King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Polygondwanaland No Label [2017] Fire Note Says: This King Gizzard is free for everyone! Album Review: I have no problem calling King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard the most ambitious band of 2017. The band seems to be on track to keep their promise, a year with 5 releases. … Read more
Lorde Melodrama Lava Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Lorde resists contemporary pop conventions and dusts off 80’s vinyl influences to craft one of the strongest and most original pop records of the year. Album Review: Four years ago, the meteoric rise of New Zealand’s Lorde was fueled by the strength of “Royals,” a single that … Read more
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings Soul Of A Woman Daptone Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Sharon Jones’ last will is a testament to classic R&B, and a celebration of life. Album Review: Most of the time you don’t know when something will be your last time. When I took my son over to St. Louis … Read more
Future Islands The Far Field 4AD [2017] Fire Note Says: Somber and spare, The Far Field marks a surprising change in tone for Future Islands. Album Review: Mainstream audiences were first introduced to Future Islands frontman Sean Herring, in all his demon-voiced, swivel-hipped glory, when Future Islands’ played the poppy, charismatic “Seasons (Waiting on You)” … Read more
U2 Songs Of Experience Interscope Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Music doesn’t have to be inspirational to be good, but U2 at their best is just that. Album Review: One of the challenges when your band’s the second highest grossing touring bands of the year, is “Getting Out of Your Own Way.” Of course, that’s … Read more
St. Vincent Masseduction Loma Vista Recordings [2017] Fire Note Says: St. Vincent builds on the success of her last album, bringing her performance art mechanics, manic guitar noise and energetic electro-pop hysterics face to face with tragedy and lives to tell about it. Album Review: St. Vincent’s eponymously titled 4th solo album, released in 2014, … Read more
Rick Rude Make Mine Tuesday TinyRadars/Sophomore Lounge Records [2017] Who: New Hampshire’s Rick Rude make a lasting impression with Make Mine Tuesday. Sound: Make Mine Tuesday is a stunning debut album that is sure to make people who like Built to Spill, Heartless Bastards and The Pauses swoon. TFN Final Take: Another “Better Late than … Read more
(Sandy) Alex G Rocket Domino [2017] Who: The bedroom pop of Alexander Giannascoli aka (Sandy) Alex G has grown substantially since we first stumbled upon his 2014 record DSU on DIY label Orchid Tapes. Rocket is his sophomore record for Domino. Sound: (Sandy) Alex G plays a melodic pop that ranges from lo-fi experimentation to … Read more
The Menzingers After The Party Epitaph Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Bursting with big guitars, sweeping storytelling and endlessly catchy melodies, After the Party is a bold realization that finds The Menzingers’ raising the bar yet again. Album Review: From the crunchy guitars and lightning-fast drums of their debut record A Lesson in the Abuse … Read more
Pardoner Uncontrollable Salvation Father/Daughter Records [2017] Who: San Francisco’s Pardoner blend and bend their influences into a rather epic debut LP. Sound: Uncontrollable Salvation is a fantastic blend of fuzzy power noise slathered with skewed guitars, impeccable pop moments and an abundance of shoegaze noise. TFN Final Take: Pardoner’s debut LP, Uncontrollable Salvation was an … Read more
Chris Taylor Down A Dead End Street Self-Released [2017] Fire Note Says: San Antonio singer/songwriter with a half dozen albums of original LPs under his belt, offers up a tribute to Bob Dylan. Album Review: These days, San Antonio singer/songwriter and painter, Chris Taylor can be heard regularly around his hometown playing The Cove and … Read more
King Krule The OOZ True Panther/XL Recordings [2017] Who: London’s Archy Marshall is a well-known and respected artist in the UK and has released work under his own name, Zoo Kid and King Krule as The OOZ is his sophomore release. Sound: King Krule has a unique sound that blends multiple styles of jazz, garage, … Read more
