, May 20 – Terminal West – Atlanta, GA
Sun, May 21 – Exit/In – Nashville, TN
Tue, May 23 – Back Room at Colectivo – Milwaukee
Wed, May 24 – Cedar Cultural Center – Minneapolis
Thu, May 25 – Lincoln Hall – Chicago, IL
Fri, June 16 – Eaux Claires Festival – Eau Claire, WI
Sat, June 17 – Eaux Claires Festival – Eau Claire, WI
Sat, July 15 – Imperial – Vancouver, BC
Sun, Jul 16 – Revolution Hall – Portland, OR
Tue, Jul 18 – The Independent – San Francisco CA
Wed, Jul 19 – The Independent – San Francisco CA
Sun, Jul 23 – Capitol Hill Block Party – Seattle WA

The Afghan Whigs: In Spades [Album Review]

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The Afghan Whigs In Spades Sub Pop Records [2017] Fire Note Says: The Afghan Whigs’ Greg Dulli returns with a more compositionally rich and textured musical approach that echoes classical musical themes that run in tension with the demanding drums, guitars and Dulli’s compelling vocal howl. Album Review: At a time when alternative music had … Read more

Sorority Noise: You’re Not As_____As You Think [Album Review]

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Sorority Noise You’re Not As_____As You Think Triple Crown Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Ever-evolving emo rockers Sorority Noise fully come into their own on their third full length, deftly blending anguish, wisdom and their trademark massive guitars to produce a mature, extremely well-balanced record. Album Review: Sorority Noise is a complicated band. For every … Read more

Dave Perkins: Fugitive Colors [Album Review]

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Dave Perkins Fugitive Colors Lugnut Music [2017] Fire Note Says: Longtime Nashville guitarist sideman, delivers another record of strong songs, and blistering guitar work. Album Review: The first time I saw Dave Perkins play live was about 30 years ago at a summer music festival and he was promoting his first solo album on What? … Read more

Mac DeMarco: This Old Dog [Album Review]

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Mac DeMarco This Old Dog Captured Tracks [2017] Fire Note Says: Mac DeMarco dives deep for one of his most engaging records to date. Album Review: Maturity is a weird thing because not only does it seem to happen overnight but you can typically identify the very “moment” it takes place. You can recognize it … Read more