Andrew Bird My Finest Work Yet Vista Loma Recordings [2019] Fire Note Says: Andrew Bird’s 10th solo album takes on the world of politics with artful music, clever, literate lyrics, and lots of violin and whistling. Album Review: Andrew Bird, the singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, most often associated with his violin playing, has been plugging away … Read more
The Budos Band V Daptone Records [2019] Who: 60’s/70’s influenced afro-soul legends, The Budos Band have released their fifth full length album with V. Sound: Instrumental horn driven rock that has evolved since their Afro-soul beginnings that has a Here Lies Man vibe along with Antibalas, Ikebe Shakedown and Cochemea. TFN Final Take: The Budos … Read more
Yak Pursuit Of Momentary Happiness Third Man Records/Virgin EMI [2019] Who: London trio delivers the follow up to 2016’s Alas Salvation. Sound: Yak conjures screwball blues, with stabs of grandeur, psychedelics, struggle, and politics. There’s a real reason they caught the attention of Jack White, Jason Pierce (Spiritualized), and Jay Watson (Tame Impala, GUM, Pond). … Read more
Mott The Hoople ’74 w/ Dream Syndicate; Masonic Auditorium, Cleveland, OH – Saturday, April 6, 2019 If the sold out appearance of Mott The Hoople ’74 at the old Masonic theater in Cleveland proved anything on Saturday night, it was that Ian Hunter, the sunglass wearing ’79 year old at the heart of the band, … Read more
The Flaming Lips King’s Mouth: Music And Songs Warner Bros. Records [2019] Fire Note Says: The Flaming Lips return from the cosmos to spread their tale of the King that saved us all! Album Review: Within The Flaming Lips ethos, Record Store Day has always been held in high regard. Record ideas include: A Various … Read more
Steve Earle & The Dukes Guy New West Records [2019] Fire Note Says: Like his previous tribute to Townes Van Zandt, Steve Earle serves up a collection of Guy Clark songs that celebrate his songwriting catalog. Album Review: Given the current state of popular country music, it should surprise us that what gets labeled Outlaw … Read more
Lonesome Shack Desert Dreams Alive Naturalsound Records [2019] Who: Lonesome Shack is a trio based out of Bellingham, WA. They now come to us by way of London in the UK. Sound: Dirty, Delta, foot stompin’ blues. TFN Final Take: We’ve had our ear on Lonesome Shack ever since they released their Alive Naturalsound debut, … Read more
Jenny Lewis On The Line Warner Bros. Records [2019] Album Review: Jenny Lewis’ fourth solo album, On The Line, recalls an era when pop music still leaned heavily on live musicians playing sessions together in the studio, and not computerized midi keyboards and drum beats per minute. Singer/songwriters like Carly Simon, Jackson Browne, and Linda … Read more
Ty Segall Deforming Lobes Drag City Records [2019] Who: Ty Segall and the Freedom Band — Mikal Cronin, Charles Moothart, Emmett Kelly, and Ben Boye, offer up a snap shot of their live show. Sound: Live indie punk rock that does not slow down. TFN Final Take: Deforming Lobes is a salute to Ty Segall’s … Read more
The The Black Heart Death Cult The Black Heart Death Cult Oak Island Records [2019] Who: Melbourne, Australia based quartet. Sound: Psychedelic songs from beyond the void. The Black Heart Death Cult blankets their listeners in churning fuzz and spacy drones. A few sitars are thrown in for good measure. TFN Final Take: The Black … Read more
Luther Dickinson and Sisters of the Strawberry Moon Solstice New West Records [2019] Fire Note Says: Luther Dickinson brings together some up & coming female folk/rock singers, who collaborate for a long weekend, singing each other’s songs and the result is a delight. Album Review: As Luther Dickinson describes it, Solstice came together like a … Read more
The Mekons Deserted Bloodshot Records [2019] Fire Note Says: The punk rock collective that is The Mekons drives us into the desert for a sing-along pub crawl that mixes punk, country and classic rock, in their 4th decade on Deserted. Album Review: There is a loose, playful, devil-may-care quality to The Mekons’ approach to punk, … Read more
