Tony Molina Songs From San Mateo County Smoking Room [2019] Who: West Bay staple Tony Molina has been cranking out excellent short burst indie rock for some time now but really came on the radar after his Headphone Approved 2013 release Dissed And Dismissed. Sound: Tony Molina has an Elliott Smith type vocal that combines … Read more
Bleached Don’t You Think You’ve Had Enough? Dead Oceans [2019] Who: Jennifer and Jessie Clavin are back with more indie pop rock on their third record as Bleached. Sound: Bleached don’t hold back here with crunching indie pop rock with big hooks that make plenty of sing along moments. Think Blondie, Joan Jett, Best Coast … Read more
Kristin Hersh Possible Dust Clouds Fire Records [2019] Album Review: Ever since her arrival on the scene in Throwing Muses, the band she shared with her step-sister Tanya Donelly in the early 80’s, Kristin Hersh has been steadily releasing music that speak to her unique musical vision. While Donelly, who went on to start the … Read more
The Black Keys Let’s Rock Easy Eye Sound/Nonesuch Records [2019] Fire Note Says: The Black Keys return with a fun album that lives up to its title: Let’s Rock. Album Review: Too often, when we think of rock music – that guitar driven folk music of the common people that grew out of geographically unique … Read more
The Raconteurs Help Us Stranger Third Man Records [2019] Who: Jack White and The Raconteurs return after an 11 year absence. Sound: Classic rock radio ready. TFN Final Take: Jack White has not ever disappeared but his Raconteurs have been dormant for 11 years until now with the release of their third record Help Us … Read more
Silversun Pickups Widow’s Weeds New Machine Recordings [2019] Fire Note Says: With Widow’s Weeds, LA’s Silversun Pickups break fresh musical ground with the help of producer, Butch Vig. Album Review: Widow’s Weeds, the fifth studio album from L.A. band Silversun Pickups, depicts an artist/band going through dramatic life changes. The album’s first single, “It Doesn’t … Read more
Calexico | Iron & Wine Years To Burn Sub Pop Records [2019] Who: Sam Beam’s Iron & Wine and Calexico have a long musical resume that includes their 2005 album together, In The Reins. Sound: Smooth indie folk with intricate instrumentation that falls in line with both artists catalog and fans of Bon Iver, Bill … Read more
Truth Club Not An Exit Tiny Engines [2019] Who: The Raleigh-based four-piece Truth Club are new on the indie rock scene and Not An Exit is their debut record. Sound: Sweeping post-punk that has the indie rocking spirit of a Promise Ring, Car Seat Headrest and The Strokes while bringing a mood like Protomartyr and … Read more
Black Mountain Destroyer Jagjaguwar [2019] Who: Stoney, space rock outfit from hailing from Vancouver, British Columbia. This album represents a new lineup having Rachel Fannan (Sleepy Sun) and Adam Bulgasem (Dommengang, Soft Kill). Sound: Black Mountain is a group of fuzzy, metal, rock warriors. Their albums never shy away from proggy passages or psychedelic situations. … Read more
Bad Religion Age Of Unreason Epitaph Records [2019] Who: This is the West Coast punk greats 17th studio record and first full-length since 2013’s True North. Sound: Melodic punk rock that is 120% Bad Religion. TFN Final Take: If there ever was a political environment for punk veterans Bad Religion to storm back – 2019 … Read more
Andy Statman Monroe Bus Shefa Records [2019] Fire Note Says: Andy Statman pays tribute to the father of bluegrass, Bill Monroe, with this instrumental album rooted in the mastery of the mandolin. Album Review: Andy Statman’s had a long and celebrated career (he’s 79) has deep roots in two classic musical traditions. As a clarinetist, … Read more
The Yawpers Human Question Bloodshot Records [2019] Fire Note Says: The Yawpers return with a primal scream of roots rock originality that demands to be heard. Album Review: That the Denver-based trio took their name from a piece of Walt Whitman poetry should tell us something, but don’t think quiet library reading rooms. “I sound … Read more
Amyl And The Sniffers Amyl And The Sniffers Flightless/ATO Records [2019] Who: Formed in Melbourne, Australia in early 2016, Amyl and The Sniffers wrote, self-recorded and released their debut EP, Giddy Up, all in a span of twelve hours. Already signed to Flightless Records for Australia and New Zealand, the band capped off a monster … Read more
Khana Bierbood Strangers From The Far East Guruguru Brain [2019] Who: Khana Bierbood (translated as Strange Brew in Thai), formed in 2012, in Bangsaen Beach, Thailand. After hours of jamming together they created their unique sound. Sound: Surf psychedelic rock that also includes lo-fi garage and fuzz. Not only for fans of label mates Kikagaku … Read more
Justin Townes Earle The Saint Of Lost Causes New West Records [2019] Fire Note Says: Justin Townes Earle produces a country songwriting tour de force on his eighth album, The Saint of Lost Causes. Album Review: The Saint of Lost Causes, the eighth album from singer/songwriter Justin Townes Earle, is such a solid example from … Read more
Charly Bliss Young Enough Barsuk Records [2019] Who: Charly Bliss are back with their sophomore album Young Enough. It was produced by Joe Chiccarelli (U2, Beck, Alanis, The Strokes, The Killers, My Morning Jacket, Cage The Elephant). Sound: Unlike some of the alt grunge on debut Guppy (2017), Charly Bliss now goes darker and poppier … Read more
John Paul White The Hurting Kind Single Lock Records [2019] Fire Note Says: The Civil War’s John Paul White makes a solid country musical statement that draws inspiration from a previous era, but remains an authentic, and current artistic statement. Album Review: John Paul White came to national attention as one half of the singer/songwriting … Read more
The Mountain Goats In League With Dragons Merge Records [2019] Fire Note Says: Mountain Goats’ 17th album, In League With Dragons, takes on the world of Dungeons & Dragons, and various other wizards in singer/songwriter pop/rock that belies the darker stories. Album Review: After addressing the coming of age issues of Transcendental Youth back in … Read more
Vampire Weekend Father Of The Bride Columbia Records [2019] TFN Final Take: Six years between records is a long time for any group and especially in this current music climate when people forget about you as soon as their newest Spotify playlist has ended. Well, Vampire Weekend have done just that with their new release … Read more
Cage the Elephant Social Cues RCA Records [2019] Fire Note Says: Kentucky bred, Cage the Elephant collaborate with Beck and producer John Hill on their 5th album, which recalls 80’s new wave in songs that chronicle the end of singer Matt Shultz’s marriage. Album Review: In the current ecology of sustainable musicianship, Cage the Elephant … Read more
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Fishing For Fishies ATO/Flightless Records [2019] Who: Australian neo-psych wizards King Gizzard are back with their 14th long player. Sound: 70′ warm jamming sound laced with harmonica and some electro Devo rhythms. TFN Final Take: King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard have returned with their fourteenth album since their … Read more
Gang Of Four Happy Now Gill Music [2019] Fire Note Says: Guitarist Andy Gill keeps the Gang of Four alive, and they respond to the current political climate with their 10th album, Happy Now. Album Review: Gang of Four started out in the same art school/university pool from Leeds, UK, in the late 70’s that … Read more
The Budos Band V Daptone Records [2019] Who: 60’s/70’s influenced afro-soul legends, The Budos Band have released their fifth full length album with V. Sound: Instrumental horn driven rock that has evolved since their Afro-soul beginnings that has a Here Lies Man vibe along with Antibalas, Ikebe Shakedown and Cochemea. TFN Final Take: The Budos … Read more
