Khruangbin: Mordechai [Album Review]
KhruangbinMordechaiDead Ocean [2020] Khruangbin is a Houston-based group comprised of Laura Lee Ochoa (bass), Mark Speer (guitar), and Donald “DJ” Johnson (drums) and their third record, Mordechai, is easily one…
Muzz: Muzz [Album Review]
MuzzMuzzMatador Records [2020] According the dictionary, “muzz” is a transitive verb which is British slang that means “to confuse” someone, or make them muzzy, which suggests that someone might be…
Midnight Oil: Armistice Day – Live At The Domain, Sydney [Album Review]
Midnight Oil Armistice Day: Live At The Domain, Sydney Sony Music [2018] Fire Note Says: The “Power And the Passion” lives on with this new burning live set from Midnight…
Kal Marks: Universal Care [Album Review]
Kal Marks Universal Care Exploding in Sound Records [2018] Who: Boston’s Kal Marks get the new year started off on the right foot. Universal Care is my first favorite new…
Hovvdy: Cranberry [Album Review]
Hovvdy Cranberry Double Double Whammy Records [2018] Who: Based in Austin, Texas, Hovvdy (pronounced “howdy”) is the writing and recording project of Charlie Martin and Will Taylor. The duo, both…
Ruby Boots: Don’t Talk About It [Album Review]
Ruby Boots Don’t Talk About It Bloodshot Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Aussie country rocker with promise debuts States-side for Bloodshot Records. Album Review: The second album from Ruby Boots…
Bill Mallonee & The Big Sky Ramblers: Forest Full Of Wolves [Album Review]
Bill Mallonee & The Big Sky Ramblers Forest Full of Wolves Self-Released [2018] Fire Note Says: Bill Mallonee is one of those best-kept secrets you really want to share with…
Stars: There Is No Love In Fluorescent Light [Album Review]
Stars There Is No Love In Fluorescent Light Last Gang Records [2017] Who: Veteran indie pop band from Canada. Sound: Indie pop with a heart and a head. TFN Final…
Brian Fallon: Sleepwalkers [Album Review]
Brian Fallon Sleepwalkers Island Records [2018] Fire Note Says: A surprisingly joyful outing, Sleepwalkers makes clear that while Brian Fallon is certainly interested in evolving, it’s not likely that he…
Car Seat Headrest: Twin Fantasy [Album Review]
Car Seat Headrest Twin Fantasy Matador Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Car Seat Headrest give the original 2011 Twin Fantasy a shot of rock adrenaline. Album Review: Twin Fantasy is…
Marriage + Cancer: Marriage + Cancer [Album Review]
Marriage + Cancer Marriage + Cancer Self Sabotage Records [2018] Who: Portland’s Marriage + Cancer continue to scald everything in their path with their caustic noise rock! Sound: Uncompromising and…
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club: Wrong Creatures Tour 2018 [Concert Review]
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club: Wrong Creatures Tour, Newport Music Hall, Columbus, Ohio – Friday, February 9, 2018 The Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, with it’s gloriously long moniker, arrived in middle…
Calexico: The Thread That Keeps Us [Album Review]
Calexico The Thread That Keeps Us ANTI- [2018] Fire Note Says: Arizona’s Calexico offers up alt rock anthems and eclectic musical ruminations on the world at risk and the love…
Ty Segall: Freedom’s Goblin [Album Review]
Ty Segall Freedom’s Goblin Drag City Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Ty Segall creates a very fluid classic double album in Freedom’s Goblin. Album Review: The grandiose opening blare of…
Sunwatchers: II [Album Review]
Sunwatchers II Trouble In Mind Records [2018] Who: Sunwatchers are a New York-based ensemble (featuring current & former members of NYMPH, Dark Meat, Chris Forsyth’s Solar Motel Band & Arthur…
The Angelica Sanchez Trio: Float The Edge [Album Review]
The Angelica Sanchez Trio Float The Edge Clean Feed Records [2017] Fire Note Says: The Angelica Sanchez Trio’s 2017 release should not be missed. Album Review: If there is a…
Neil Young + Promise Of The Real: The Visitor [Album Review]
Neil Young + Promise Of The Real The Visitor Reprise Records [2017] Fire Note Says: At 72, Neil Young is still making a difference, wearing his politics on his sleeve,…
Chiller: Chiller [Album Review]
Chiller Chiller Rockstar/Dirt Cult Records [2018] Who: This is the debut record from Moncton, Canada punks Chiller. The band is a continuation of Feral Trash which released Trashfiction in 2014…
R.E.M.: Automatic For The People (25th Anniversary Edition) [Album Review]
R.E.M. Automatic For The People (25th Anniversary Edition) Craft Recordings [2017] Fire Note Says: A masterpiece for all times! Album Review: R.E.M.’s Automatic For the People is a masterpiece that…
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club: Wrong Creatures [Album Review]
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club Wrong Creatures Vagrant Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club delivers another solid outing shaped by riff-rock and post-punk distortion. Album Review: There are…
Glen Hansard: Between Two Shores [Album Review]
Glen Hansard Between Two Shores ANTI- [2018] Fire Note Says: Irish folk rocker Glen Hansard, of The Swell Season and The Frames, continues to deliver strong songs. Album Review: One…
Salad Boys: This Is Glue [Album Review]
Salad Boys This Is Glue Trouble In Mind Records [2018] Who: Christchurch, New Zealand band Salad Boys return with their sophomore record This Is Glue. The album follows their well…
The Bad Plus: Never Stop II [Album Review]
The Bad Plus Never Stop II Legbreaker Records [2018] Fire Note Says: The Bad Plus has its first lineup change in 18 years, and doesn’t drop a step. Album Review:…
Björk: Utopia [Album Review]
Björk Utopia One Little Indian Records [2017] Fire Note Says: While highly recommended, Björk’s tenth album is still a challenging listen. Album Review: Listening to the latest from Icelandic chanteuse…
Unlikely Friends: Crooked Numbers [Album Review]
Unlikely Friends Crooked Numbers Swoon Records [2018] Who: Unlikely Friends (UF) is made up of veteran artists from the Northwest which includes D. Crane (of Seattle’s BOAT), Charles Bert (of…
Starcrawler: Starcrawler [Album Review]
Starcrawler Starcrawler Rough Trade [2018] Who: Starcrawler are a 4-piece band from Los Angeles California and their self-titled debut was produced by Ryan Adams. The members are lead vocalist Arrow…
Tomas Fujiwara: Triple Double [Album Review]
Tomas Fujiwara Triple Double Firehouse 12 Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Tomas Fujiwara’s double trio stands out, even in another great year of recorded jazz and improvised music Album Review:…
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard: Gumboot Soup [Album Review]
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Gumboot Soup ATO/Flightless Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Australia’s psych rock heroes make good on their promise! Album Review: Australia’s King Gizzard & The…
Hüsker Dü: Savage Young Dü [Album Review]
Hüsker Dü Savage Young Dü Numero Group [2017] Fire Note Says: This 69 track box set delivers a rare and complete look at seminal Minneapolis hardcore punk trio, Hüsker Dü’s…
Jeff Rosenstock: POST- [Album Review]
Jeff Rosenstock POST- Polyvinyl Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Jeff is back! Album Review: Jeff Rosenstock started off this year with a bang as he released his third LP digitally…