Alejandro Escovedo Burn Something Beautiful Fantasy [2016] Fire Note Says: Rock & roll celebrating the noisy possibilities of our existential crisis. Album Review: In a recent open letter to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Jay Minkin of No Depression calls out a few of the institution’s most blatant omissions, artists who have defied … Read more
Kings of Leon WALLS RCA Records [2016] Who: Three Tennessee brothers and their cousin. Grizzled veterans of rock. Sound: Southern arena rock. TFN Final Take: Kings of Leon were so close last time! Perceived band discord led to an album, Mechanical Bull, that felt fresh after a few albums of retreads. WALLS sees Kings of … Read more
St. Paul & The Broken Bones Sea Of Noise RECORDS/Sony Music [2016] Fire Note Says: It’s clear that the band is comfortable in their own shoes. Album Review: The first time you hear the music of St. Paul and the Broken Bones you would be forgiven if you paused to look at your time machine—as … Read more
Tony Molina Confront The Truth Slumberland Records [2016] Who: Since 2002, veteran Bay Area musician Tony Molina has played in several bands including Dystrophy, Ovens, Lifetime Problems, and Caged Animal but his recent solo work has really spotlighted his indie talent especially with the release of his excellent Dissed And Dismissed (2013) record. Sound: Molina … Read more
Daniel Lanois Goodbye To Language ANTI- [2016] Fire Note Says: Established producer to the stars has a new album. Album Review: The latest album from Daniel Lanois, established producer to the stars (Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Emmylou Harris, Peter Gabriel, and along with Brian Eno, some of U2’s biggest hits), can be described in one … Read more
Jimmy Eat World Integrity Blues RCA Records [2016] Who: Jimmy Eat World, best known for their 2001 single “The Middle,” have just released their ninth studio album Integrity Blues via RCA Records. Sound: The Arizona band now finds themselves in veteran status but have always been labeled somewhat an Emo band. The group progressed into … Read more
Teenage Fanclub Here Merge Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Teenage Fanclub return with a familiar power pop sound. Album Review: Scottish alternative rockers, Teenage Fanclub, are best remembered for breakout albums like Bandwagonesque, Grand Prix, and Songs from Northern Britain, which all appeared in the band’s 90’s heyday when their brash power-pop instincts were in … Read more
Karmakanic DOT Inside Out Music [2016] Fire Note Says: Explore the universe with Sweden’s Karmakanic. Album Review: Karmakanic began as a side project for The Flower Kings’ bass player, Jonas Reingold. On their debut album, 2002’s Entering The Spectra, the band consisted mostly members of Reingold’s primary band but with each subsequent release (this is … Read more
The Explorer’s Club Together Goldstar Recordings [2016] Album Review: The Explorer’s Club are the 2010s equivalent of The Wondermints—Beach Boys worshippers that have done their homework, crafting tunes that may not quite reach the heights of their idols, but get pretty damn close. If their first album (Freedom Wind) was a tribute to the mid-60s … Read more
Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam I Had A Dream That You Were Mine Glassnote Records [2016] Fire Note Says: This pairing of Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam finds the perfect timeless mix. Album Review: The Walkman’s frontman Hamilton Leithauser has one of those instantly recognizable voices so I never doubted that he could do well in a … Read more
Day Wave Headcase / Hard To Read Grand Jury Music [2016] Fire Note Says: Day Wave’s debut is an engaging jangle-rock emo experience. Album Review: Day Wave is Oakland’s Jackson Phillips; he tours with other musicians who comprise the band. Headcase / Hard To Read is a full-length consisting of two EP’s, last year’s Headcase … Read more
Fascinating Dice Game Quality Time Records [2016] Who: Fascinating is a trio out of Cleveland, Ohio that is one of many projects from Quality Time Records’ Ricky Hamilton. Dice Game is the debut album from the group. Sound: Fascinating comes at you 100mph with their lower fi post punk that sounds like you are in … Read more
