Greg Dulli Random DesireRoyal Cream/BMG [2020] Greg Dulli may just now be getting around to making a solo studio album, but both as the lead singer for alt/rock heroes Afghan Whigs, and as the creative center of The Twilight Singers he’s cut a wide musical swath across a variety of music genres in his 30-plus … Read more
Drive-By Truckers The Unraveling ATO Records [2020] Album Review: The Drive-By Truckers are back with their 12th album, an obvious follow-up to their politically charged ’16 release, “American Band.” If anything, on The Unraveling, songwriters Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley have taken their inspiration right from the headlines as they write songs of protest over … Read more
Wolf Parade Thin Mind Sub Pop Records [2020] Fire Note Says: Wolf Parade, stripped back to the original Montreal power trio, create a strong mix of 80’s new wave sounds and forward-thinking modern rock on Thin Mind, their 5th album. Album Review: Thin Mind, the fifth full-length album from Montreal’s Wolf Parade, arrives with the … Read more
Mr. Wrong Create A Place Water Wing Records [2020] TFN Album Review: Create A Place is the sophomore album from Portland, Oregon’s Mr. Wrong and it can be summed up in one word – RIPPER. The female trio of Mof (guitar), Leona (bass) and Ursula (drums) offer up more fierceness here in their 9 songs … Read more
Joe Henry The Gospel According To Water earMUSIC [2019] Fire Note Says: Joe Henry’s 15th album arises out of a dire diagnosis, with reflections on mortality the befit a celebration of life. Album Review: Joe Henry’s 15th studio album, The Gospel According to Water, is unlike any other record you’ll listen to this year. All … Read more
Paul Orwell SMUT Heavy Soul! Records [2019] TFN Album Review: Sixties influenced London rocker Paul Orwell has returned with his third record SMUT and it is a retro sounding barn burner. It’s loud, it’s brash and it does not take much time hitting any brakes. This carefree delivery by Orwell is his engaging quality and … Read more
(Sandy) Alex G House Of Sugar Domino [2019] TFN Album Review: It is hard to believe that Alex Giannascoli, aka (Sandy) Alex G, has now released three albums on Domino Records with House of Sugar. The record represents his ninth album overall, which for some artists could be their entire catalog, but at age 26 … Read more
Angel Olsen All Mirrors Jagjaguwar [2019] TFN Album Review: Angel Olsen has become one of the premiere indie voices over the last several years which was boosted by her TFN Blazing Top 5 record in 2016, My Woman. From this point in time, Olsen has been building momentum and style which has all come together … Read more
Jesse Malin Sunset Kids Wicked Cool / Velvet Elk Records [2019] Fire Note Says: Jesse Malin’s 8th album recalls the best of an earlier era, with help from producer Lucinda Williams, and guest spots from Billie Joe Armstrong and Joseph Arthur. Album Review: Obviously, there’s no actual formula when it comes to writing a great … Read more
Guided By Voices Sweating The Plague GBV, Inc. [2019] TFN Album Review: Sweating The Plague is Guided By Voices third album release in 2019 and I feel it is their best. That statement alone could be debated for weeks, and already has in GBV groups across the land, but when the last strum of guitar … Read more
Tool Fear Inoculum RCA Records [2019] Fire Note Says: 13 years later Tool reawakens to deliver one of the most anticipated albums ever. Album Review: Speaking on Tool’s fifth album, Fear Inoculum, lead vocalist Maynard James Keenan, says, “the album covers the idea of embracing where we are right now, acknowledging where we’ve come from … Read more
Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds Ghosteen Ghosteen Ltd. [2019] Album Review: Even though we’d been told that the 2016 release from Nick Cave And the Bad Seeds, Skeleton Tree, had been written before the tragic death of his 15-year-old son, Arthur, the album’s stark, grief-stricken music and Cave’s emotional rendering of the song’s lyrics, … Read more
