The Kills Ash & Ice Domino Records [2016] Fire Note Says: The Kills combine familiar sentiments and musical grooves into an intimate package. Album Review: The classic female/male duo The Kills – made up of singer Alison Mosshart and multi-instrumentalist James Hince, much like similar duos The White Stripes, The Ravonettes, Phantogram… maybe, The Carpenters … Read more
Gregory Alan Isakov Gregory Alan Isakov With The Colorado Symphony Suitcase Town Music [2016] Fire Note Says: Gregory Alan Isakov revitalizes some of his best work. Album Review: The cover of Gregory Alan Isakov’s new album depicts an outstretched hand with a flame in it. I won’t pretend to understand what Isakov was going for … Read more
Ryley Walker Golden Sings That Have Been Sung Dead Oceans [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: Sometimes it takes a great many listens to really hear a record. That is my take on singer/songwriter Ryley Walker’s third long player, Golden Sings That Have Been Sung. Chicago’s Walker continues his fingerstyle guitarist style from his earlier efforts … Read more
Russian Circles Guidance Sargent House Records [2016] Fire Note Says: The consistency of Russian Circles is remarkable. Album Review: I was a big fan of Russian Circles’ last album, Memorial. I was excited to give their new album, Guidance, a listen and it didn’t disappoint. I would describe Russian Circles as a dreamy-heady-metal band. At … Read more
Swans The Glowing Man Young God Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Swans is an acquired taste. Album Review: Perhaps the most obvious point of entry for those unfamiliar with the unique musical styling of the Swans is that moment in every Sonic Youth concert when the band slid out of their somewhat traditional alternative rock … Read more
Steve Adamyk Band Graceland Dirtnap Records [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: Time and time again the Steve Adamyk Band comes out swinging from the great power pop punk land of Canada. Graceland is the groups fifth LP since 2010 and it is easily one of the band’s catchiest. Adamyk had been on a hot streak … Read more
M83 Junk Mute Records [2016] Fire Note Says: M83 loses some of their style and wonder on latest Junk. Album Review: It’s tough to follow up a groundbreaking, critically acclaimed piece of art. That it took Anthony Gonzalez and company five years (and a few side projects) to release Junk, after the seminal Hurry Up, … Read more
Descendents Hypercaffium Spazzinate Epitaph Records [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: One thing you can say about the veteran band Descendents is that they can deliver a consistent punk record no matter if the year is 1982, 1996 or 2016. Of course, if you have no idea what I am talking about then here is your … Read more
Yeasayer Amen And Goodbye Mute Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Dance along to Yeasayer’s trippy breakup album. Album Review: It took a while for Yeasayer’s new album to sink in. Judging by musical tone alone, Amen and Goodbye sticks with the band’s expected poppy, psychedelic sound. But the truth of the album is right there … Read more
The Avalanches Wildflower Astralwerks [2016] Fire Note Says: Wildflower is another glimpse at the Avalanche’s endless summer, as compelling and maddening as it was the first time around. Album Review: The core experience of The Avalanches is the sense that you’re listening to a handful of reasonably talented and supremely stoned guys play around with … Read more
Pink Mexico Fool Burger Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Do not build that wall just yet Trump; let Pink Mexico continue to cross the border as long as it delivers albums like Fool. Album Review: Robert Preston (aka Pink Mexico) deftly steers his latest creation clear of the dreaded sophomore slump on Fool. Not only … Read more
Big Eyes Stake My Claim Don Giovanni Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Big Eyes is ready for prime time! Album Review: In recent years, female fronted rock has had its rightful place on the indie scene with quality bands like White Lung, Speedy Ortiz, Ex-Hex, The Splits, Bleached and Hop Along to just name a … Read more
