Swamp Dogg Love, Loss, And Auto-Tune Joyful Noise Recordings [2018] Who: Jerry Williams Jr. a.k.a Swamp Dogg has been making music since the 1960’s. The Swamp Dogg moniker appeared in 1970 after Williams reinvented his sound with Total Destruction To Your Mind Sound: Swamp Dogg has alway presented a unique sound. Williams core will always … Read more
Alejandro Escovedo The Crossing Yep Roc [2018] Fire Note Says: The Crossing is another positive notch in the Alejandro Escovedo catalog. Album Review: By all rights, Alejandro Escovedo should be a household name. After playing with the early punk band The Nuns in the 70’s, and a seminal cow-punk (read Americana) band, Rank and File, … Read more
Matt and Kim Almost Everyday Fader Label [2018] Fire Note Says: Matt and Kim bring the energy and a renewed focus. Album Review: Whether it’s dealing with the current political climate or wrestling with their own mortality, Matt and Kim have found a sense of urgency and focus on their latest album, Almost Everyday. The … Read more
The Decemberists “Your Girl/Your Ghost” World Tour w/ Kacy & Clayton; Taft Theatre, Cincinnati, OH – Thursday, September 20, 2018 Thursday night’s concert by The Decemberists was one whole day late for “International Talk Like a Pirate Day” but, while no one said anything close to an “Arrgh, Matey,” fans of the Portland, Ore., band … Read more
Active Bird Community Amends Barsuk Records [2018] Who: Active Bird Community is a Brooklyn band formed in 2005. Amends is their Barsuk Records debut. Sound: Strong 90’s alt-rock influences as they have a vibe that will take you back to the days of Tripping Daisy, Jimmy Eat World, and Harvey Danger while giving you a … Read more
Low Double Negative Sub Pop Records [2018] Fire Note Says: On Low’s 12th album, they sketch a portrait of the dark and noisy residue of modern life, and allow moments of beauty to break through the cracks. Album Review: Beginning with their 1994 debut, “I Could Live in Hope,” Duluth-based indie band Low has been … Read more
Murder By Death The Other Shore Bloodshot Records [2018] Who: Murder By Death hail from Bloomington, Indiana and take their name from the 1976 Robert Moore film of the same name. Their first album, Like the Exorcist, but More Breakdancing was released in 2002. Since then they’ve released 7 more albums and have a restaurant … Read more
Jeff Johnson & Brian Dunning Eirlandia Ark Music [2018] Fire Note Says: Johnson and Dunning’s Celtic flair musical creations are both majestic and heartwarming. Album Review: Composer and keyboardist Jeff Johnson and flautist Brian Dunning have been collaborating on a unique blend of Celtic contemporary instrumental music for nearly 30 years, often creating soundtracks that … Read more
Death Cab for Cutie Thank You For Today Atlantic Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Death Cab For Cutie have what it takes to make this journey worth the effort. Album Review: Thank You For Today is the 9th studio album from Ben Gibbard’s Death Cab for Cutie, the first without long-time guitarist and producer Chris … Read more
Pile Odds And Ends Exploding In Sound Records [2018] Who: Boston-based Pile please their fans with an essential compilation of their twisted, genre-defying songs. Sound: Odds and Ends is a tidy collection of Pile songs that span 2010-2017. TFN Final Take: It’s no secret that I am a big Pile fan. Odds and Ends does … Read more
Neil & Liam Finn Lightsleeper Inertia Music/[PIAS] [2018] Fire Note Says: Neil Finn, best known for work in Crowded House, Split Enz before it, and most recently as a touring member of Fleetwood Mac, keeps it in the family, recording with his son Liam to create a dreamy soundscape that honors the ties that bind. … Read more
Animal Collective Tangerine Reef Domino Recording Company [2018] Who: Established experimental electronic rock band. Sound: Aquarium/laser-light-show music. TFN Final Take: It’s an admirable idea. Make a record that benefits the fading presence of the coral reef in our world. And it’s meant to be an audiovisual experience. But as a standalone LP, Tangerine Reef is … Read more
Counting Crows w/ Special Guest Live: “25 Years And Counting” Tour 2018; Riverbend Music Center, Cincinnati, OH – Saturday, September 1, 2018 It was a hot, muggy night on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend when the Counting Crows brought their 25th anniversary tour to the Ohio River valley. Earlier in the day we’d seen … Read more
