The Ocean Blue Kings And Queens / Knaves And Thieves Korda Records [2019] Album Review: The Ocean Blue return after a six-year absence (and nearly a decade before that) with a sound that would feel right at home on their earliest major label albums, including their self-titled debut released 30 years ago. Signed by Sire … Read more
Kristin Hersh Possible Dust Clouds Fire Records [2019] Album Review: Ever since her arrival on the scene in Throwing Muses, the band she shared with her step-sister Tanya Donelly in the early 80’s, Kristin Hersh has been steadily releasing music that speak to her unique musical vision. While Donelly, who went on to start the … Read more
Smug Brothers All Blur And Spark Gas Daddy Go! Records [2019] Who: Dayton, Ohio-based Smug Brothers release another charming and quite satisfying album. Sound: All Blur and Spark is an impressive kaleidoscope of songs that were born from the GoFundMe endeavor to press their last album, Attic Harvest, to vinyl. TFN Final Take: All Blur … Read more
black midi Schlagenheim Rough Trade Records [2019] Who: The young London quartet black midi basically came out of nowhere and built a super buzz leading up to this debut. Sound: Post punk for a new generation with some extraordinary drumming and the ability to move through multiple genres on the turn of a dime. TFN … Read more
The Black Keys Let’s Rock Easy Eye Sound/Nonesuch Records [2019] Fire Note Says: The Black Keys return with a fun album that lives up to its title: Let’s Rock. Album Review: Too often, when we think of rock music – that guitar driven folk music of the common people that grew out of geographically unique … Read more
Mannequin Pussy Patience Epitaph Records [2019] Who: Philadelphia’s Mannequin Pussy have just released their third LP and first for Epitaph Records. Sound: Melodic powerful punk rock that can hum like Cherry Glazerr and Charley Bliss with the snarl of Amyl and the Sniffers and Bikini Kill. TFN Final Take: I remember being impressed with Mannequin … Read more
Bruce Springsteen Western Stars Columbia Records [2019] Fire Note Says: Bruce Springsteen steps out for some 60’s & 70’s California folk/pop a la Glen Campbell’s “Wichita Lineman” on his 19th studio album, Western Stars. Album Review: The advance word on Western Stars, the nineteenth studio album from Bruce Springsteen was a major change of direction … Read more
Fruit Tones Natural Selection Greenway Records [2019] Who: The Fruit Tones hail from Manchester UK and Natural Selection is their debut record. Sound: Garage rock that comes at you loose, loud and full of energy. TFN Final Take: Manchester’s Fruit Tones don’t try to win you over with anything fancy or sophisticated on their debut … Read more
Bill Callahan Shepherd In A Sheepskin Vest Drag City Records [2019] Who: After almost 20 years behind Smog for his music, Bill Callahan has had his name on the spine now for five solo records. Sound: Singer/songwriter with level baritone. Fans of Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Sun Kill Moon and Nick Cave will enjoy. TFN Final … Read more
Phil Keaggy & Rex Paul Illumination Strobie Records [2019] Fire Note Says: World class guitar hero, Phil Keaggy collaborates with Rex Paul to produce one of the most polished recordings of his long career. Album Review: When I last wrote about guitarist Phil Keaggy for TFN it was earlier this year in a review of … Read more
The Raconteurs Help Us Stranger Third Man Records [2019] Who: Jack White and The Raconteurs return after an 11 year absence. Sound: Classic rock radio ready. TFN Final Take: Jack White has not ever disappeared but his Raconteurs have been dormant for 11 years until now with the release of their third record Help Us … Read more
Silversun Pickups Widow’s Weeds New Machine Recordings [2019] Fire Note Says: With Widow’s Weeds, LA’s Silversun Pickups break fresh musical ground with the help of producer, Butch Vig. Album Review: Widow’s Weeds, the fifth studio album from L.A. band Silversun Pickups, depicts an artist/band going through dramatic life changes. The album’s first single, “It Doesn’t … Read more
Calexico | Iron & Wine Years To Burn Sub Pop Records [2019] Who: Sam Beam’s Iron & Wine and Calexico have a long musical resume that includes their 2005 album together, In The Reins. Sound: Smooth indie folk with intricate instrumentation that falls in line with both artists catalog and fans of Bon Iver, Bill … Read more