Personal Space Ecstatic Burbs Tiny Engines Records [2016] Who: Brooklyn, NY’s Personal Space have just released their debut full-length, Ecstatic Burbs, which is a follow up to the band’s debut EP release from 2014, The Early Universe Was Entirely Opaque. The EP is available for a name-your-price download on Bandcamp. Sound: Ecstatic Burbs is a … Read more
Ultimate Painting Dusk Trouble In Mind Records [2016] Fire Note Says: London duo take another leap forward on their third lp. Album Review: Jack Cooper and James Hoare, better known as Ultimate Painting, are back with their third album, Dusk, which is 10 tracks of some of the finest guitar pop you are going to … Read more
Peter Bjorn And John Breakin’ Point INGRID [2016] Fire Note Says: Breakin’ Point was the power pop hit of the summer that never happened. Album Review: Whether intentional or not, most artists end up wearing their hearts on their sleeves, that is telling us what they love, what they care about. Even the most cynical … Read more
The Radio Dept. Running Out Of Love Labrador Records [2016] Fire Note Says: The Radio Dept. gets political. Album Review: The Radio Dept. have been around for almost twenty years, yet they’ve only put out four albums in that period. That fact is in part due to trouble with their previous label; nevertheless, you can … Read more
Real Numbers Wordless Wonder Slumberland Records [2016] Who: Minneapolis band Real Numbers follows up several popular 12” EPs and a single with their debut full length, Wordless Wonder. Sound: DIY production with quick guitar melodies and an English twitch that is a throwback to the post-punk of the Television Personalities. TFN Final Take: Real Numbers … Read more
Sonic Avenues Disconnector Dirtnap Records [2016] Who: Montreal-based band Sonic Avenues has just released their fourth album with Disconnector. Sound: Sonic Avenues play a new wave style of punk rock. TFN Final Take: Sonic Avenues have released one of their tightest sounding records to date. Quick sing along harmonies, Devo like tempo changes that include … Read more
Cheena Spend The Night With… Sacred Bones Records [2016] Who: Cheena are a NYC band that just released their debut LP on Sacred Bones Records. Sound: Cheena are a throwback to the New York gutter and glam days. TFN Final Take: Cheena have all the making of a great band as their debut is raw, … Read more
Pixies Head Carrier Pixiesmusic/PIAS [2016] Fire Note Says: Pixies rock with a sense of history, but also look ahead. Album Review: Pixies, an alt/rock quartet originating out of Boston, is one of those bands whose shadow of influence has been far greater than their actual sales. Like the Velvet Underground, it’s been said that not … Read more
Spray Paint Feel The Clamps Goner Records [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: Spray Paint‘s newest LP, Feel the Clamps was a really big surprise for this Fire Note writer. I had heard a few tracks over the course of the year, but only one had really caught my ear earlier this summer. The more I … Read more
Green Day Revolution Radio Reprise Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Keeping it real even though we all have grown older! Album Review: “I’m like a child looking off in the horizon,” sings punk trio Green Day’s singer/songwriter Billie Joe Armstrong at the midpoint of the band’s new album. “I’m like an ambulance that’s turning on … Read more
Ghost Wave Radio Norfolk Flying Nun Records [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: Ghost Wave hails from New Zealand and is on Flying Nun Records, home of The Clean, The Bats, The Verlaines, and the Chills to name only a few. Flying Nun is a legendary label is what I’m trying to say, they are a … Read more
Prophets of Rage: Riverbend Music Center, Cincinnati, OH – October 5, 2016 “Cincinnati, are you awake?” asked rapper B-Real early in the performance of the Prophets of Rage on Wednesday, a theme he would revisit throughout the night. It felt like a warm late summer night in spite of the fall date on the calendar, … Read more
TUNS TUNS Royal Mountain Records [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: If you know your Canadian power pop then TUNS will be a no brainer. The band consists of Sloan’s Chris Murphy, The Inbreds’ Mike O’Neil, and Super Friendz’s Matt Murphy. All 90’s veterans of the Northern scene and without even trying, TUNS soars with its … Read more