Big Head Todd And The Monsters New World Arisin’ Big Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Colorado jam band, Big Head Todd & the Monsters get better with age. Album Review: There are some bands that peak early. They come fresh out of the box with that one big idea that will set them apart, all … Read more
Curtis Harding Face Your Fear ANTI- [2017] Fire Note Says: Curtis Harding can hold a groove with the best! Album Review: With the recent passing of the “Screaming Eagle of Soul,” Charles Bradley in September, Sonny Knight in June and Sharon Jones last year, the retro soul movement has taken a serious blow. Their talents … Read more
Kesha Rainbow RCA Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Album Review: Everybody loves a redemption story, a tale of the tortured soul who deals with their demons, whether external or internal, and returns in full possession of their artistic gifts. Thus the tale of Kesha Rose Sebert, formerly of the $, who escaped her Svengali of … Read more
Sleepies Melt To You Mirror Universe Tapes [2017] Who: Brooklyn-based SLEEPiES release yet another winner with this 4-track EP. Sound: Melt To You EP is another product from the SLEEPiES machine that spits out cool music. Release after release, this band just hit the spot when you need some sketchy-yet-catchy post-punk rock. TFN Final Take: … Read more
Bruce Cockburn Bone On Bone True North Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Bruce Cockburn may be the most successful living singer-songwriter that most Americans have never heard of. Album Review: Even with 33 albums to his name and a host of music awards in his native Canada, Bruce Cockburn may be the most successful living … Read more
Julien Baker Turn Out The Lights 6131/Matador Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Julien Baker tells a story that you instantly will want to hear again. Album Review: When we first heard Julien Baker on her 2015 debut, Sprained Ankle, you had a feeling it wouldn’t be the last from the young Memphis artist. Her delicate … Read more
Melkbelly Nothing Valley Wax Nine Records [2017] Who: Chicago quartet Melkbelly, comprised of Miranda Winters (vocals/guitar), brothers Bart (guitar) and Liam Winters (bass), and James Wetzel (drums)’ have just released their debut album, Nothing Valley, on Wax Nine Records, a sister label to Carpark Records headed by Sadie Dupuis of Speedy Ortiz. Sound: Melkbelly give … Read more
Robert Plant Carry Fire Nonesuch Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Carry Fire is Plant’s passion for life and love as expressed in music. Album Review: At 69, Robert Plant has been on a musical journey of discovery for a long, long time, but it only became obvious once he stepped out of the shadow of … Read more
Buffalo Killers Alive And Well In Ohio Alive Naturalsound Records [2017] Who: Alive And Well In Ohio marks the eighth album from Cincinnati’s Buffalo Killers. This album was recorded at their Howler Hills Farm analog studio and mixed and mastered by Mike Montgomery (R. Ring, Ampline). Sound: Buffalo Killers offer up a laid back muscular … Read more
Foo Fighters: Concrete & Gold Tour, US Band Arena, Cincinnati, Ohio – October 20, 2017 Dave Grohl is an everyperson’s rock star, he’s the rock star you think you would want to have a beer with, hell, he’s the rock star that would buy you a beer, and you’d gladly buy a round yourself. There’s … Read more
Iron & Wine Beast Epic Sub Pop Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Sam Beam takes Iron & Wine back to basics on LP number six. Album Review: Ever since the first Iron & Wine album, 2002’s The Creek Drank The Cradle, the band has consistently added new dimensions to their basic sound. From the dense, … Read more
Prophets Of Rage Prophets Of Rage Fantasy Records [2017] Fire Note Says: This rap/rock supergroup converts the live energy and potent political lyrics of their past works into new rage-filled music for these challenging times. Album Review: One of the best live tours in the Fall of last year’s election season was the collaboration of … Read more
Racquet Club Racquet Club Rise Records [2017] Who: Racquet Club is a new veteran indie group that features members of Knapsack, The Jealous Sound, and Samiam. Sound: If you were fans of Knapsack and The Jealous Sound, Racquet Club follows suit with their style of indie emo rock lead by vocalist/guitarist Blair Shehan. TFN Final … Read more
