The Lumineers Cleopatra Dualtone Music Group [2016] Fire Note Says: Similar formula holds The Lumineers in place. Album Review: It can be a humorous undertaking, if also frustrating as hell, to watch the music industry flail around in its search for the Next Big Thing only to play a seemingly endless game of “follow the … Read more
Cloud Cult The Seeker Earthology Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Wacky Minnesota tree huggers’ 10th LP is easily among their very best. Album Review: Cloud Cult might be the most earnest band in the world. A lot of musicians talk about saving the planet and all that eco-friendly stuff but since Craig Minowa started recorded … Read more
Robbie Fulks Upland Stories Bloodshot Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Fulks knows how to bring his stories to life. Album Review: It’s been twenty years since Robbie Fulks solo debut album on Bloodshot Records, when his smart, often witty, approach to traditional folk and country music helped define what would become known as “alternative country.” … Read more
Sunwatchers Sunwatchers Castle Face Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Sunwatchers produce a strange, intoxicating mix. Emphasis on the strange. Album Review: To assemble and write an album like this it takes a group of interesting heavy hitters. Luckily, New York’s Sunwatchers do just that. Comprised of Jim McHugh (Guitar, Electric Phin), Peter Kerlin (Bass), Jeff … Read more
Parquet Courts Human Performance Rough Trade Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Parquet Courts create another keeper! Album Review: Being one of the most critically acclaimed bands of the last five years becomes a little tough to back up over time but I will tell you that Brooklyn’s Parquet Courts have struck gold again with their … Read more
Mike and the Melvins Three Men and a Baby Sub Pop Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Mike and the Melvins revive a long-shelved project from arrested development hell. Album Review: In 1998 godheadSilo bassist/vocalist, Mike Kunka joined the Melvins on tour and recorded the bulk of Three Men and a Baby with them in ’99. … Read more
Violent Femmes We Can Do Anything [PIAS] [2016] Fire Note Says: The Violent Femmes remain smart and funny, odd, dark and subversive. Album Review: It’s hard to express just how big the Violent Femmes became in the alternative rock music world of the mid-80’s. The mostly acoustic, Milwaukee-based trio’s self-titled debut album (1983) offered up … Read more
Woods City Sun Eater In The River Of Light Woodsist Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Woods always delivers the goods, and Sun City Eaters in the River of Light proves that fact once again. Album Review: When you listen to a Woods record one thing is going to jump out at you immediately, Jeremy Earl’s … Read more
The Thermals We Disappear Saddle Creek Records [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: After several cleaner and more reserved sounding records, The Thermals returned to the earlier fiery pop punk of their roots with the group’s 2013 Saddle Creek debut Desperate Ground. We Disappear keeps this same likable style in play which includes plenty of youthful … Read more
Radiation City Synesthetica Polyvinyl Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Radiation City impresses on new label Polyvinyl. Album Review: Portland’s Radiation City is a band I’d never heard of before checking out some of their stuff on a whim. They caught my attention with their single “Juicy” and kept my attention with their excellent third album, … Read more
Frankie Cosmos Next Thing Bayonet Records [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: “If I had a dog / I’d take a picture everyday / Am I still sad? / Is that pretty lame?” are the lines that start off the second track on Frankie Cosmos excellent new record Next Thing and immediately gives you some insight … Read more
Iggy Pop Post Pop Depression Loma Vista [2016] Fire Note Says: Iggy Pop at his best! Album Review: At this late date, one imagines it would be difficult to make new music with Iggy Pop. With such a unique and established artist, whose excessive live performances are the stuff of rock music legend, it would … Read more
Bob Mould Patch The Sky Merge Records [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: A loud Bob Mould record is a good one. Patch The Sky continues to turn up the volume, much like his previous two Merge Records releases, and once again finds Mould writing catchy and crunchy tunes. Patch The Sky finds more reverb than … Read more
Seth Bogart Seth Bogart Burger Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Seth Bogart’s self-titled solo album is a wild and colorful ride. Album Review: You’re a member of a punk band (Hunx and His Punx) with a cult following. You’re also a hairdresser. You want to make your first album under your own name – Seth … Read more
MUTEMATH: Newport Music Hall, Columbus, OH – March 30, 2016 The first time I saw MuteMath was ten years ago, their self titled debut album had come across my desk as a pre-release but it wasn’t yet in stores. They were playing one of those tiny trailer sets early in the day at the Warped … Read more
Yuck Stranger Things Mame Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Yuck is still wearing their 90’s hearts on their collective sleeve. Album Review: In what very well might be a make-or-break moment, the London four piece band Yuck have arrived at a fork in the road. With their eponymous 2011 debut Yuck staked a claim for … Read more
Brain Fallon Painkillers Island Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Fallon steps out on his own and offers a debut with feeling. Album Review: I have been in The Gaslight Anthem’s corner since the beginning, so the last few records from the band have been somewhat tough to absorb as the group battles the desire to … Read more
Vandaveer The Wild Mercury WhiteSpace Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Vandaveer deliver one of their most mature and fully realized collection of songs to date. Album Review: Vandaveer is the name used by Washington D.C.-based, folk/rock singer-songwriter Mark Charles Heidinger and a close group of musicians who collaborate on his projects. Debuting as a recording … Read more
Mind Spiders Prosthesis Dirtnap Records [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: I have seen so much negative talk lately about punk music it makes me tired. The question has come up time and time again – has punk music influenced anything? Is there any substance to most punk music? Punk just all sounds the same? For … Read more
Bent Shapes Wolves Of Want Slumberland Records [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: In all the haze of rock these days, I find myself being easily drawn to a well done power pop record. Boston’s Bent Shapes has released just the record with their sophomore outing Wolves Of Want. The record has plenty of guy/gal harmonies, … Read more
Dr. Dog The Psychedelic Swamp ANTI- [2016] Fire Note Says: Dr. Dog’s latest is a throwback album. Album Review: I respect when a band takes a risk. Dr. Dog has done just that on their latest album, The Psychedelic Swamp. The songs on this LP were originally recorded in 2001 by the founding members of … Read more
The Bonnevilles Arrow Pierce My Heart Alive Records [2016] Fire Note Says: The Bonnevilles deliver a full, raw and edgy blues rock sound. Album Review: “Rock & roll may not be dead,” once suggested a poet, “but it’s getting sick.” It’s a familiar story, you can think of examples from nearly every era. Rock music … Read more
Holy Wave Freaks Of Nurture Reverberation Appreciation Society [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: Again, psychedelic music comes in many forms today. With their newest release, Freaks of Nurture, Holy Wave pulls no punches and dreamily drifts into the 1960’s. I’m going to make a bold statement, Freaks of Nurture will be the most pleasant psych … Read more
The 1975 I Like It When You Sleep, For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware Of It Interscope Records [2016] Fire Note Says: New album is a journey that covers a lot of musical territory. Album Review: The 1975 are, to say the least, an enigma. A quartet of high school friends from Wilmslow, … Read more
Cullen Omori New Misery Sub Pop Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Smith Westerns frontman retains sensibility on solo debut. Album Review: The Smith Westerns came from a short-lived movement that specialized in half thoughts, songs that don’t quite connect but leave open the possibilities of tone and intent up to the listener. That’s an enterprise … Read more