The Church Man Woman Life Death Infinity Unorthodox [2017] Fire Note Says: On their 25th album, The Church from Australia continue to deliver those floating guitar lines that intertwine and grow to create that dreamy, ethereal sound that fans have come to expect. Album Review: On their 25th studio album, Australia’s The Church maintains the … Read more
U-Men U-Men Sub Pop Records [2017] Who: From 1983 to 1987, the U-Men were the hype of the Seattle Underground. The band recorded a handful of singles and one full length album in 1988. This new collection features the U-Men’s entire studio-recorded output plus 5 unreleased songs. Sound: You might expect the early days of … Read more
Pearl Jam Let’s Play Two Republic [2017] Fire Note Says: The audio companion to the Danny Clinch film of the same title, features the concert performances of some of Pearl Jam’s best known songs recorded during the band’s two day stand at Chicago’s home of the Cub’s baseball club in August, before they won the … Read more
Japanese Breakfast Soft Sounds From Another Planet Dead Oceans [2017] Who: Japanese Breakfast is the solo project of Michelle Zauner of Little Big League. She’s released two albums under the Japanese Breakfast moniker entitled Psychopomp in 2016 and her latest Soft Sounds From Another Earth. Sound: I have to say that Michelle Zauner has one … Read more
CousteauX CousteauX Silent X Records [2017] Fire Note Says: CousteauX creates music that recalls James Bond soundtracks and Las Vegas show bands, echoing the likes of Burt Bacharach and Nick Cave. Album Review: Cousteau, a London-based pop band that scored a European hit back at the end of the last century with “The Last Good … Read more
The Replacements For Sale: Live At Maxwell’s 1986 Sire/Rhino [2017] Fire Note Says: Minneapolis’ 80’s punk heroes captured live in all their raw, ragged glory. Album Review: Gather round my children, and I’ll tell you a story about a far distant time called the 80’s when punk bands weren’t mere fashion statements marketed by corporations, … Read more
Protomartyr Relatives In Descent Domino Records [2017] Who: Detroit’s Protomartyr are a post punk band that has just released their fourth lp and first for Domino Records. Sound: If Nick Cave fronted a modern era post punk band with a refined edge and a spoken word style that is like The Hold Steady you would … Read more
Girlpool Powerplant ANTI- [2017] Fire Note Says: Girlpool comes and goes too quick! Album Review: Girlpool is an LA band that consists of its two founding members, Cleo Tucker and Harmony Tividad, plus a new drummer, Miles Wintner, for their sophomore album. Their debut came out two years ago, and with the addition of a … Read more
Weezer Pacific Daydream Crush/Atlantic Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Weezer’s Rivers Cuomo continues his infatuation with the Beach Boys while mixing his power chord anthems with mellower pop inclinations. Album Review: You can’t say Weezer’s Rivers Cuomo doesn’t wear his influences on his sleeve. On last year’s self-titled (White Album) everything pointed to the Beach … Read more
Angel Olsen Phases Jagjaguwar [2017] Who: Indie singer/songwriter Angel Olsen began performing at a young age in St. Louis coffee shops and now after three full length albums she has progressed into one of the best female voices on the scene. Phases is a collection of B-sides, rarities, and demos from the past several years, … Read more
Flat Worms Flat Worms Castle Face Records [2017] Who: This is the debut album from LA’s Flat Worms which is comprised of Will Ivy (Dream Boys, Wet Illustrated, Bridez), Justin Sullivan (Kevin Morby, the Babies) and Tim Hellman (Thee Oh Sees, Ty Segall, Sic Alps). Sound: Flat Worms are a blast of smart buzzing post … Read more
Wolf Alice Visions Of A Life RCA Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Wolf Alice stay strong on their sophomore album. Album Review: Visions of a Life is Wolf Alice’s follow-up to their stellar 2015 debut, My Love Is Cool. The first album established the Brits as a rock band that could play many different styles … Read more
Bully Losing Sub Pop Records [2017] Fire Note Says:The sophomore slump stings Nashville band – despite the band’s good intentions. Album Review: Nostalgia is a tricky thing. Go too far in one direction and you’re a tribute act, not far enough and you’re panned for being too derivative. There’s a delicate balance at play. Bully … Read more