Jack White Boarding House Reach Third Man/Columbia Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Jack White’s most eclectic listen to date. Maybe rock is dead? Or is it?. Album Review: If anyone in the indie rock nation could help push the disappearing genre back into the spotlight you think Jack White would be the artist. After already … Read more
Barrence Whitfield & The Savages Soul Flowers Of Titan Bloodshot Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Barrence Whitfield & The Savages play oldschool R&B with the energy of garage-rock punkers, serving up passion and intensity, giving life to familiar blues riffs. Album Review: Soul Flowers Of Titan, the fourth album from Boston-based R&B soul shouter Barrence … Read more
Moby Everything Was Beautiful, And Nothing Hurt Little Idiot/Mute Records [2018] Fire Note Says: On his 15th studio album, Moby creates an atmospheric soundtrack for the post-apocalyptic age to come. Album Review: Moby was making electronic dance music hits before we knew to call it EDM, when it was still called techno/dance pop, but his … Read more
Titus Andronicus A Productive Cough Merge Records [2018] Who: A continually evolving band from New Jersey that is on their fifth full length. Sound: Known for their early indie punk rock, Titus Andronicus keep changing their game as A Productive Cough offers a more Bruce Springsteen meets Lucero that time warps back to 70’s Stones … Read more
Finn’s Motel Quinta del Sordo Victory Over Gravity Records [2017] Fire Note Says: St. Louis power pop/rock quartet returns with a second album in a year, with the emphasis on solid songwriting and smart, catchy songs. Album Review: Finn’s Motel came out of hibernation last year, 12 years after their last full-length recording, with a … Read more
First Aid Kit Ruins Columbia Records [2018] Who: Swedish sisters with their fourth full-length. Sound: Americana with a country-western influence. TFN Final Take: Klara and Johanna Soderberg have put out their fourth full-length album since 2010. Their sound has bounced between folk and occasional pop since then; Ruins see the band settle more deliberately on … Read more
Hovvdy Cranberry Double Double Whammy [2018] Who: Based in Austin, Texas, Hovvdy (pronounced “howdy”) is the writing and recording project of Charlie Martin and Will Taylor. The duo, both primarily drummers, first met in the fall of 2014 and quickly bonded over a love for quiet music. Cranberry is their sophomore record. Sound: If you … Read more
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 Take: Stars is like a well-worn glove that is comfortable, reliable, but lacking in surprise or unpredictability. There is nothing wrong with that; they are … Read more
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 those bands that you just want to root for, they may not yet have produced that breakthrough album you know they are capable of, but … Read more
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 of my favorite musical scenes in film is that long opening sequence at the beginning of the movie “Once,” where you can hear Glen Hansard … Read more
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 received 2015 debut Metalmania. Sound: This Is Glue has plenty of riffs and melodies that are slightly fuzzed up with that New Zealand sound like … Read more
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 early beginnings, a collector’s dream. Album Review: By the time Hüsker Dü – Grant Hart, Greg Norton and Bob Mould – were playing their first … Read more
U2 Songs Of Experience Interscope Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Music doesn’t have to be inspirational to be good, but U2 at their best is just that. Album Review: One of the challenges when your band’s the second highest grossing touring bands of the year, is “Getting Out of Your Own Way.” Of course, that’s … Read more
The Church Man Woman Life Death Infinity Unorthodox [2017] Fire Note Says: On their 25th album, The Church from Australia continue to deliver those floating guitar lines that intertwine and grow to create that dreamy, ethereal sound that fans have come to expect. Album Review: On their 25th studio album, Australia’s The Church maintains the … Read more
The Replacements For Sale: Live At Maxwell’s 1986 Sire/Rhino [2017] Fire Note Says: Minneapolis’ 80’s punk heroes captured live in all their raw, ragged glory. Album Review: Gather round my children, and I’ll tell you a story about a far distant time called the 80’s when punk bands weren’t mere fashion statements marketed by corporations, … Read more
Kesha Rainbow RCA Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Album Review: Everybody loves a redemption story, a tale of the tortured soul who deals with their demons, whether external or internal, and returns in full possession of their artistic gifts. Thus the tale of Kesha Rose Sebert, formerly of the $, who escaped her Svengali of … Read more
Lydia Loveless Boy Crazy And Single(s) Bloodshot Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Columbus native, Lydia Loveless combines her 2013 EP, Boy Crazy, with singles and covers recorded through 2015 to deliver her brand of Americana for the first time on CD and vinyl. Album Review: If you’re thinking it hasn’t even been a year since … Read more
LCD Soundsystem American Dream DFA/Columbia Records [2017] Fire Note Says: LCD Soundsystem’s take on the American Dream is far more realistic and delivers on its promises. Album Review: It would be easy to write off LCD Soundsystem, even convenient when you consider that many of their electronic dance tracks can feel repetitive and often run … Read more
Liam Gallagher As You Were Warner Bros. Records [2017] Fire Note Says: As You Were shows that Liam is a long way from being down and out. Album Review: As a critic, I learned long ago to lower my expectations. When you expect greatness, that is when you get burnt. The same goes about expecting … Read more
Ty Segall Fried Shallots EP Drag City Records [2017] Fried Shallots, Ty Segall’s latest EP, was pulled together from his past recordings and all the profits from its sales were donated to the American Civil Liberties Union. This gives the EP a lack of cohesion but it is still Ty and some tracks stand out … Read more
L.A. Witch L.A. Witch Suicide Squeeze Records [2017] The surf is up and the reverb is just pouring out of L.A. Witch’s guitars. The band’s self-titled debut is a full on groover that will have you swaying and rolling with the distant echoes as Sade Sanchez’s vocals will hypnotize you. The record bubbles up out … Read more
Sam Coffey & The Iron Lungs Sam Coffey & The Iron Lungs Burger/Dine Alone Records [2017] Big guitar and big rock is what the newest offering from Toronto’s Sam Coffey & The Iron Lungs self-titled record has to offer and it is a hi fivin’ fun ride. The group pulls power pop hooks and punk … Read more
GospelbeacH Another Summer Of Love Alive Naturalsound Records [2017] Fire Note Says: GospelbeacH takes us back to that warm California sounds when jangly beach music met up with the Grateful Dead’s guitars and The Byrds’ vocal harmonies. Album Review: Shortly after the Beach Boys, the California sound was defined by the likes of The Byrds, … Read more
Dude York Sincerely Hardly Art Records [2017] Who: Dude York is a three-piece band (Peter Richards, Claire England, Andrew Hall) from Seattle. Sound: Power pop with a punk rock twist. TFN Final Take: There is a lot to like with Dude York’s debut LP, Sincerely. Two elements really work: the band’s use of tempo to … Read more
This Is the Kit Moonshine Freeze Rough Trade Records [2017] Fire Note Says: This Is the Kit offers a varied and unique rhythmic with Kate Stables expression of alternative folk. Album Review: This Is the Kit (primarily a vehicle for singer/songwriter Kate Stables) lean most naturally toward a minimalist expression of alternative folk where a … Read more