The Friday Fire Track: Wax Chattles – “In My Mouth”

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New Zealand’s Wax Chattels are releasing their self-titled LP on May 18th via Flying Nun/Captured Tracks. The band call themselves “guitarless guitar music.” Have we sparked your interest yet? Thought so! Today’s Friday Fire Track, “In My Mouth,” is your first taste of Wax Chattles and their mix of experimental punk like Brainiac blended with … Read more

Erika Wennerstrom: Sweet Unknown [Album Review]

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Erika Wennerstrom Sweet Unknown Partisan Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Erika Wennerstrom of Heartless Bastards takes a solo run. Album Review: Last May, when Lucinda Williams and her band made their way to the intimate confines of the Victoria Theater in Dayton, the unexpected special guest opening the show was Erika Wennerstrom, best known for … Read more

Zola Jesus: Okovi – Additions [Album Review]

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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

Kansas: “Leftoverture” 40th Anniversary Tour [Concert Review]

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Kansas: “Leftoverture” 40th Anniversary Tour; Victoria Theater; Dayton, OH – Wednesday, March 21, 2018 So, over the years, my appreciation and interest in the band Kansas has diminished my standing on the “Cool” quotient data board, that’s a given which I’ve managed to live with for decades. RollingStone magazine once declared that Kansas made music … Read more

The Decemberists: I’ll Be Your Girl [Album Review]

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The Decemberists I’ll Be Your Girl Capitol Records [2018] Fire Note Says: This one is a keeper. Album Review: When The Decemberists’ first single for I’ll Be Your Girl, “Severed” showed up on the appropriate alternative-friendly satellite radio stations a few weeks ago, I bet I wasn’t the only fan to begin worrying that the … Read more

Jack White: Boarding House Reach [Album Review]

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Jack White Boarding House Reach Third Man/Columbia Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Jack White’s most eclectic listen to date. Maybe rock is dead? Or is it?. Album Review: If anyone in the indie rock nation could help push the disappearing genre back into the spotlight you think Jack White would be the artist. After already … Read more

Guided By Voices: Space Gun [Album Review]

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Guided By Voices Space Gun GBV, Inc. [2018] Fire Note Says: Robert Pollard and his band of merry men use every trick in the book and create a masterpiece. Album Review: I have been a fan of Guided By Voices since I first heard Bee Thousand way back in 1994. It seemed timeless yet still … Read more

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats: Tearing At The Seams [Album Review]

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Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats Tearing At The Seams Stax Records [2018] Fire Note Says: That S.O.B. Nathaniel Rateliff returns to his roots in R&B and Americana on the strength of the horn-driven Night Sweats. Album Review: After several years of experimenting around the Denver music scene with alternative rock and folk music combos, … Read more

Shell Of A Shell: Already There EP [Album Review]

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Shell Of A Shell Already There EP Exploding In Sound Records [2018] Who: Nashville, Tennessee quartet, Shell of a Shell craft a delightful debut EP with Already There. Sound: Shell of a Shell will delight fans of Exploding In Sounds Record’s artist roster. They are a blend of Pile’s edginess mixed with a penchant for … Read more

Barrence Whitfield & The Savages: Soul Flowers Of Titan [Album Review]

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Barrence Whitfield & The Savages Soul Flowers Of Titan Bloodshot Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Barrence Whitfield & The Savages play oldschool R&B with the energy of garage-rock punkers, serving up passion and intensity, giving life to familiar blues riffs. Album Review: Soul Flowers Of Titan, the fourth album from Boston-based R&B soul shouter Barrence … Read more

The Friday Fire Track: Michael Rault – “I’ll Be There”

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Canadian singer-songwriter Michael Rault is back on May 18th with his new album, It’s A New Day, via Wick Records (a Daptone Records subsidiary). You may remember his solid Living Daylight which was out on Burger records in 2015. Today’s Friday Fire Track, “I’ll Be There,” is from that new record and screams classic power … Read more

Moby: Everything Was Beautiful, And Nothing Hurt [Album Review]

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Moby Everything Was Beautiful, And Nothing Hurt Little Idiot/Mute Records [2018] Fire Note Says: On his 15th studio album, Moby creates an atmospheric soundtrack for the post-apocalyptic age to come. Album Review: Moby was making electronic dance music hits before we knew to call it EDM, when it was still called techno/dance pop, but his … Read more

Premiere Friday Fire Track: Ricky Hell & The Voidboys – “Friday Eyes”

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Ricky Hell & The Voidboys formed in 2017 on the streets of Cleveland, Ohio and if you follow TFN you already are well aware of the excellent noise rock frontman Ricky Hamilton creates as we have featured his solo work and bands Fascinating and Shagg. Needless to say, we are hyped to premiere this Friday … Read more

Jimi Hendrix: Both Sides Of The Sky [Album Review]

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Jimi Hendrix Both Sides Of The Sky Legacy Recordings [2018] Fire Note Says: Both Sides Of The Sky will be especially appreciated by collectors and hardcore fans who want to hear everything. Album Review: It is strange here in 2018 to be talking about “new” music from Jimi Hendrix, who died tragically in 1970 after … Read more

Titus Andronicus: A Productive Cough [Album Review]

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Titus Andronicus A Productive Cough Merge Records [2018] Who: A continually evolving band from New Jersey that is on their fifth full length. Sound: Known for their early indie punk rock, Titus Andronicus keep changing their game as A Productive Cough offers a more Bruce Springsteen meets Lucero that time warps back to 70’s Stones … Read more

Haley Heynderickx: I Need To Start A Garden [Album Review]

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Haley Heynderickx I Need To Start A Garden Mama Bird Recording Co [2018] Fire Note Says: A striking debut album from singer-songwriter Haley Heynderickx. Album Review: Portland-based singer-songwriter Haley Heynderickx seems to have a strong understanding of the power of small details to make (or break) a musical performance. All eight of the songs on … Read more

Finn’s Motel: Quinta Del Sordo [Album Review]

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Finn’s Motel Quinta del Sordo Victory Over Gravity Records [2017] Fire Note Says: St. Louis power pop/rock quartet returns with a second album in a year, with the emphasis on solid songwriting and smart, catchy songs. Album Review: Finn’s Motel came out of hibernation last year, 12 years after their last full-length recording, with a … Read more

The Black Angels – “Half Believing” [Video]

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Austin psych-rockers, The Black Angels have shared a music video for “Half Believing.” This is the lead track off their latest record Death Song out now on Partisan Records.

Guitarist Christian Bland says of the clip; “The idea was to create a mini ‘Twilight Zone’ episode, where a man’s life flashes before his very eyes before he enters eternity. Where he ends up, no one knows.”