Joseph Arthur: Come Back World [Album Review]

Joseph Arthur Come Back World Moonage Rebel [2019] Album Review: Given all the artists who Joseph Arthur has collaborated with, it’s always surprising to me that he’s not achieved the kind of ‘household name’ notoriety that come with music industry breakthroughs. An early singer/songwriter discovery, Arthur’s earliest albums were on Peter Gabriel’s Real World label, … Read more

Nick Kizirnis – “Slipping Away” [Video]

Nick Kizirnis has been a staple on the Dayton, Ohio music scene dating back to the late 80’s. From indie rock to surf to rockabilly and beyond, Nick has covered a multitude of genres and been included in a multitude of projects. That musical road has now arrived at his new solo album The Distance which is out February 1 via Atom Records. “Slipping Away” is the first video from the record which was directed by Sam Manavis.

The Distance features Kate Wakefield (Lung) and Mark Patterson (Son Volt) as well as Tod Weidner (Shrug, Motel Beds), Crazy Joe and Patrick Himes (Bribing Senators). The best description of the album comes straight from Nick in his own words:

“The Distance is a collection of songs about heartbreak and heartache from different points of view. The album began as a personal songwriting challenge, and when I found that I had a large set of songs but was having trouble finishing them, I tried to imagine what they would sound like if I DIDN’T sing them, or even play them. How would they change? It was something I had never done before and it opened up all sorts of possibilities, especially the chance to work with It was a completely new experience and the most rewarding one I’ve had in all these years of making music.”

Beach Slang: The Deadbeat Bang Of Heartbreak City [Album Review]

Beach Slang The Deadbeat Bang Of Heartbreak City Bridge Nine Records [2020] TFN Album Review: If you have followed Beach Slang since their 2014 EP, Who Would Ever Want Anything So Broken?, then you already know that the group has been a full-fledged modern day Replacements from day one. Everything from the raw guitar to … Read more

Disq – “Daily Routine” [Video]

TFN is excited for this new indie rock out of Madison, Wisconsin. Disq have officially signed to Saddle Creek Records, and announced their debut album Collector. Collector, will out March 6th, and you can pre-order HERE.

As you might expect, Disq is hitting the road to support the new record and you can check out their current dates below.

Tour Dates:
1/14 – London, UK @ The Lexington (Five Day Forecast)
1/15 – London, UK @ The Old Blue Last *
3/16-22 – Austin, TX @ SXSW
4/3 – Iowa City, IA @ Mission Creek Festival
4/4 – Chicago, IL @ Schubas ^
4/6 – Detroit, MI @ PJ’s Lager House ^
4/7 – Toronto, ON @ The Drake ^
4/9 – Boston, MA @ Great Scott ^
4/10 – New York, NY @ Rough Trade ^
4/11 – Philadelphia, PA @ Boot & Saddle ^
4/12 – Washington, DC @ Songbyrd ^
4/14 – Nashville, TN @ High Watt
4/15 – Kansas City, MO @ Uptown Theater
4/17 – Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge
4/18 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court
4/20 – San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar ~
4/21 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo ~
4/22 – San Francisco, CA @ Cafe du Nord ~
4/24 – Seattle, WA @ Barboza ~
4/25 – Portland, OR @ Doug Fir ~
4/28 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St Entry
5/1 – Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon

* w/ The Districts
^ w/ Pom Pom Squad
~ w/ Girl Friday

Top 25 Tracks of 2019

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

The Fire Note Writer Edition Top Albums of 2019

The Fire Note would not be possible without the talented writers that share their educated thoughts and true enjoyment of music with our readers. The time and commitment that goes into writing consistently is appreciated by TFN and taken for granted by everyone else! Our official year end Top 50 is coming soon but clearly … Read more

Prog 2019: The Year In Review

The apocryphal, and often repeated, origin story of Prog has it that in 1969 King Crimson released In The Court Of The Crimson King and a new genre had been born. This of course ignores the fact that Yes’ debut came out two months earlier or the contribution and influence of acts such as Pink … Read more

Thom Yorke: Anima [Album Review]

