Arcade Fire Everything Now Columbia Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Arcade Fire beat to their own drum. Album Review: You probably think the new Arcade Fire sucks, right? Why wouldn’t you? It has been panned by multiple respected publications and seems to be everyone’s new favorite punching bag. It still was the number one record … Read more
The Charlatans Different Days BMG [2017] Fire Note Says: Brit pop from Manchester’s The Charlatans, with some assistance from Paul Weller, Johnny Marr and Anton Newcombe. Album Review: With a band like The Charlatans, where they have overcome overwhelming odds while continuing to record music after 28 years, the fact that they are still at … Read more
Bob Dylan Triplicate Columbia Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Dylan attempts to “uncover” these familiar songs. Album Review: By now, any fan of Bob Dylan is familiar with that hilarious comment to the over-serious music journalist in the now infamous, televised 1965 press conference in San Francisco which can be found on youtube.com. Dylan had … Read more
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah The Tourist CYHSY, Inc. [2017] Who: CYHSY’s fifth LP has Alec Ounsworth steering the band back on course . Sound: The Tourist has a handful of tracks that will remind you of why CYHSY were such indie rock darlings in 2005. TFN Final Take: To be honest, I was surprised … Read more
Foxygen Hang Jagjaguwar Records [2016] Who: Foxygen is an indie rock duo from California. Sound: Glam rock for the modern age. TFN Final Take: Foxygen really doubles down with the glam rock on their fourth LP, Hang. At times it seems more like a Broadway cast recording rather than a rock album, which makes for … Read more
Sleaford Mods English Tapas Rough Trade Records [2017] Who: Ghetto-tech beats fused with punk rock rant/rap from Nottingham, UK. Sound: Sleaford Mods 4th LP sees the UK duo belting out another albums worth of pissed off English banter layered with beats, bass and mixed results. TFN Final Take: English Tapas is very uneven. There is … Read more
Circus Devils Laughs Last Happy Jock Rock Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Circus Devils bow out with grace after a 16-year run. Album Review: For sixteen years, Bob Pollard from Guided By Voices and the Tobias brothers have collaborated to form the Circus Devils. Laughs Last is their official final release as a band. The … Read more
Kaiser Chiefs Stay Together Self-Released [2016] Fire Note Says: Kaiser Chiefs have turned from political, guitar-driven garage rock to a decidedly poppy direction. Album Review: On their 6th album in a little over a decade, Kaiser Chiefs, the British indie rockers have turned in from their more political, guitar-driven garage rock in a decidedly poppy … Read more
Grouplove Big Mess Canvasback Music [2016] Fire Note Says: Grouplove delivers a big bold pop sound and groovy rhythms. Album Review: Grouplove’s 2011 debut may have been titled Never Trust a Happy Song, but let’s face it, this band may look like some hippy jam band of alt-rockers, but they produce some of the giddiest, … Read more
Neil Young Peace Trail Reprise Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Neil Young is both focused and quirky on his latest – Peace Trail. Album Review: Of the six veteran rockers invited to play the Desert Trip concerts, dubbed “Oldchella” because of the advanced age of the artists—The Who, The Stones, Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, and … Read more
Thee Oh Sees An Odd Entrances Castle Face Records [2016] Who: One of the best things going in new music today, Thee Oh Sees have gone through many changes since their conception in 1997. While they’ve been fairly well known, they really started to make their mark with the psychedelic, expansive, garage fracas, 2011’s Carrion … Read more
Daniel Lanois Goodbye To Language ANTI- [2016] Fire Note Says: Established producer to the stars has a new album. Album Review: The latest album from Daniel Lanois, established producer to the stars (Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Emmylou Harris, Peter Gabriel, and along with Brian Eno, some of U2’s biggest hits), can be described in one … Read more
The Head And The Heart Signs Of Light Warner Bros. [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: Are you in the market for a likeable rock album? The Head and the Heart may have something to interest you with their third LP, Signs of Light. The band has a knack for meticulous harmonies and soaring singalongs. Album … Read more
House Of Heroes Colors BC Music [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: House of Heroes have come a long way from their humble beginnings as a pop-punk outfit in the early 2000s. From the gritty, hook-laden songwriting of their self-titled second album to the epic scope and art-rock concepts of 2008’s The End Is Not The … Read more
Swans The Glowing Man Young God Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Swans is an acquired taste. Album Review: Perhaps the most obvious point of entry for those unfamiliar with the unique musical styling of the Swans is that moment in every Sonic Youth concert when the band slid out of their somewhat traditional alternative rock … Read more
Biffy Clyro Ellipsis Warner Bros. Records [2016] Fire Note Says: After a decade of steady growth, Biffy Clyro hit a creative wall. Album Review: Now just to get this out of the way – there’s nothing wrong with Biffy Clyro’s latest effort, Ellipsis. And for the record I count myself as an enormous fan of … Read more
Tegan And Sara Love You To Death Warner Bros. Records [2016] Fire Note Says: A summer dance pop record that touches all the bases. Album Review: Fans who loved the musical evolution that took folk/rock twin-sister act Tegan and Sara into synth-pop territory for 2013’s Greg Kurstin produced Heartthrob, will find plenty to appreciate on … Read more
The Avett Brothers True Sadness American Recordings/Republic Records [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: It is hard to believe that bluegrass-folksters, The Avett Brothers are on their ninth full length. The band which I always thought would be bigger than Mumford & Sons when they both shared the stage with Dylan at the 2011 Oscars, has … Read more
The Strumbellas Hope Glassnote Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Canadian band The Strumbellas play a familiar tune. Album Review: Canadian band The Strumbellas rode into to public acclaim on the back of their airplay single, “Spirits,” on the same post-banjo Mumford wave that brought us the likes of Icelandic band Of Monsters and Men, and … Read more
Various Artists A Tribute To Pet Sounds The Reverberation Appreciation Society [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: Revisiting the Beach Boys 1966 classic, Pet Sounds, always brings new and fresh perspective for me on an album that now has turned 50. Most people will scoff at you when Pet Sounds is brought up as one the … Read more
Yuck Stranger Things Mame Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Yuck is still wearing their 90’s hearts on their collective sleeve. Album Review: In what very well might be a make-or-break moment, the London four piece band Yuck have arrived at a fork in the road. With their eponymous 2011 debut Yuck staked a claim for … Read more
The Bonnevilles Arrow Pierce My Heart Alive Records [2016] Fire Note Says: The Bonnevilles deliver a full, raw and edgy blues rock sound. Album Review: “Rock & roll may not be dead,” once suggested a poet, “but it’s getting sick.” It’s a familiar story, you can think of examples from nearly every era. Rock music … Read more
Majical Cloudz Wait & See EP Matador Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Nice release for fans wanting more. Album Review: Majical Cloudz decided to go out on a high point after last year’s excellent album cycle, which culminated with this EP of unused material from the album sessions. Wait & See throws a few errant … Read more
The Black Queen Fever Daydream Self-Released [2016] Album Review: The Black Queen is a group that has quite a bit of potential behind it. A record involving Greg Puciato of Dillinger Escape Plan, Joshua Eustis of Nine Inch Nails and Puscifer, and Steven Alexander former tech for Nine Inch Nail and Dillinger Escape Plan. This … Read more
Pete Astor Spilt Milk Slumberland Records [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: I am a sucker for jangly indie singer/songwriters which is why Pete Astor is right up my listening alley. If you really know your stuff, you might know Astor previously of The Loft and The Weather Prophet which were on Creation Records back in … Read more