Biffy Clyro Ellipsis Warner Bros. Records [2016] Fire Note Says: After a decade of steady growth, Biffy Clyro hit a creative wall. Album Review: Now just to get this out of the way – there’s nothing wrong with Biffy Clyro’s latest effort, Ellipsis. And for the record I count myself as an enormous fan of … Read more
Omni Deluxe Trouble In Mind Records [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: Atlanta’s Omni play a low-fi indie rock that has the similar post-punk vein of Parquet Courts but with a bit more laid back mood like Spoon. The band is comprised of guitarist Frankie Broyles (ex-Deerhunter, Balkans), bassist/vocalist Philip Frobos (ex-Carnivores) and drummer Billy Mitchell … Read more
Colvin & Earle Colvin & Earle Fantasy Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Colvin & Earle share a personal feeling in music here that is ultimately universal. Album Review: As a junior musicologist (every music critic thinks they know everything, and don’t believe them when they tell you otherwise), I have a few pet theories about … Read more
Various Artists Start Your Own Fucking Show Space Famous Class Records [2016] Fire Note Says: The live album isn’t dead! Album Review: The release of a live record used to be something special. Johnny Cash, At Folsom Prison (1968), The Who, Live at Leeds (1970), Nirvana, MTV Unplugged in New York (1994), and MC5, Kick … Read more
Dinosaur Jr. Give A Glimpse Of What Yer Not Jagjaguwar [2016] Fire Note Says: Dino returns with an album full of face-melters and kickass blasters! Album Review: J Mascis, Lou Barlow, and Murph, collectively known as Dinosaur Jr (you knew that already, and if you didn’t what the hell is wrong with you), are back … Read more
Deerhoof The Magic Polyvinyl Records [2016] Fire Note Says: The crazed fun keeps coming at you and so yes – it’s another Deerhoof album. Album Review: Over the course of Deerhoof’s long and strange run of thirteen albums in twenty-two years, they have carved out a unique space under the Indie firmaments. They are one … Read more
ORB Birth Castle Face Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Question not why ORB has come. Only submit and follow their smoke to the riff filled land. Album Review: Castle Face and company have always had a penchant for stony longhairs, proto-metal, and riff filled ragers. If you’ve followed the label then they may have introduced … Read more
Paul Orwell Organized Blues Heavy Soul Records [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: How do you follow up a ’60s style fun rocker like Paul Orwell’s excellent Blowing Your Mind Away (2015)? Well – if you are the mod artist Orwell, you follow it with a mid-‘60s R&B bang of a record that features 12 heavy … Read more
Frankie And The Witch Fingers Heavy Roller Permanent Records [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: LA’s Frankie and the Witch Fingers had one of the better under the radar 60’s garage rock records released last year so there definitely was some excitement with such a quick follow up in Heavy Roller. The opening rocker “6000 Horns” … Read more
Bob Dylan Fallen Angels Columbia [2016] Fire Note Says: Dylan returns with another set of standards. Album Review: When Bob Dylan dropped Shadows In The Night in 2015, it was a confusing move to a lot of casual fans—what is the guy who wrote “Like A Rolling Stone” doing covering Frank Sinatra? But as I … Read more
Anderson/Stolt Invention Of Knowledge Inside Out Music [2016] Fire Note Says: The voice of Yes and the leader of The Flower Kings team up for an unexpectedly great record. Album Review: There’s just something about the voice of Jon Anderson. While other vocalists from the Golden era of Progressive Rock (Peter Gabriel, Greg Lake, John … Read more
Thee Oh Sees Live In San Francisco Castle Face Records [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: Have you been following Castle Face’s Live In San Francisco series? If so, you have already heard great sets from the Ty Segall Band, FUZZ, Destruction Unit, White Fence and OBN III’s but this is the record we have all … Read more
Tegan And Sara Love You To Death Warner Bros. Records [2016] Fire Note Says: A summer dance pop record that touches all the bases. Album Review: Fans who loved the musical evolution that took folk/rock twin-sister act Tegan and Sara into synth-pop territory for 2013’s Greg Kurstin produced Heartthrob, will find plenty to appreciate on … Read more