Thom Yorke Anima XL Recordings [2019] Who: The irreplaceable frontman of Radiohead. Thom Yorke had been one of the most important figures in music since the early 90’s. Sound: Thom has been fond of many types of music. His solo outings usually focus on beats, loops, and electronics. TFN Final Take: Thom Yorke has been … Read more

Noise Addict – “16” [Video Classic]

Ben Lee recently released a new album of covers called Quarter Century Classix via New West Records. The 13-song set was produced by Lee and features his interpretations of early ‘90s indie rock favorites by Sonic Youth, Fugazi, Pavement, The Breeders, Superchunk, Built To Spill, Archers of Loaf, Daniel Johnston, Dinosaur Jr., Guided By Voices, Sebadoh, Smudge, and Beat Happening. Lee’s main collaborator on Quarter Century Classix was the innovative electronic artist Julianna Barwick and the album also features appearances by the punk rock icon Mike Watt of the Minutemen & Firehose, William Tyler, Petra Haden of that dog. & The Haden Triplets, Maria Taylor of Azure Ray, the harpist Mary Lattimore, and drummer Joey Waronker.

With this release you clearly can hear Lee’s indie influences and if you are not aware of his first band, Noise Addict, you should check out their 1995 record Meet The Real You. “16” is a single from that record and worth a revisit!

Catholic Action – “One Of Us” [Video]

“One Of Us” packs a fuzzed-out stomp alongside masterfully giddy melodies that sees lead singer and guitarist Chris McCrory recount “the welfare son of a welfare son”, taking aim at the billionaire-owned media and their Bullingdon Club ilk who shirk responsibility for sowing the division we see in the UK.

McCrory comments on the video; “Our good friend, musician, filmmaker and comedian Romeo Taylor came over to our rehearsal room with some lights, a camera, beer and a tarpaulin. We then proceeded to drink (some of) the beer and mime for the camera. An hour or so later, we had something for people to look at while they listen to the song. So, we took a walk down by the river before having a nice dinner together, as friends often do. Thanks Taylor.”

Catholic Action’s new album, Celebrated By Strangers, is set to release March 27th via Modern Sky Records. You can pre-order a copy HERE.

Chris Taylor: Lovers, Thieves, Fools + Pretenders [Album Review]

Chris Taylor Lovers, Thieves, Fools + Pretenders Self-Released [2019] Album Review: While I’ve been a fan and acquaintance of San Antonio singer/songwriter, band leader and visual artist Chris Taylor for more than two decades, I have to admit when I recently checked out his bandcamp page, it was immediately obvious that he’s a lot more … Read more

Kevin Krauter – “Surprise” [Video]

Indiana-based songwriter Kevin Krauter has announced his sophomore album, Full Hand, which is out February 28th on Bayonet Records, and has shareed the single/video, “Surprise.” Following his 2018 debut Toss Up, a quiet album that was built on intricate guitar riffs that looped back on themselves to create a feeling of sunlit calm, Full Hand dives further into the world he’s created. The songs are evocative of late afternoon light, or dust settling on a creaky floorboard, but with lyrics that probe Krauter’s personal life, grappling with sexuality and religion, while exploring what it means to grow up, grow more critical, and, in turn, more self-confident.

Across 12 tracks, Krauter tackles these emotional states and ideas through elliptical songwriting that is at once poetic and truthful. “A lot of the lyrics touch on how I was raised religiously, touch on me understanding my sexuality more and more in recent years,” Krauter says, “just growing up and becoming more confident in myself…that process of looking inward and taking stock of myself.” It’s not especially uncommon for artists to probe deep into their own psyche to uncover what makes them tic, but Krauter’s light touch feels like something all his own. There’s a palpable sense of joy in Krauter’s acceptance of dire, stressful moments, and a liberation that comes from hearing him realize that the present will eventually be the past, and he’ll be able to look back and find peace.

You can pre-order the new album HERE.

The Murder Capital: When I Have Fears [Album Review]

The Murder Capital When I Have Fears Human Season Records [2019] TFN Album Review: The debut album from Dublin’s The Murder Capital plays everything out front with its heart on its sleeve. The post-punk moodiness is dark as this group can turn the amps up on a dime and can transition from sounding like The … Read more

Squirrel Flower – “Headlights” [Video]

Squirrel Flower – the moniker of Ella O’Connor Williams – recently announced I Was Born Swimming, her debut album, out January 31st on Polyvinyl. Following its lead single/video, “Red Shoulder,” she now releases its follow-up single/video, “Headlights.”