The Scaners II Dirty Water Records [2019] Who: French gonzo-synth punks and intergalactic scuzzball house band, The Scaners return just a year later after their debut with II. Sound: Synth punk rock that has both the intergalactic connections of Man Or Astro-Man? and the 1,2,3,4 of the Ramones. TFN Final Take: The Scaners have quickly … Read more
John Kilzer Scars Archer Records [2019] Fire Note Says: Memphis singer/songwriter John Kilzer delivers soulful pop/rock Americana, in what turns out to be his last will and testament. Album Review: Singer/songwriter John Kilzer has had a long, somewhat remarkable career in his hometown of Memphis, where, at 6’ 6”, he was a star forward for … Read more
Son Volt Union Transmit Sound/Thirty Tigers [2019] Fire Note Says: Jay Farrar’s Son Volt gives a nod once again to the protest folk music of Woody Guthrie with songs that chronicle the divisions and injustices of our own era. Album Review: There’s a certain comfort in hearing Jay Farrar’s voice on the newest album from … Read more
Ex Hex It’s Real Merge Records [2019] Who: It’s Real marks the return of Ex Hex. It has been five years since the power trio released their debut Rips. Sound: Ex Hex has a modern Joan Jett vibe with L7 type riffs. TFN Final Take: Right from the beginning of opening track “Tough Enough,” you … Read more
Paul Weller Other Aspects, Live At The Royal Festival Hall Warner Bros. Records [2019] Album Review: At 60, Paul Weller, who started his career leading the seminal punk/mod revival band The Jam and spent a few years in The Style Council, a Britpop group with R&B/soul and jazz leanings, before his long and substantial solo … Read more
FEELS Post Earth Wichita Recordings [2019] Who: LA’s FEELS return as Post Earth is the bands sophomore record. Sound: Post punk that can rock out like Sleater-Kinney, grunge like L7 and hum a tune that blend in with the Breeders. TFN Final Take: Coming off their excellent Ty Segall produced debut, FEELS could really approach … Read more
Stephen Malkmus Groove Denied Matador Records [2019] Who: Frontman for Pavement and The Jicks confidently releases another solo project. Sound: With a backbone of synth and beats, Malkmus offers up something different that walks a closer line to Beck but the album still shows flashes of Pavement as well. TFN Final Take: I will tell … Read more
Over The Rhine Love & Revelation Great Speckled Dog [2019] Fire Note Says: Love & Revelation delivers another fine chapter in the artful catalog of Over the Rhine, a fine songwriting duo on their 15th album. Album Review: As songwriters, Karin Bergquist and Linford Detweiler have always invited people into their “Earthbound Love Song.” In … Read more
Good Shade Way Out Dirtnap Records [2019] Who: Way Out is the 4th studio full length by Columbus, Ohio’s Good Shade. Sound: Good Shade is a pop/punk band that has a raw sound that is much like the style of Jeff Rosenstock and Rozwell Kid or throwback to The Figgs. TFN Final Take: Good Shade … Read more
Vandoliers Forever Bloodshot Records [2019] Album Review: Dallas/Fort Worth band, Vandoliers come out of the gate on their Bloodshot Records debut sounding like the seasoned Texas bar-band they are, delivering up a healthy mix of sounds associated with the state where everything’s a bit larger than life-size. Singer/songwriter Joshua Fleming leads his band in a … Read more
Spielbergs This Is Not The End By The Time It Gets Dark Records [2019] Who: This Is Not The End is Oslo, Norway’s Spielbergs debut full length. Sound: Spielbergs have a throwback alt rock sound that will have Superdrag fans loving the hooks and Hum fans loving the guitars. TFN Final Take: The Spielbergs are … Read more
J.S. Ondara Tales Of America Verve Forecast [2019] Fire Note Says: Stunning debut from a unique voice. Album Review: It’s always exciting to hear a distinct, surprising new voice. That was my experience when firing up Tales of America, J.S. Ondara’s full-length debut. The Kenya native, who now resides in Minneapolis, MN, has a dulcet … Read more
Patty Griffin Patty Griffin Self-Released [2019] Fire Note Says: On her 10th studio album, singer/songwriter Patty Griffin has created an intimate, passionate recording centered around her singular artistic vision and beautiful voice. Album Review: Folk singer/songwriter, Patty Griffin’s songs on her self-titled 10th studio album are so intimate and quietly impactful, that you might forget … Read more