Diet CigDo You Wonder About Me?Frenchkiss Records [2020] I will tell you that I was all about Alex Luciano and Noah Bowman, of rock duo Diet Cig, back in 2015 with the release of their excellent EP, Over Easy, on Father/Daughter Records. I also will tell you that I was less enthusiastic about the New … Read more
Local H LifersAntiFragile Music [2020] It’s one thing to make compelling music as a hard rocking duo – just guitar and drums –delivering music that matters while holding an audience’s attention for 40 minutes during a live set, it’s a feat on an altogether other level to keep pulling that off for 30 years, as … Read more
M. Ward Migration StoriesANTI— [2020] On the 10th solo album from M. Ward it’s unlikely that anyone who’s encountered his music over the recent decades is expecting any surprises. In the brief label bio, Ward describes this collection of Migration Stories as “characters in a dream,” which is also a way of describing the hazy … Read more
Flat Worms AntarcticaGOD?/Drag City Records [2020] Who: Los Angeles-based Flat Worms clean up a tad for their latest LP. Sound: California fuzz-noise punks get special treatment from recording engineer Steve Albini, with mixed results. TFN Final Take: Part of my joy of listening to Flat Worms albums was the sharp post-punk songs rising to the … Read more
Swamp Dogg Sorry You Couldn’t Make ItJoyful Noise Recordings [2020] Who: Jerry Williams Jr. a.k.a Swamp Dogg has been making music since the 1950s. In the 1960s he also had his hands in some production work. It wasn’t until the 70s when Swamp Dogg was born. Sound: Swamp Dogg is pure Southern soul. Listening to … Read more
Watermelon Slim Traveling ManNorthernBlues Music [2020] Watermelon Slim, originally born as William P. Homans III, has come to his career in blues music by a unique path, which explains the nearly 30 years between his first recorded work and his next. A Vietnam vet, Homans tried farming, made a living as a truck driver, earned … Read more
Brian Fallon Local HoneyLesser Known Records/Thirty Tigers [2020] Brian Fallon’s freshly released third solo album, Local Honey, had to have been written and recorded prior to this period of physical distancing with much of the nation locked down in the forced intimacy of their homes. Yet, the eight songs here from Gaslight Anthem’s former lead … Read more
Best CoastAlways TomorrowConcord Records [2020] I always like a comeback story and Best Coast’s Bethany Cosentino has returned to music after a 5 year absence. She honestly stated that she almost walked away from recording completely but after some solid recovery and self-care the band’s fourth album, Always Tomorrow, represents a brighter outlook on life. … Read more
Wasted Shirt Fungus IIFamous Class Records [2020] Ty Segall is back and this time he has collaborated with Brian Chippendale of Lightning Bolt to form Wasted Shirt. Their debut, Fungus II, finds both sharing the vocal duties, while Segall plays guitar, bass, and harmonizer and Chippendale is pounding on the drums. I will warn you right up front that Wasted … Read more
The Proper Ornaments Mission BellsTapete Records [2020] After a few enjoyable listens to this fifth album from London’s The Proper Ornaments, I was surprised to pull up their bio on the label website and read that “this is not a retro band.” Now “retro” wasn’t a word that had come to mind while listening exactly, … Read more
Ethan GruskaEn GardeWarner Records [2020] On this sophomore effort by Ethan Gruska, his producer chops are on display as much as his melodic sensibilities as a singer/songwriter. And apparently, he’s inherited his musical skill sets and interests quite naturally. The son of Jay Gruska, a singer/songwriter and composer best known for composing music for TV … Read more
Green Day The Father Of All Motherfuckers Reprise Records [2020] Generally speaking, even the most popular punk rock bands are not designed to stay vital for the long haul. Sex Pistols delivered an explosive 3 years, and everything since has been cashing in on that early reputation and music, thus the “Filthy Lucre” reunion tour … Read more