Speaking of the track Squirrel Flower says: “’Headlights’ takes place in a moment of solitary reflection; a glance back and a glance forward. I wrote it on tour driving through the pioneer valley in Massachusetts in some heavy fog. Suddenly I was aware of the space the car was plummeting through, both physical and temporal.”

Director Bao Ngo explains the inspiration behind the video: “The video for ‘Headlights’ was inspired by cheesy, classic imagery of actors riding in cars through LA— evoking glamour and sunshine. Here, we ran with the concept and placed it in a Massachusetts suburb on a cold winter day, driving around in circles in a convertible, shooting from morning til night, playing with a slightly warped sense of time so that the video would feel a little cold and a little lonely, and perhaps at times a little jarring, while still aiming to subtly reference the beauty of older Hollywood films.”

You can pre-order I Was Born Swimming HERE. You can check out Squirrel Flower’s 2020 tour dates below.

Squirrel Flower Tour Dates:
Tue. Jan. 28 – London, UK @ The Islington
Fri. Jan. 31 – Brighton, UK @ Resident Records
Sat. Feb. 1 – Bristol, UK @ Friendly Records
Sun. Feb. 2 – Leeds, UK @ Jumbo Records
Tue. Feb. 4 – Diksmuide, BE @ 4AD * [Sold Out]
Wed. Feb. 5 – Nijmegen, BL @ Doornroosje *
Thu. Feb. 6 – Brussels, BE @ AB *
Sat. Feb. 8 – Amsterdam, NL @ Bitterzoet * [Sold Out]
Thu. March 5 – Freeport, ME @ Cadenza
Fri. March 6 – Middletown, CT @ Mac 650 Art Gallery &
Sat. March 7 – Boston, MA @ Great Scott &
Wed. March 11 – Brooklyn, NY @ Rough Trade &
Thu. March 12 – Philadelphia, PA @ Everybody Hits &
Sat. March 13 – Washington, DC @ Songbyrd &
Mon. March 23 – Phoenix, AZ @ Rebel Lounge %
Wed. March 25 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo %
Thu. March 26 – San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill %
Sat. March 28 – Seattle, WA @ Barboza %
Sun. March 29 – Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge %
Tue. March 31 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court %
Thu. April 2 – Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge %
Mon. April 6 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry %
Tue. April 7 – Chicago, IL @ Schubas %
Wed. April 8 – Cleveland, OH @ Mahall’s %
Fri. April 10 – Toronto, ON @ Drake Hotel &
Sat. April 11 – Montreal, QC @ Casa Del Popolo &

% = w/ Why Bonnie
& = w/ Cedric Noel
* =w/ Strand of Oaks

The Flaming Lips: The Soft Bulletin – Live At Red Rocks [Album Review]

The Flaming Lips The Soft Bulletin: Live At Red Rocks Warner Records [2019] Fire Note Says: The Flaming Lips join together with the Colorado Symphony to recreate their 1999 masterpiece “The Soft Bulletin” at the landmark Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Album Review: Back in 2016, somebody had the smarts to imagine a 20th anniversary celebration of … Read more

The Jay Vons – “Keep on Moving” [Video]

The Jay Vons have a new video for “Keep On Moving” off their debut album, The Word, which is out now via La Castanya. Discussing the video, director Artur Tort (Escafior Films) stated, We wanted to create a very rhythmic piece, mixing apparently random images collected during a short stay in New York with images of the Jay Vons performing at a small studio. It is a kind of back and forth movement between the almost infinite space of the city and the very condensed, narrow location where the band rehearses. Frantic movement of buildings, trains, and urban shapes penetrate inside the studio, and at the same time music and lyrics escape into the constantly evolving landscape.

The Word, recorded at Daptone Studios, Dunham Sounds and Diamond Mine Studios with engineers/producers Wayne Gordon (Sharon Jones/Charles Bradley/King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard/Bad Bad Not Good) and Tommy Brenneck (Mark Ronson/Lee Fields/Bebel Gilberto), showcases how this rhythmic tour-de-force blends their love for ‘60s rock and soul with a deftness born from decades of obsessive record collecting and delivered by countless hours of writing and performing. You can order a copy of the album HERE.

