Triptides Afterglow Requiem Pour Un Twister [2017] Fire Note Says: Triptides’ 12-string jangle drifts pleasantly along, occasionally punching through the psychedelic haze. Album Review: Jangle-pop is a hard sub-genre to make one’s mark in. Originating with The Byrds’ landmark rock ‘n’ roll reimagining of Bob Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man” in 1965, the genre has always … Read more
Nine Inch Nails Add Violence The Null Corporation [2017] Fire Note Says: Nine Inch Nails return with the second in a trilogy of EPs, indicating that Rezner still has vital musical offerings yet to come. Album Review: Trent Rezner had been hinting at a return of Nine Inch Nails, and just prior to last Christmas … Read more
B Boys Dada Captured Tracks [2017] Who: Brooklyn-based trio, B Boys follow up their debut EP with a solid debut LP. Sound: B Boys’ sound takes elements of taut post punk and goofy punk and blends them together for a sound that falls somewhere in-between Wire and The Spits . TFN Final Take: B Boys’ … Read more
Arcade Fire Everything Now Columbia Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Arcade Fire beat to their own drum. Album Review: You probably think the new Arcade Fire sucks, right? Why wouldn’t you? It has been panned by multiple respected publications and seems to be everyone’s new favorite punching bag. It still was the number one record … Read more
Dove Lady One DZ Tapes / Inflated Records [2017] Who: DC-based spastic noise rock duo. Sound: Dove Lady dish out a disarming array of influences and styles on One. ‘Debut of the Year’ honors should be a lock for this fantastic album. TFN Final Take: Dove Lady’s One is a wildly unpredictable debut album. Over … Read more
Manchester Orchestra A Black Mile To The Surface Loma Vista Recordings [2017] Fire Note Says: A decade in, Adam Hull and Manchester Orchestra manage to stretch and grow their sound without losing connections to the passion and angst of their celebrated early work. Album Review: There’s an often unspoken challenge for artists that find a … Read more
Goldfinger The Knife Rise Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Goldfinger storm back onto the scene. Album Review: Legendary ska punk band Goldfinger have returned. If you are not familiar, Goldfinger was part of the Third-Wave ska/punk movement of the late ’90s and The Knife picks back up on the same style. Their 1996 self-titled debut … Read more
En Route Then Is A Song Flower Girl Records [2017] Who: En Route is a collective of some of Philadelphia’s most accomplished underground punk musicians. Sound: In five drifting, heavy and quietly groundbreaking songs, En Route makes clear their intention to lead the slowcore revival. TFN Final Take: En Route’s first EP “then is a … Read more
Diesel Island Diesel Island Euclid Records [2017] Fire Note Says: St. Louis country cover band delivers an album of originals that stand-up alongside their take on Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard. Album Review: For some ridiculous reason, I find it impossible to discuss authentic, old school country music without telling two jokes. A city dweller … Read more
Waxahatchee Out In The Storm Merge Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Katie Crutchfield continues to impress with a tight and inspired set. Album Review: If you don’t know the names Waxahatchee or Katie Crutchfield don’t feel too bad. Now you do and, if I’m right, so will a large swath of the music consuming public. … Read more
Christian Fitness Slap Bass Hunks Prescriptions Music [2017] Who: Andrew Falkous’ one man band project, Christian Fitness, is a vital off-shoot of his past work with Mclusky and Future of the Left . Sound: Slap Bass Hunks continues Christian Fitness’ trend of releasing creative post-hardcore noise rock. Four excellent albums in four years. TFN Final … Read more
Magnetix Live In San Francisco Castle Face Records [2017] Who: Magnetix are a two-piece French garage-electro rock group with a catalog of singles and several albums that date back to 2002. Sound: Clearly being featured on Castle Face’s Live In San Francisco series, it is easy to hear some Oh Sees in the guitar and … Read more
Ricky Hamilton Killed By Ricky Objectively Good Records & Tapes [2017] Who: Ricky Hamilton runs Quality Time Records and plays in a multitude of bands currently rocking Cleveland. Killed By Ricky is his sophomore solo effort. Sound: Ricky’s solo work continues along a similar noisy lo-fi punk mode of his bands. This effort has the … Read more
