Robert Randolph & The Family Band Brighter Days Mascot Label Group [2019] Fire Note Says: 17 years and 6 studio albums later, Robert Randolph & The Family Band celebrate their early roots in soulful Gospel grooves and funky R&B and rock suitable for the clubs. Album Review: Robert Randolph and his Family Band came on … Read more
Sleater-Kinney The Center Won’t Hold Mom + Pop Music [2019] Who: Sleater-Kinney return with a different look and overall sound with the help of producer St. Vincent. Sound: Indie synth pop with an edge. TFN Final Take: Seems like a bunch of stuff has happened since we last gushed about Sleater-Kinney’s return on No Cities … Read more
Violent Femmes Hotel Last Resort [PIAS] [2019] Fire Note Says: Acoustic folk/punk rockers, Violent Femmes carries forward their unique musical vision for the next decade. Album Review: On their 10th album, 36 years after their self-titled debut that included some of their best-loved songs – “Blister in the Sun,” “Kiss Off,” and “Add It Up,” … Read more
Orville Peck Pony Sub Pop Records [2019] Fire Note Says: Orville Peck is the Great North American queer cowboy wonder. Album Review: Saddle up partner, because we’re going on a wild ride with one of the biggest breakout stars of 2019: Orville Peck, a gay Canadian country singer who hides his face behind a be-fringed … Read more
Redd Kross Beyond The Door Merge Records [2019] Album Review: Here in the new dark ages, I can think of no better antidote to the political malaise or our troubled times than the return of power-pop (with the emphasis on the “power” & the “pop”) wunderkinds, Redd Kross. Arriving in the 80’s along-side Material Issue, … Read more
Dave Hause Kick Rise Records [2019] Fire Note Says: Dave Hause’s fourth record is a satisfying blend of familiar styles. Album Review: “Wouldn’t it be nice just to be bold?” asks Dave Hause in the closing seconds of the first track on his fourth record Kick. “I used to be bold,” he reminds us, and … Read more
Honey Radar Ruby Puff Of Dust What’s Your Rupture? [2019] Who: Philadelphia-based lo-fi specialists Honey Radar do what they do best on their 5th LP. What do they do? They make memorable lo-fi charmers. Sound: Jason Henn’s tie-dye, lo-fi stylings are nostalgic and endearing on this remarkable new LP. TFN Final Take: Ruby Puff of … Read more
King Gizzard & The Lizard WizardInfest The Rats’ NestFlightless Records [2019] If you’re a fan of King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, then you already know that being surprised is a key element of the band. Despite working tirelessly, they have never churned out the same record over their 15 studio albums in this short … Read more
The Hold Steady Thrashing Thru The Passion Frenchkiss Records [2019] Album Review: Very few fans of The Hold Steady have any doubts about the story writing ability of singer/songwriter Craig Finn, but if anyone did by the release of the band’s sixth and last release, 2014’s Teeth Dreams, we now have three more solo albums … Read more
Possible Humans Everybody Split Trouble In Mind Records [2019] Who: Everybody Split is the debut album from Melbourne, Australia quintet Possible Humans which has been building a following since forming in 2012. Sound: Modern indie post-punk that has some comparison sounds to early R.E.M., The Clean, and Arcade Fire. TFN Final Take: Many fans of … Read more
Jeff Lynne’s ELO w/ Dhani Harrison; ELO Live Tour 2019; Nationwide Arena, Columbus, OH – Tuesday, July 30, 2019 When Jeff Lynne played ten shows in the U.S. in August of 2018, his first concerts with the Electric Light Orchestra in 35 years, and then announced 20 more dates for this summer it felt like … Read more
Beck & Cage The Elephant w/ Spoon & Wild Belle; The Night Running Tour 2019; Riverbend Music Center, Cincinnati, OH – Friday, August 2, 2019 Anybody who saw Beck appear in the “Echo In the Canyon” movie, a film celebrating the music from the LA area in the late 60’s and early 70’s, performing the … Read more