Joe Henry: The Gospel According To Water [Album Review]

Joe Henry The Gospel According To Water earMUSIC [2019] Fire Note Says: Joe Henry’s 15th album arises out of a dire diagnosis, with reflections on mortality the befit a celebration of life. Album Review: Joe Henry’s 15th studio album, The Gospel According to Water, is unlike any other record you’ll listen to this year. All … Read more

Paul Orwell: SMUT [Album Review]

Paul Orwell SMUT Heavy Soul! Records [2019] TFN Album Review: Sixties influenced London rocker Paul Orwell has returned with his third record SMUT and it is a retro sounding barn burner. It’s loud, it’s brash and it does not take much time hitting any brakes. This carefree delivery by Orwell is his engaging quality and … Read more

The Murder Capital – “More Is Less” [Video]

Dublin’s The Murder Capital have shared a new video for ‘More Is Less’ – the live version of which went viral and forged the band’s breakthrough last year. The video follows the release of their debut album When I Have Fears in August, which reached a Top 20 chart position in the UK, and a #2 position in their native Ireland.
The new album is available on gatefold colour LP, black LP, as part of a limited bundle (gatefold colour LP, t-shirt, pin & journal), CD and as a digital download. You can order the album HERE.

Produced by Flood (PJ Harvey, New Order, Foals) the album features all four singles from the band so far, ‘Feeling Fades’, ‘Green & Blue’ & ‘Don’t Cling To Life’ and ‘More Is Less.’ Alongside the new video the band have a huge string of live dates for 2020 which are listed below, including their biggest London headline show to-date at Electric Ballroom. The band are currently on a sold out UK headline tour and will be playing across Europe in November.

24 January – Chelsea – Vienna, AT
25 January – Strom – Munich, DE
26 January – Underdogs – Prague CZ
28 January – Klub Hydrozagadka – Warsaw, PL
29 January – Projekt LAB – Poznan, PL
31 January – Loppen – Copenhagen, DK

1 February – Atlas – Aarhus, DK
3 February – Musik und Frieden – Berlin, DE
4 February – Gleis 22 – Munster, DE
6 February – Vera – Groningen, NL
7 February – Grauzone Festival – Den Haag, NL
11 February – Botanique – Brussels, BE
13 February – Leeds Irish Centre – Leeds, UK
14 February – Manchester Academy 2 – Manchester, UK
15 February – The Art School – Glasgow, UK
17 February – Rescue Rooms – Nottingham, UK
18 February – Wedgewood Rooms – Portsmouth, UK
19 February – SWX – Bristol, UK
21 February – Electric Ballroom – London, UK
22 February – The Leadmill – Sheffield, UK
24 February – The O2 Institute 2 – Birmingham, UK
25 February – O2 Academy 2 Liverpool – Liverpool, UK
27 February – Vicar Street – Dublin, IRE

Beck: Hyperspace [Album Review]

Beck Hyperspace Capitol Record [2019] Album Review: It has been a fun and curious thing to watch the evolution of Beck’s musical career from his breakout single, Loser in 1994 with its mix of lo-hi folk, hip-hop and blues influence and 2017’s Colors which was all glossy, polished synth pop with an 80’s retro vibe. … Read more

Elvis Costello & The Imposters: “Just Trust” Tour [Concert Review]

Elvis Costello & The Imposters: “Just Trust” Tour; Taft Theatre; Cincinnati, OH – Tuesday, November 19, 2019 It’s strangely comforting that the once famously “angry young man,” Elvis Costello can still surprise and challenge an audience at the age of 65, 42 years after his debut album. The very artist who got banned from “Saturday … Read more

Artists Of The Week: Discover, Support, Share

Have time for three new artists to check out?! Alright – Today we feature some modern softer rock out of New Jersey, killer psych space instrumentals from Tokyo and classic 70’s power pop coming to you from Kansas City! Don’t forget – Discover, Support & Share! NovaBound Piscataway Township, New Jersey I don’t know about … Read more