Todd Rundgren; The Individualist Tour; The Taft Theater, Cincinnati, OH – Wednesday, June 5, 2019 Two decades into the 21st Century, Todd Rundgren, noted rocker, producer, and now author, may not be a household name, but for a faithful audience of fans he remains an artist worthy of our time, attention and hard-earned cash. In … Read more
Dumb Club Nites Mint Records [2019] Who: Vancouver’s Dumb are a lot smarter than their name implies. They have released one of the best records of 2019. Sound: Dumb are often compared to their post-punk contemporaries, Parquet Courts, and not without reason, but they are so much more than that. In some aspects, they are … Read more
The Waterboys Where The Action Is Cooking Vinyl [2019] Fire Note Says: Irish rocker Mike Scott’s Waterboys return with another outing of the “Big Music.” Album Review: Irish rockers, The Waterboys arrived on the scene making “The Big Music,” in the same wave that introduced bands like U2 and the Scottish Big Country. A mix … Read more
SIZ Liquid Flippin’ Freaks [2019] Who: SIZ hail from Bordeaux, France and they are all about some 90’s grunge/fuzz-tinged with a steady dose of heavy shoegaze and psychedelic rock. Sound: Liquid is a satisfying blend of different genres of 90s indie rock, and at the same time sound like they belong in the same collective … Read more
Truth Club Not An Exit Tiny Engines [2019] Who: The Raleigh-based four-piece Truth Club are new on the indie rock scene and Not An Exit is their debut record. Sound: Sweeping post-punk that has the indie rocking spirit of a Promise Ring, Car Seat Headrest and The Strokes while bringing a mood like Protomartyr and … Read more
Black Mountain Destroyer Jagjaguwar [2019] Who: Stoney, space rock outfit from hailing from Vancouver, British Columbia. This album represents a new lineup having Rachel Fannan (Sleepy Sun) and Adam Bulgasem (Dommengang, Soft Kill). Sound: Black Mountain is a group of fuzzy, metal, rock warriors. Their albums never shy away from proggy passages or psychedelic situations. … Read more
T Bone Burnett / Jay Bellerose / Keefus Ciancia The Invisible Light: Acoustic Space Verve Forecast [2019] Fire Note Says: Producer/artist/influencer, T Bone Burnett joins forces to create a strong experimental soundtrack for these challenging times. Album Review: “`The Invisible Light,’” explains T Bone Burnett in this album’s liner notes, “is a song cycle concerned … Read more
Bad Religion Age Of Unreason Epitaph Records [2019] Who: This is the West Coast punk greats 17th studio record and first full-length since 2013’s True North. Sound: Melodic punk rock that is 120% Bad Religion. TFN Final Take: If there ever was a political environment for punk veterans Bad Religion to storm back – 2019 … Read more
Andy Statman Monroe Bus Shefa Records [2019] Fire Note Says: Andy Statman pays tribute to the father of bluegrass, Bill Monroe, with this instrumental album rooted in the mastery of the mandolin. Album Review: Andy Statman’s had a long and celebrated career (he’s 79) has deep roots in two classic musical traditions. As a clarinetist, … Read more
Kishi Bashi Omoiyari Joyful Noise Recordings [2019] Who: Kaoru Ishibashi, aka Kishi Bashi, is a multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter. He is a founding member of Jupiter One, and, was a member of the group of Montreal before going out on his own. Sound: Kishi Bashi offers a melodic orchestrated indie folk that is delivered with 110% … Read more
The Yawpers Human Question Bloodshot Records [2019] Fire Note Says: The Yawpers return with a primal scream of roots rock originality that demands to be heard. Album Review: That the Denver-based trio took their name from a piece of Walt Whitman poetry should tell us something, but don’t think quiet library reading rooms. “I sound … Read more
Snapped Ankles Stunning Luxury The Leaf Label [2019] Who: Snapped Ankles are a pseudo-techno/punk band out of London and out of this world. Sound: Stunning Luxury continues Snapped Ankles’ blend of tribal techno mixed with motorik rhythms and post-punk ethos. TFN Final Take: 2019 continues to impress me with a constant stream of great new … Read more