The Pains of Being Pure At Heart The Echo of Pleasure Painbow Records [2017] Who: Brainchild of Kip Berman and other touring members. Sound: Indie pop heavily influenced by New Wave. TFN Final Take: 2017 has been awesome for music fans. Many new and returning artists have put out influential stuff. It’s a shame that … Read more
Amy O Elastic Winspear Records [2017] Bloomington-based singer-songwriter Amy O is another strong indie spirit that is showcased on her new release Elastic. She will remind you of Colleen Green, Waxahatchee and even That Dog with her pop rock guitar and likable bouncy voice. I really liked this album as Elastic expands on her previous … Read more
Eyelids Or Jealous Butcher Records [2017] Portland, Oregon’s Eyelids bring plenty of power pop sweetness on their sophomore effort Or. The band has a solid resume with members John Moen and Chris Slusarenko working in the past with the likes of Robert Pollard (Guided by Voices), Stephen Malkmus (Pavement/Jicks), Colin Meloy (The Decemberists) and Elliott … Read more
Foo Fighters Concrete And Gold Roswell/RCA Records [2017] Fire Note Says: On their 9th album, Dave Grohl’s Foo Fighters deliver big hooks with bold grooves (and somewhat spacey lyrics), pure stadium rock god fodder. Album Review: Dave Grohl has accomplished a rare feat in the modern music business world, playing in two of the most … Read more
Haim Something To Tell You Columbia Records [2017] Who: Trio of sisters from Los Angeles. Sound: Guitar-heavy pop music. TFN Final Take: There’s no doubt that Haim can construct an earworm; they have the talent to tap into the brain chemistry that creates pleasing sensations. This is most evident on the song “Kept Me Crying,” … Read more
Neil Young Hitchhiker Reprise Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Neil Young releases a ten song acoustic studio recording from an early, highly productive period in his artistic development. Album Review: In the mid to late 70s, Neil Young had a particularly productive period in his songwriting, it was shortly after the release of the grief-ridden … Read more
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Sketches Of Brunswick East ATO/Flightless Records [2017] Who: Ever since our first review of 2014’s I’m In Your Mind Fuzz, The Fire Note has been big fans. Psychedelic Aussies King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard is an expansive band that doesn’t shy away from musical challenge and experimentation. Sound: … Read more
The Murlocs Old Locomotive Flightless Records [2017] Who: The Murlocs hail from Australia and Old Locomotive is the band’s third LP. Sound: The Murlocs are part of the current wave of Australian psychedelia that keeps rolling in. The group has that 60’s swag of the 13th Floor Elevators and the bounce of the nice guys … Read more
Triptides Afterglow Requiem Pour Un Twister [2017] Fire Note Says: Triptides’ 12-string jangle drifts pleasantly along, occasionally punching through the psychedelic haze. Album Review: Jangle-pop is a hard sub-genre to make one’s mark in. Originating with The Byrds’ landmark rock ‘n’ roll reimagining of Bob Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man” in 1965, the genre has always … Read more
Goldfinger The Knife Rise Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Goldfinger storm back onto the scene. Album Review: Legendary ska punk band Goldfinger have returned. If you are not familiar, Goldfinger was part of the Third-Wave ska/punk movement of the late ’90s and The Knife picks back up on the same style. Their 1996 self-titled debut … Read more
Diesel Island Diesel Island Euclid Records [2017] Fire Note Says: St. Louis country cover band delivers an album of originals that stand-up alongside their take on Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard. Album Review: For some ridiculous reason, I find it impossible to discuss authentic, old school country music without telling two jokes. A city dweller … Read more
Magnetix Live In San Francisco Castle Face Records [2017] Who: Magnetix are a two-piece French garage-electro rock group with a catalog of singles and several albums that date back to 2002. Sound: Clearly being featured on Castle Face’s Live In San Francisco series, it is easy to hear some Oh Sees in the guitar and … Read more