Neil Finn Out Of Silence Lester Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Neil Finn, late of Crowded House and Split Enz, delivers mature, intimate pop sounds focused by piano and an orchestra. Album Review: Face to face with terrorism, whether of the international kind that generates so much of the news and dialogue these days, or … Read more
Beck Colors Fonograf/Capitol Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Beck knows that we just need a safe place where we can boogie. Album Review: A funny thing happened back in 2015 when Beck won three Grammys for his album Morning Phase, released the previous year; the album picked up the prestigious awards for Album of the … Read more
A. Savage Thawing Dawn Dull Tools [2017] Who: A. Savage is best known as one of the frontman for Parquet Courts. This is his first solo record, that was recorded between December 2016 and June 2017 by a group of Savage’s friends that included members of Woods, Ultimate Painting, PC Worship, EZTV, Sunwatchers, and Psychic … Read more
Alvvays Antisocialites Polyvinyl Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Alvvays’s second album is an indie pop delight. Album Review: Alvvays made a splash three years ago with their self-titled debut. Their jangle pop was both interesting and fun, and it produced a couple of solid singles. The question is: will Alvvays be able to revisit those … Read more
Lydia Loveless Boy Crazy And Single(s) Bloodshot Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Columbus native, Lydia Loveless combines her 2013 EP, Boy Crazy, with singles and covers recorded through 2015 to deliver her brand of Americana for the first time on CD and vinyl. Album Review: If you’re thinking it hasn’t even been a year since … Read more
Cage The Elephant Unpeeled RCA Records [2017] Fire Note Says: A clever way to appreciate a consistent rock band. Album Review: As someone who’s writing his third Cage The Elephant review, it surprises me how much I enjoyed Unpeeled. Let me explain: Each studio album for Cage The Elephant has varied in its highs and … Read more
Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile Lotta Sea Lice Matador Records [2017] Fire Note Says: You are invited to the conversation between Courtney and Kurt. Album Review: In today’s indie music scene I cannot think of that many pairings that have an equal rising momentum of Kurt Vile and Courtney Barnett. Both successful singer/songwriters in their … Read more
Spirit Of The Beehive Pleasure Suck Tiny Engines [2017] Who: Philadelphia-based Spirit of the Beehive deliver a superb album packed with lo-fi psychedelic charm. Sound: Pleasure Suck is a giant leap forward for the band. Their earlier LP and EP were good, but this album emits a warm druggy vibe that is part slacker rock, … Read more
LCD Soundsystem American Dream DFA/Columbia Records [2017] Fire Note Says: LCD Soundsystem’s take on the American Dream is far more realistic and delivers on its promises. Album Review: It would be easy to write off LCD Soundsystem, even convenient when you consider that many of their electronic dance tracks can feel repetitive and often run … Read more
Liam Gallagher As You Were Warner Bros. Records [2017] Fire Note Says: As You Were shows that Liam is a long way from being down and out. Album Review: As a critic, I learned long ago to lower my expectations. When you expect greatness, that is when you get burnt. The same goes about expecting … Read more
Queens Of The Stone Age Villains Matador Records [2017] Fire Note Says: In a world of posers, Homme and Co. return to maintain the fact that rock can still be cool. Album Review: Queens of the Stone Age have been making records since 1998. In fact, frontman Josh Homme has been influencing music ever since … Read more
Richard Thompson Acoustic Rarities Beeswing/Proper Records [2017] Fire Note Says: These rare acoustic tracks reveal how deep and diverse are the talents of Richard Thompson. Album Review: Fifteen years or so back, Richard Thompson was touring solo offering up an acoustic concert, a musicological tutorial actually, titled “1000 Years of Popular Music.” It won’t surprise … Read more