Big Bite Big Bite Pop Wig Records [2018] Who: Seattle, Washington based Big Bite have released a stunning debut album. Sound: Big Bite’s debut is a bold and satisfying mix of Wipers and contemporaries such as Pardoner and Baked. TFN Final Take: I have been a Big Bite tear for the past month. Their self-titled … Read more
Interpol Marauder Matador Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Most songs on the new Interpol will fit nicely into a live set. Album Review: New York post-punk rockers Interpol return for a 6th album, this time relying on an outside producer after taking things in-house on the last two. Working with David Fridmann (Flaming Lips, Spoon, … Read more
Houndmouth Golden Age Rough Trade Records [2018] Who: Louisville trio going through a transition. Sound: High energy synth-pop. TFN Final Take: Giving Golden Age its first listen, you may wonder if you’ve got the right album. While Houndmouth’s trademark sound had been loose, guitar-driven, harmony-laden blues and folk, this LP is electric and crackling. That’s … Read more
The Record Company All Of This Life Concord Music [2018] Fire Note Says: Rock trio, The Record Company step up with a solid sophomore effort, expanding on their strengths. Album Review: From the earliest days of rock & roll, there’s been a special place for power trios, like Cream, Rush, Nirvana, Husker Du, The Jam, … Read more
Oh Sees Smote Reverser Castle Face Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Oh Sees return with an eclectic serving for their 21st LP Album Review: Oh Sees (Formerly Thee Oh Sees, The Oh Sees, OCS) frontman, John Dwyer, recently gave an interview to Billboard.com in which he speaks on the bands creative ethos and art in … Read more
Mitski Be The Cowboy Dead Oceans [2018] Fire Note Says: It is fantastic to hear Mitski in full control and give the indie world a jolt of well thought out rock pop. Album Review: It is crazy to believe that Mitski is on her fifth (and best) record to date and yet she still feels … Read more
Robbie Fulks & Linda Gail Lewis Wild! Wild! Wild! Bloodshot Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Together, Lewis & Fulks recall what made that revolutionary music so appealing. Album Review: The collaboration of alt country singer/songwriter Robbie Fulks and Linda Gail Lewis, the little sister, piano protégé and touring partner of Jerry Lee “The Killer” Lewis … Read more
Brian Owens Soul Of Cash Soul Step Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Brian Owens shares his soul with Johnny Cash! Album Review: I think in today’s vast music scene, cover records are merely blown off as a novelty or simply overlooked. Even for established artists, a cover record is typically assumed to just be a … Read more
David Byrne w/ Special Guest Benjamin Clemetine: “American Utopia” Tour 2018; Rose Music Center, Dayton, OH – Saturday, August 11, 2018 The English language is not particularly helpful when one sets out to describe the music and artistry of David Byrne, words like unique and quirky tend to carry a pejorative connotation, while intended as … Read more
Gorillaz The Now Now Parlophone/Warner Bros. [2018] Fire Note Says: The follow-up to last year’s “Humanz,” finds Gorillaz leaning more on singer Damon Albarn (Blur) than the hip-hop collaborations that drove previous hits up the charts. Album Review: The Gorillaz concept – a virtual band with animated characters drawn by artist Jamie Hewlett with music … Read more
Sunflower Bean Twentytow In Blue Mom + Pop Music [2018] Fire Note Says: Brooklyn-based trio, Sunflower Bean, mix bubblegum and power pop, psychedelia and punk influences for a buoyant sophomore effort. Album Review: Sunflower Beam is a traditional rock trio – bass, drums & guitar – which brings it’s original songs into focus around singer/bassist … Read more
Doffing Tower Of Ten Thousand Miles Self-Released [2018] Who: Montreal’s Doffing may have released one of 2018’s best albums. Tower of Ten Thousand Miles is flying under the radar, but try your best to lock on and engage. Sound: Doffing emulate and honor 90’s indie rock with an entertaining blend of weirdo rock that is … Read more