Bell X1 Arms Belly Up Records [2017] Who: Irish trio with the ability to play just about any style of music. Sound: Understated rock that rewards the attentive listener. TFN Final Take: Bell X1’s seventh studio album, Arms, is another solid effort from the Irish band. What’s most impressive about the group is their ability … Read more
Shelby Earl The Man Who Made Himself A Name Nine Mile Records [2017] Who: Shelby Earl is a singer-songwriter from Seattle who has released her third full-length album. Sound: Rock as a backdrop for storytelling. TFN Final Take: Sometimes you can recognize someone’s talent yet fail to connect with it. This happened with me and … Read more
Bleachers Gone Now RCA Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Bleachers sophomore continues the emo-pop stylings. Album Review: Jack Antonoff is back with his second Bleachers album, Gone Now. Antonoff has seen his star rise in the last three years, since his debut LP came out. He’s been writing and producing for many other pop stars … Read more
Roger Waters Is This The Life We Really Want? Columbia Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Roger Waters creates a soundtrack for the resistance to Trump’s American dream, echoing his past work with Pink Floyd. Album Review: Roger Waters is angry. Let me rephrase that: Roger Waters is ANGRY! Of course, if you’ve been paying attention … Read more
Dan Auerbach Waiting On A Song Easy Eye Sound / Nonesuch Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Dan Auerbach is here to handle you with care. Album Review: Dan Auerbach is now at a musical level where everyone takes notice when he is involved with a project. It does not matter if he is producing records … Read more
Deep State Thought Garden Friendship Fever [2017] Fire Note Says: Deep State churn up a big, fast, punk rock sound on their second album, Thought Garden. Album Review: The four-piece punk rock band Deep State, from Athens, GA, churn up a big, fast swirl of sound for their second album, Thought Garden. From the start … Read more
Fleet Foxes Crack-Up Nonesuch Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Fleet Foxes go through artistic growth on Crack-Up. Album Review: Remember back to hazy, crazy days of the summer of 2008, when people were listening to folk music again, and we all fell in love with an indie act from Seattle that was leading the pack … Read more
The Dig Bloodshot Tokyo Roll Call Records [2017] Who: The Dig is a four-piece band from NYC. Sound: Groove-oriented rock/pop. TFN Final Take: The Dig give off a good first impression. The first two tracks on Bloodshot Tokyo show what the band is capable of: a bit dreamy, very catchy, and just odd enough to … Read more
The Smith Street Band More Scared Of You Than You Are Of Me SideOneDummy Records [2017] Fire Note Says: More Scared of You Than You are of Me is a fast and, ironically, fearless record that excels when its makers refuse to hold back. Album Review: Some bands are at their best when they’re at … Read more
Depeche Mode Spirit Columbia Records [2017] Fire Note Says: On their 14th studio album, synth pop pioneers Depeche Mode have become more predictable compared to their early work. Album Review: By now, nearly 40 years in, Depeche Mode must be the most popular and successful of the 80s bands that abandoned traditional instruments for the … Read more
Moon Duo Occult Architecture, Vol. 1 Sacred Bones Records [2017] Moon Duo Occult Architecture Vol. 2 Sacred Bones Records [2017] Who: Portland, Oregon’s Moon Duo return for their fourth album which was released in two separate volumes. Sound: Moon Duo have a heavy psychedelic krautrock sound that is layered with clever flourishes of synth and … Read more
Chris Shiflett West Coast Town SideOneDummy Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Foo Fighter’s Chris Shiflett’s high octane approach emphasizes the rock in country rock. Album Review: If you didn’t know that the Foo Fighter’s lead guitarist Chris Shiflett had also played with Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, the country rock direction on his latest … Read more
Aimee Mann Mental Illness Superego [2017] Fire Note Says: Aimee Mann returns to her most comfortable acoustic folk/pop surroundings. Album Review: If Aimee Mann had another pop/rock band album in her after the break-up of her 80’s breakout as vocalist and bassist with the band ‘Til Tuesday, she got that out of her system with … Read more