The Charlatans Different Days BMG [2017] Fire Note Says: Brit pop from Manchester’s The Charlatans, with some assistance from Paul Weller, Johnny Marr and Anton Newcombe. Album Review: With a band like The Charlatans, where they have overcome overwhelming odds while continuing to record music after 28 years, the fact that they are still at … Read more
Bell X1 Arms Belly Up Records [2017] Who: Irish trio with the ability to play just about any style of music. Sound: Understated rock that rewards the attentive listener. TFN Final Take: Bell X1’s seventh studio album, Arms, is another solid effort from the Irish band. What’s most impressive about the group is their ability … Read more
Charly Bliss Guppy Barsuk Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Charly Bliss’s debut LP Guppy finds the Brooklyn-based punks turning rock conventions on their heads and sewing together sugary-sweet grunge-pop rippers–and having a ton of fun doing it. Album Review: The grunge revival has long been underway, but until now, the Speedy Ortizes, Courtney Barnetts and … Read more
Shelby Earl The Man Who Made Himself A Name Nine Mile Records [2017] Who: Shelby Earl is a singer-songwriter from Seattle who has released her third full-length album. Sound: Rock as a backdrop for storytelling. TFN Final Take: Sometimes you can recognize someone’s talent yet fail to connect with it. This happened with me and … Read more
Elf Power Twitching In Time Orange Twin Records [2017] Who: One of the more resilient acts from the fabled Elephant Six Collective, Elf Power is still making incredible music. Sound: Twitching In Time is one of Elf Power’s best albums. Their blend of psychedelic power pop remains timeless and always welcome. TFN Final Take: Fourteen … Read more
Various Artists Treasure Of The Broken Land: The Songs Of Mark Heard Storm Weathered Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Twenty-five years after his death, Nashville talents come together to resurrect the music of singer/songwriter Mark Heard, and it’s a treasure. Album Review: The commercial success of tribute compilation albums usually depends on three factors: 1) … Read more
Rozwell Kid Precious Art SideOneDummy Records [2017] Who: Rozwell Kid write fun and gritty power-punk songs as Precious Art is the West Virginian four-piece’s fourth full length. Sound: Fun and smart power pop punk songs that have a Weezer bright side and a Hotelier emo other side. TFN Final Take: It is so easy in … Read more
Bleachers Gone Now RCA Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Bleachers sophomore continues the emo-pop stylings. Album Review: Jack Antonoff is back with his second Bleachers album, Gone Now. Antonoff has seen his star rise in the last three years, since his debut LP came out. He’s been writing and producing for many other pop stars … Read more
Lo Tom Lo Tom Barsuk Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Lo Tom is much more than just a friendly jam. Album Review: This 8 song debut from Lo Tom is going to feel pretty familiar to fans of David Bazan or his previous band, Pedro The Lion, which also featured TW Walsh, and Starflyer 59’s … Read more
Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit The Nashville Sound Southeastern Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Labels fail Outlaw country musicians, but Jason Isbell delivers a great record in the tradition of great roots rockers and country players. Album Review: For the record, there has long been a vein of outlaw music running through what has … Read more
Steve Earle & The DukesSo You Wannabe An OutlawNew West Records [2017] For the record, there has long been a vein of outlaw music running through what has often been labeled ‘country music,’ represented by the untamed music spirits of Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Jerry Jeff Walker and late great songwriters/mentors Guy Cark and Townes … Read more
Roger Waters Is This The Life We Really Want? Columbia Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Roger Waters creates a soundtrack for the resistance to Trump’s American dream, echoing his past work with Pink Floyd. Album Review: Roger Waters is angry. Let me rephrase that: Roger Waters is ANGRY! Of course, if you’ve been paying attention … Read more