Band Of Horses Why Are You OK Interscope Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Band of Horses release their best major label record to date. Album Review: Band of Horses have every reason in the world to be one of the biggest rock acts currently on the scene. They have great songwriting, a superb voice in … Read more
The Claypool Lennon Delirium Monolith Of Phobos ATO Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Talented pair takes you for a trip. Album Review: From the surface, the pairing of Primus frontman Les Claypool and Sean Lennon (The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger) seems crazy. It is like someone developed an odd couple of rock series … Read more
Suuns Hold/Steady Secretly Canadian [2016] Fire Note Says: Montreal act deliver their darkest record yet. Album Review: The Canadian four piece who go by the Google-friendly monicker Suuns (pronounced “Soons” by the way) have a penchant for creating hypnotic beats and nightmarish lyrics. On their first two records (both produced by The Besnard Lakes’ Jace … Read more
The Jayhawks Paging Mr. Proust Sham Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Paging Mr. Proust is focused on strong songs and the band’s reliable sound. Album Review: Fans of Americana with a long enough memory, will remember The Jayhawks as one of the best bands of the mid-90’s, when albums like Hollywood Town Hall and Tomorrow … Read more
Awards Banquet In Not Now Then Summer Scioto Records [2016] Fire Note Says: JP Olsen returns with his engaging Awards Banquet. Album Review: Awards Banquet is the new band from the once Columbus, Ohio based JP Olsen, who now calls Brooklyn home. He has a list of bands on his resume that you might know … Read more
David Bazan Blanco Barsuk Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Bazan returns to synths and drum machines, but retains his songwriting chops. Album Review: David Bazan fans have come to expect upheaval when it comes his musical output. The longtime singer, guitarist and songwriter for Pedro the Lion—favorite emo-inflected indie rock band of disaffected Christian teens … Read more
Santana Santana IV Santana IV Reocrds [2016] Fire Note Says: This collaboration is long overdue and worth the wait. Album Review: At the Woodstock Festival in 1969, Carlos Santana and the band that bears his name was coming into their full musical power. In the next two years they produced three of their most memorable … Read more
Eric Clapton I Still Do Bushbranch/Surfdog Records [2016] Fire Note Says: I Still Do finds Clapton in fine form creating music that first inspired him. Album Review: Clearly, with the release of his 24th solo studio recording, Eric Clapton feels he has nothing to prove. Given the 71 year old’s stunning history as one of … Read more
Black Mountain IV Jagjaguwar [2016] Fire Note Says: Black Mountain return with a solid effort. Album Review: It has been a few years since we have had a Black Mountain LP. Wilderness Heart was out in 2010, so what shape and sound does a 2016 Black Mountain take on? Well, they have welcomed keyboard-tinged psych-rock… … Read more
John Doe The Westerner Cool Rock Records [2016] Fire Note Says: John Doe leans back on the roots that first inspired him. Album Review: The L.A. punk band X arguably cast a longer shadow than one would expect based on record sales and airplay singles. Made up of John Doe (vocals/bass), Exene Cervenka (vocals), Billy … Read more
The Virginmarys Divides Wind Up Records [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: In my review of 2013’s King Of Conflict I said, “When I received The Virginmarys’ King Of Conflict I was already predicting disappointment. I have no idea where these preconceived notions came from because, this trio set me straight. Call me a sucker for … Read more
Eric Bachmann Eric Bachmann Merge Records [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: A few chords into Eric Bachmann’s new record might make you think that your tracks are mislabeled because the Archers of Loaf and Crooked Fingers frontman is not brining you a solo dose of indie rock at all on his self-titled debut under his … Read more
Purson Desire’s Magic Theatre Spinefarm Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Purson escape the dreaded sophomore jinx – but only just. Album Review: To say that this has been a much anticipated release for me is a major understatement. Ever since their delicious debut, The Circle And The Blue Door, dropped in 2013 this UK act … Read more
Jeff Buckley You And I Legacy Recordings [2016] Fire Note Says: Another glimpse at a great talent lost too early. Album Review: It was a shock when singer/songwriter Jeff Buckley, having won praise for his remarkable voice and promising songwriting chops, accidentally drowned while swimming in the Mississippi River in Memphis, TN, in 1997 at … Read more
The Dandy Warhols Distortland Dine Alone Records [2016] Fire Note Says: The Dandy Warhols focused return yields results. Album Review: The Dandy Warhols are a staple indie band that had their most success in late 90’s – early 00’s and produced some severely infectious tracks such as “Bohemian Like You,” “Not if You Were the … Read more
Sam Beam and Jesca Hoop Love Letter For Fire Sub Pop [2016] Fire Note Says: Iron & Wine mastermind Sam Beam and Jesca Hoop take a back to basics approach on their first collaborative album. Album Review: Sam Beam has been a busy guy lately. In addition to putting out the first two entries in … Read more
Bleached Welcome The Worms Dead Oceans [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: LA’s Bleached have successfully progressed their 60’s retro girl group vibe found on their debut into a higher gear power rock that is full of hooks, California sun and spews attitude. They are a band that has glimmers of The Slits and The Runaways … 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
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
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
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
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
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