Case/Lang/Veirs Case/Lang/Veirs ANTI- [2016] Fire Note Says: This isn’t just your typical collaboration. Album Review: To borrow a phrase from this record’s boldest rocker, in a world dominated by American Idol Voices, Disney divas and flash in the pan pop star wannabes, the collaboration of k.d. lang, Neko Casa and Laura Veirs proves to be … Read more
Kevin Morby Singing Saw Dead Oceans [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: From the surreal instrumentation to a voice that at times sounds like a young Dylan, Kevin Morby hits all the right notes on his third full length Singing Saw. You may question – how do I not know about this guy? Well you might … Read more
Big Big Train Folklore Giant Electric Pea [2016] Fire Note Says: English Prog band finally deliver on their considerable potential. Album Review: Formed in 1991 in Bournemouth, England, Big Big Train have been flirting with greatness for a while now. 2009’s excellent The Underfall Yard saw the band recruit a new singer (David Longdon, whose … Read more
Red Hot Chili Peppers The Getaway Warner Bros. Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Peppers still like to push the envelope. Album Review: Looking at the list of alternative rock bands that started in the 80’s and were coming into their own — commercially and artistically — in the 90’s, the Red Hot Chili Peppers are … Read more
Whitney Light Upon The Lake Secretly Canadian [2016] Fire Note Says: Whitney deliver with a timeless approach on their warm debut. Album Review: When the Smith Westerns called it quits in 2014, I was somewhat bummed because I thought the group continued to show promise on every record. With the break, several of the formally … Read more
Sturgill Simpson A Sailor’s Guide To Earth Atlantic Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Country like it should be! Album Review: If like many, you’ve given up on modern country music, which these days sounds more like 80s AOR bands Foreigner and Loverboy than outlaw country icons Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and the like. … Read more
Mock Orange Put The Kid On The Sleepy Horse Topshelf Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Mock Orange just might be the best band you’re not listening to right now. Album Review: Evansville, Indiana is not generally considered fertile ground for music elitists (such as myself) but Mock Orange couldn’t have come from anywhere else. An … Read more
Pity Sex White Hot Moon Run For Cover Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Pity Sex keep growing on their newest LP. Album Review: As an Ohioan, I’m not sure if I am allowed to admit that anything good comes out of Ann Arbor, Michigan. That good thing is Pity Sex. No, this is not a … Read more
White Lung Paradise Domino Records [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: White Lung have to be one of the more under the radar great female fronted rock bands currently on the scene today. The band gets better and better with each release and has once again topped their last, Deep Fantasy (2014), with Paradise. I enjoy … Read more
B Boys No Worry No Mind Captured Tracks [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: I for one am relieved the B Boys are not a retro outfit of dancers trying to recapture the glory of Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo. Instead, I got eight tracks of very listenable indie punk rock. I have had the No Worry … Read more
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Nonagon Infinity ATO Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Once Nonagon Infinity starts it’s really hard to stop! Album Review: Ever since their formation, septet King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard have always released something interesting. We originally got started with the heavy “connected” psychedelic jams of 2014’s I’m In … Read more
Robbie Fulks Upland Stories Bloodshot Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Fulks knows how to bring his stories to life. Album Review: It’s been twenty years since Robbie Fulks solo debut album on Bloodshot Records, when his smart, often witty, approach to traditional folk and country music helped define what would become known as “alternative country.” … Read more
Parquet Courts Human Performance Rough Trade Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Parquet Courts create another keeper! Album Review: Being one of the most critically acclaimed bands of the last five years becomes a little tough to back up over time but I will tell you that Brooklyn’s Parquet Courts have struck gold again with their … Read more
Frankie Cosmos Next Thing Bayonet Records [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: “If I had a dog / I’d take a picture everyday / Am I still sad? / Is that pretty lame?” are the lines that start off the second track on Frankie Cosmos excellent new record Next Thing and immediately gives you some insight … Read more
The Gloaming 2 Brassland Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Take a moment to sit still and enjoy The Gloaming. Album Review: The Gloaming makes beautiful traditional Irish music. I am not Irish, Irish American, nor well-versed in Irish music so I won’t pretend to try to fit The Gloaming into some kind of genre-specific context. … Read more
Wussy Forever Sounds Shake It Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Wussy delivers one of their best sonic experiences to date. Album Review: At this stage in their career you must give a standing ovation to Chuck Cleaver and Lisa Walker for Wussy’s growth. Forever Sounds is their sixth full length and is a testament to … Read more
Robert Pollard Of Course You Are Fire Records [2016] Fire Note Says: The Oracle of Dayton flips the script on his 24th(?) solo effort. Album Review: If ever there was a valid complaint about the Guided By Voices legend Robert Pollard’s solo output it is that over the course of his long and storied career … Read more
Kappa Chow Kappa Chow Big Tomato Records [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: “Kappa Chow! Kappa Chow! Kappa Chow! One! Two! Fuck You!” So begins the immensely enjoyable opening track to Kappa Chow’s self-titled LP. This album quickly grabs you by the throat and does not let go. The New Brunswick-based Kappa Chow lay out a … Read more
Shearwater Jet Plane And Oxbow Sub Pop Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Shearwater’s new LP is deep and colorful. Album Review: Shearwater’s newest album (Jet Plane and Oxbow) has all that you ask for out an LP. It is engaging from beginning to end; it reveals new parts of itself with each listen; it has … Read more
Smug Brothers / Brat Curse Echo Complex Split EP Hope For The Tape Deck [2015] Fire Note Says: A great cassette split from Dayton, Ohio! Album Review: Dayton natives, Smug Brothers (Brian Baker/Larry Evans/Kyle Melton/Don Thrasher) closed out 2015 with a nifty EP split release with fellow Dayton-based band, Brat Curse. Smug Brothers contribute nine … Read more
David Bowie Blackstar Columbia Records [2016] Fire Note Says: There will only ever be one Bowie! Album Review: Released on his 69th birthday (1/8/16), and as fate would have it, two days before David Bowie would die, “Blackstar” finds the iconic rock chameleon staring down the Grim Reaper. In the album’s 10-minute title track, Bowie … Read more
Baroness Purple Abraxan Hymns [2015] Fire Note Says: Baroness is back stronger than ever! Album Review: You can talk about indie genres and bands all you want but when it comes down to it, all of us love a really good rock record from a bona fide rock band. Baroness is exactly that kind of … Read more
Girlpool Before The World Was Big Wichita Recordings [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: It always amazes me when simple wins. Take Philadelphia based Girlpool as an example. The two piece, made up of Cleo Tucker (Guitar) and Harmony Tividad (Bass), never move beyond playing several chords and barely turn up the tempo or volume at … Read more
Paul Orwell Blowing Your Mind Away Heavy Soul! Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Plug in the organ and dust off the tambourine as Paul Orwell’s debut hits you fantastically in the face ’60s style! Album Review: “This Music Should Be Played Loud” is the bold statement you will first see on the back jacket of … Read more
Ty Segall Ty Rex Goner Records [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: Wow – I will just say it. I fucking love Ty Segall! I am not even sure what it is exactly but everything he touches, plays on, produces or talks about turns out great. He is raw, rough, focused and sometimes simply all out … Read more