The Dream Syndicate These Times ANTI- [2019] Album Review: The Dream Syndicate is a band with two distinct periods of activity, with singer/songwriter Steve Wynn as the thread that connects the two. Active throughout the 80’s, the band’s first incarnation was part of the so-called Paisley Underground, a collection of So. California bands that tended … Read more
Ty Segall First Taste Drag City Records [2019] Who: Cali rocker Ty Segall returns with another batch of creative tracks. Sound: Without a guitar, Ty Segall still can bring his brand of indie psychedelia rock. TFN Final Take: Ty Segall has been pushing his limits on every release since his earliest days. He loves new … Read more
Young Guv GUV I Run For Cover Records [2019] Who: Young Guv is the solo project of Ben Cook. Since 2008, he has released a solid number of singles and EPs, plus two full-lengths. Sound: Sweet perfect power pop that will have you thinking Teenage Fanclub, Fountains of Wayne and Superdrag all wrapped into one … Read more
CFM Soundtrack To An Empty Room In The Red Records [2019] Who: Charles Francis Moothart aka CFM releases another satisfying psych fuzz-rock LP. Sound: Soundtrack to an Empty Room is Moothart’s most introspective and laidback album to date. TFN Final Take: Soundtrack to an Empty Room is Charles Francis Moothart’s third solo LP as CFM. … Read more
Jeff Tweedy Warmer dBpm Records [2019] Fire Note Says: Jeff Tweedy’s Record Store Day release follow-up to Warm is now available everywhere, adding more personal acoustic songs to the original, while we wait on a new Wilco album. Album Review: Jeff Tweedy’s Warm arrived at the end of last year, offering a more intimate collection … Read more
Spoon Everything Hits At Once: The Best Of Spoon Matador Records [2019] Who: Spanning a career well into its third decade, Spoon has released this greatest hits compilation that includes the new track “No Bullets Spent.” Sound: Spoon has evolved from the grittier indie rock with Pixies influence to the present where they deliver songs … Read more
Tony Molina Songs From San Mateo County Smoking Room [2019] Who: West Bay staple Tony Molina has been cranking out excellent short burst indie rock for some time now but really came on the radar after his Headphone Approved 2013 release Dissed And Dismissed. Sound: Tony Molina has an Elliott Smith type vocal that combines … Read more
Tedeschi Trucks Band w/ Shovels & Rope and Blackberry Smoke; Wheels of Soul Tour 2019; Rose Music Center, Huber Heights, OH – Saturday, July 20, 2019 There are some pieces of music that are so iconic, so memorable, so potent and influential, that it only takes a few seconds of sound to transport you to … Read more
King’s X; Summer Of Love Tour 2019; Turnbuckles & Brews, Dayton, OH – Thursday, July 18, 2019 Given that King’s X has been playing essentially the same set for the last few years and I reviewed their show in Dayton nearly 3 years ago at TFN, there may not seem like there’s anything new to … Read more
The Minus 5 Stroke Manor Yep Roc [2019] Album Review: In November of 2017, Scott McCaughey, the central figure in The Minus 5 alongside Peter Buck, who also played an auxiliary role in R.E.M. when it was active, had a stroke that pretty much stripped all knowledge of music from his memory. The Portland, Ore. … Read more
Bleached Don’t You Think You’ve Had Enough? Dead Oceans [2019] Who: Jennifer and Jessie Clavin are back with more indie pop rock on their third record as Bleached. Sound: Bleached don’t hold back here with crunching indie pop rock with big hooks that make plenty of sing along moments. Think Blondie, Joan Jett, Best Coast … Read more
Purple Mountains Purple Mountains Drag City Records [2019] Who: Purple Mountains marks the return of David Berman (Silver Jews) and represents his first new music in over a decade. Sound: Indie singer/songwriter that fits in a list with the likes of Nick Cave, Steve Malkmus, Bill Callahan and Will Oldham. TFN Final Take: I don’t … Read more
Sheryl Crow w/ Yola; World Tour 2019; Fraze Pavilion, Kettering, OH – Wednesday, July 10, 2019 When Sheryl Crow and her 6-piece band took the stage of the Fraze Pavilion on this hot and sweaty night in July, it was the ease and confidence of someone who had been here before. In fact, as she … Read more