Gong Gong Gong Phantom Rhythm Wharf Cat Records [2019] Who: Guitar-and-bass duo Gong Gong Gong are from Beijing’s underground indie scene and Phantom Rhythm is their debut LP. Sound: Phantom Rhythm is a psychedelic blues jam that also has an energetic jazz and surf background that is sewn together by Cantonese lyrics. TFN Final Take: … Read more
WIVES So Removed City Slang [2019] Who: So Removed is the debut album from Queens, NY-based post-punks WIVES. Sound: WIVES have the New York swagger of The Strokes, channel the DC post-hardcore of Girls Against Boys, contain an edge of The Fall and bring out a similar Frank Black type Pixies vocal delivery. TFN Final … Read more
Kal Marks Let The Shit House Burn Down Exploding in Sound Records [2019] Who: Boston’s Kal Marks rip their way through a 5-track EP, laying everything to waste with their wonderfully grotesque sound. Sound: Kal Marks make beautiful, grungy noise. Off-putting to some, but it draws me in every time. TFN Final Take: Let The … Read more
Oso Oso Basking In The Glow Triple Crown Records [2019] Who: Long Island band Oso Oso return with their third album Basking In The Glow. Sound: Basking In The Glow has a catchy indie power pop and if you like Jimmy Eat World, Young Guv and The Promise Ring. TFN Final Take: If done correct, … Read more
Pixies Beneath The Eyrie BMG/Infectious [2019] Album Review: For nearly a decade the reunited Pixies, who came back together in 2004, seemed willing to rest on the laurels of their iconic early masterpieces like Surfer Rosa and Doolittle, playing the old “hits” on the retro circuit. Now, as far as that goes, many of us … Read more
Redd Kross Beyond The Door Merge Records [2019] Album Review: Here in the new dark ages, I can think of no better antidote to the political malaise or our troubled times than the return of power-pop (with the emphasis on the “power” & the “pop”) wunderkinds, Redd Kross. Arriving in the 80’s along-side Material Issue, … Read more
Honey Radar Ruby Puff Of Dust What’s Your Rupture? [2019] Who: Philadelphia-based lo-fi specialists Honey Radar do what they do best on their 5th LP. What do they do? They make memorable lo-fi charmers. Sound: Jason Henn’s tie-dye, lo-fi stylings are nostalgic and endearing on this remarkable new LP. TFN Final Take: Ruby Puff of … Read more
Young Guv GUV I Run For Cover Records [2019] Who: Young Guv is the solo project of Ben Cook. Since 2008, he has released a solid number of singles and EPs, plus two full-lengths. Sound: Sweet perfect power pop that will have you thinking Teenage Fanclub, Fountains of Wayne and Superdrag all wrapped into one … Read more
Purple Mountains Purple Mountains Drag City Records [2019] Who: Purple Mountains marks the return of David Berman (Silver Jews) and represents his first new music in over a decade. Sound: Indie singer/songwriter that fits in a list with the likes of Nick Cave, Steve Malkmus, Bill Callahan and Will Oldham. TFN Final Take: I don’t … Read more
black midi Schlagenheim Rough Trade Records [2019] Who: The young London quartet black midi basically came out of nowhere and built a super buzz leading up to this debut. Sound: Post punk for a new generation with some extraordinary drumming and the ability to move through multiple genres on the turn of a dime. TFN … Read more
Mannequin Pussy Patience Epitaph Records [2019] Who: Philadelphia’s Mannequin Pussy have just released their third LP and first for Epitaph Records. Sound: Melodic powerful punk rock that can hum like Cherry Glazerr and Charley Bliss with the snarl of Amyl and the Sniffers and Bikini Kill. TFN Final Take: I remember being impressed with Mannequin … Read more
Bill Callahan Shepherd In A Sheepskin Vest Drag City Records [2019] Who: After almost 20 years behind Smog for his music, Bill Callahan has had his name on the spine now for five solo records. Sound: Singer/songwriter with level baritone. Fans of Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Sun Kill Moon and Nick Cave will enjoy. TFN Final … Read more
Kishi Bashi Omoiyari Joyful Noise Recordings [2019] Who: Kaoru Ishibashi, aka Kishi Bashi, is a multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter. He is a founding member of Jupiter One, and, was a member of the group of Montreal before going out on his own. Sound: Kishi Bashi offers a melodic orchestrated indie folk that is delivered with 110% … Read more