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 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
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; 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
(Sandy) Alex G House Of Sugar Domino [2019] TFN Album Review: It is hard to believe that Alex Giannascoli, aka (Sandy) Alex G, has now released three albums on Domino Records with House of Sugar. The record represents his ninth album overall, which for some artists could be their entire catalog, but at age 26 … Read more
Dan Luke And The Raid Out Of The Blue New West Records [2019] Album Review: I knew I wanted to review the debut album by Dan Luke and the Raid when I first caught their “Exoskeleton” video in a random moment online. Something about these twenty year olds having their way with a couple piñatas … Read more
Ty Segall Pig Man Lives Volume I See Note / Drag City Records [2019] TFN Album Review: Ty Segall has been consistently releasing his style of garage indie rock music since 2007. Pig Man Lives Volume I is his new 4 LP vinyl only release compilation that captures his demos that span from 2007-2017. For … Read more
Daniel Martin Moore Never Look Away Ok/SofaBurn Records [2019] Fire Note Says: Kentucky folk singer/songwriter returns with 9th album of heart-felt songs. Album Review: If we’re not careful, the latest album from Kentucky folk singer/songwriter Daniel Martin Moore could easily get lost in all the commotion of noisy new releases that are seeking to make … Read more
Angel Olsen All Mirrors Jagjaguwar [2019] TFN Album Review: Angel Olsen has become one of the premiere indie voices over the last several years which was boosted by her TFN Blazing Top 5 record in 2016, My Woman. From this point in time, Olsen has been building momentum and style which has all come together … Read more
Wilco Ode to Joy Tour w/ Special Guest Deep Sea Diver; Taft Theatre, Cincinnati, OH – Saturday, November 9, 2019 “Cincinnati, I’ve got to say, you are really bringing it,” stated Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy about 2/3rds of the way through their performance at the Taft Theatre on Saturday night. Tweedy is not one of … Read more
Smug Brothers Serve A Thirsty Moon Gas Daddy Go! Records [2019] TFN Album Review: Serve A Thirsty Moon completes a trifecta for Dayton’s Smug Brothers as the LP represents the groups third release this year following February’s Attic Harvest and July’s All Blur And Spark. The bands creative surge is the result of adding members … Read more
Tegan And Sara Hey, I’m Just Like You Sire Records [2019] Fire Note Says: Canadian duo Tegan and Sara give fresh recordings to songs written when they were teenagers on their ninth studio album. Album Review: Twins, Tegan and Sara Quin quite naturally tend to do a lot of things together. For instance, earlier this … Read more
R.E.M. Monster (25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) Craft Recordings [2019] TFN Album Review: I have very fond memories of R.E.M.’s “big guitar” record Monster when it was released in 1994. At the time, it was hyped and felt like an incredible turn for the band after the quieter and more acoustic orchestrated Out Of Time (1991) … Read more
DIIV Deceiver Captured Tracks [2019] TFN Album Review: The third record from DIIV has always been somewhat in jeopardy as frontman Zachary Cole Smith has had a very public battle with his sobriety. That being said, Deceiver does not sugar coat addiction and definitely does not point to a happy ending of recovery but really … Read more
Neil Young with Crazy Horse Colorado Reprise Records [2019] Fire Note Says: Neil Young regroups with Crazy Horse and Nils Lofgren, for an album that’s a mix of militant guitar activism on behalf of Mother Nature, and some nostalgia for an earlier time. Album Review: “You might say I’m an old white guy” Neil Young … Read more
Omni Networker Sub Pop Records [2019] TFN Album Review: Over the last three years and two albums with Trouble In Mind records, Atlanta’s Omni have built support with their post-punk Gang of Four and Wire riffs, sharp lyrics and laid-back delivery. Needless to say, the expectations have risen with their third LP Networker and first … Read more
GA-20 Lonely Soul Karma Chief/Colemine Records [2019] TFN Album Review: I know if you are into indie music you might not be searching the blues charts for new tunes but on occasion bands cross over and become a must listen with their style and groove. Boston’s GA-20 is one of those bands. Pat Faherty and … Read more
Young Guv GUV II Run For Cover Records [2019] TFN Album Review: You are not seeing double as Ben Cook’s solo effort Young Guv has released GUV II. It is the second part to Young Guv’s earlier and Headphone Approved power pop release simply titled GUV I. GUV II starts off where GUV I left … Read more
Jesse Malin Sunset Kids Wicked Cool / Velvet Elk Records [2019] Fire Note Says: Jesse Malin’s 8th album recalls the best of an earlier era, with help from producer Lucinda Williams, and guest spots from Billie Joe Armstrong and Joseph Arthur. Album Review: Obviously, there’s no actual formula when it comes to writing a great … Read more
Kim Gordon No Home Record Matador Records [2019] Fire Note Says: After a long career playing bass in Sonic Youth, Kim Gordon steps out solo on an artful, noisy piece of self-expression that has a beat you can dance to. Album Review: Pretty sure the first time I saw Kim Gordon’s band Sonic Youth live … Read more
Guided By Voices Sweating The Plague GBV, Inc. [2019] TFN Album Review: Sweating The Plague is Guided By Voices third album release in 2019 and I feel it is their best. That statement alone could be debated for weeks, and already has in GBV groups across the land, but when the last strum of guitar … Read more
Mikal Cronin Seeker Merge Records [2019] TFN Album Review: Seeker is Mikal Cronin’s fourth LP but he is probably known best as Ty Segall’s bass player. If you have been following the excellent solo work of Mikal Cronin you have become familiar with his more indie pop leanings of his last two excellent albums but … Read more
The New Pornographers In The Morse Code Of Brake Lights Concord Records [2019] Fire Note Says: The Carl Newman led New Pornographers, take on the world grim reality with bright, bold and aggressive pop song energy that rocks, with strings. Album Review: It seems the unspoken rule of thumb for songs by The New Pornographers’ … Read more
Tool Fear Inoculum RCA Records [2019] Fire Note Says: 13 years later Tool reawakens to deliver one of the most anticipated albums ever. Album Review: Speaking on Tool’s fifth album, Fear Inoculum, lead vocalist Maynard James Keenan, says, “the album covers the idea of embracing where we are right now, acknowledging where we’ve come from … Read more
Jimmy Eat World Surviving RCA Records [2019] Fire Note Says: Jimmy Eat World deliver another solid collection of smart rock driven by pop hooks, their 10th studio album. Album Review: Arizona band Jimmy Eat World struck lightning in 2001 with the piece of guitar-driven pop/rock brilliance that was “The Middle.” The song had such a … Read more