Okay Kaya Watch This Liquid Pour Itself Jagjaguwar [2020] Fire Note Says: There’s a quirky artfulness in the minimalist experimental pop of Okay Kaya, as she mixes wry lyrical observations with simple vocal melodies. Album Review: Arriving just a week after the passing of Monty Python’s Terry Jones, the debut of Okay Kaya has a … Read more
Coldplay Everyday Life Parlophone/Atlantic Records [2019] Fire Note Says: The eighth album from Coldplay benefits from world music influences and a scattershot approach to incorporating a variety of old school musical influences. Album Review: Dropping late in the year, Colplay’s eighth album became an unexpected contender on a lot of folk’s year in lists, due … Read more
Beck Hyperspace Capitol Record [2019] Album Review: It has been a fun and curious thing to watch the evolution of Beck’s musical career from his breakout single, Loser in 1994 with its mix of lo-hi folk, hip-hop and blues influence and 2017’s Colors which was all glossy, polished synth pop with an 80’s retro vibe. … Read more
Dan Luke And The Raid Out Of The Blue New West Records [2019] Album Review: I knew I wanted to review the debut album by Dan Luke and the Raid when I first caught their “Exoskeleton” video in a random moment online. Something about these twenty year olds having their way with a couple piñatas … Read more
Daniel Martin Moore Never Look Away Ok/SofaBurn Records [2019] Fire Note Says: Kentucky folk singer/songwriter returns with 9th album of heart-felt songs. Album Review: If we’re not careful, the latest album from Kentucky folk singer/songwriter Daniel Martin Moore could easily get lost in all the commotion of noisy new releases that are seeking to make … Read more
Tegan And Sara Hey, I’m Just Like You Sire Records [2019] Fire Note Says: Canadian duo Tegan and Sara give fresh recordings to songs written when they were teenagers on their ninth studio album. Album Review: Twins, Tegan and Sara Quin quite naturally tend to do a lot of things together. For instance, earlier this … Read more
Young Guv GUV II Run For Cover Records [2019] TFN Album Review: You are not seeing double as Ben Cook’s solo effort Young Guv has released GUV II. It is the second part to Young Guv’s earlier and Headphone Approved power pop release simply titled GUV I. GUV II starts off where GUV I left … Read more
Kim Gordon No Home Record Matador Records [2019] Fire Note Says: After a long career playing bass in Sonic Youth, Kim Gordon steps out solo on an artful, noisy piece of self-expression that has a beat you can dance to. Album Review: Pretty sure the first time I saw Kim Gordon’s band Sonic Youth live … Read more
Belle And Sebastian Days Of The Bagnold Summer Matador Records [2019] Album Review: Although it’s been four year since the last full-length album by the indie-pop/alternative band Belle and Sebastian, from Glasgow, Scotland, this new release might not qualify exactly as its latest release, as Days of the Bagnold Summer is a soundtrack album for … Read more
Bon Iver I,I Jagjaguwar [2019] Album Review: While “I,I”, the fourth album from Bon Iver, begins with “Yi” a 30 second smattering of electronic noise, voices, and an unsettling sense of dislocation, which would lead one to expect another album in the more experimental mode of 2016’s 22, A Million, soon something more focused and … Read more
Wilco Ode To Joy dBpm [2019] Fire Note Says: Wilco’s 11th studio album starts out resembling Jeff Tweedy’s solo albums, but the second half brings the band back to life on some of their best pop singles. Album Review: The return of Wilco to the studio after a 2 and a half year hiatus from … Read more
The Lumineers III Dualtone/Decca [2019] Album Review: The Lumineers’ third outing, helpfully titled III, finds the songwriting duo of Wesley Schultz and Jeremiah Fraites attempting to take their folk-song storytelling up a notch. The band’s long-time member Neyla Pekarek, who played cello and sang backing vocals, left the band last year. Like novelists, “III” consists … Read more
Liam Gallagher Why Me? Why Not. Warner Records [2019] Who: The Oasis singer Liam Gallagher is back with his sophomore solo record. Sound: Liam embraces the sound of his former band Oasis while also channeling John Lennon. TFN Final Take: For the first time in some years, Liam Gallagher sounds hopeful on his sophomore solo … Read more