Ty Segall Deforming Lobes Drag City Records [2019] Who: Ty Segall and the Freedom Band — Mikal Cronin, Charles Moothart, Emmett Kelly, and Ben Boye, offer up a snap shot of their live show. Sound: Live indie punk rock that does not slow down. TFN Final Take: Deforming Lobes is a salute to Ty Segall’s … Read more
The The Black Heart Death Cult The Black Heart Death Cult Oak Island Records [2019] Who: Melbourne, Australia based quartet. Sound: Psychedelic songs from beyond the void. The Black Heart Death Cult blankets their listeners in churning fuzz and spacy drones. A few sitars are thrown in for good measure. TFN Final Take: The Black … Read more
Luther Dickinson and Sisters of the Strawberry Moon Solstice New West Records [2019] Fire Note Says: Luther Dickinson brings together some up & coming female folk/rock singers, who collaborate for a long weekend, singing each other’s songs and the result is a delight. Album Review: As Luther Dickinson describes it, Solstice came together like a … Read more
The Scaners II Dirty Water Records [2019] Who: French gonzo-synth punks and intergalactic scuzzball house band, The Scaners return just a year later after their debut with II. Sound: Synth punk rock that has both the intergalactic connections of Man Or Astro-Man? and the 1,2,3,4 of the Ramones. TFN Final Take: The Scaners have quickly … Read more
FEELS Post Earth Wichita Recordings [2019] Who: LA’s FEELS return as Post Earth is the bands sophomore record. Sound: Post punk that can rock out like Sleater-Kinney, grunge like L7 and hum a tune that blend in with the Breeders. TFN Final Take: Coming off their excellent Ty Segall produced debut, FEELS could really approach … Read more
Over The Rhine Love & Revelation Great Speckled Dog [2019] Fire Note Says: Love & Revelation delivers another fine chapter in the artful catalog of Over the Rhine, a fine songwriting duo on their 15th album. Album Review: As songwriters, Karin Bergquist and Linford Detweiler have always invited people into their “Earthbound Love Song.” In … Read more
Good Shade Way Out Dirtnap Records [2019] Who: Way Out is the 4th studio full length by Columbus, Ohio’s Good Shade. Sound: Good Shade is a pop/punk band that has a raw sound that is much like the style of Jeff Rosenstock and Rozwell Kid or throwback to The Figgs. TFN Final Take: Good Shade … Read more
Spielbergs This Is Not The End By The Time It Gets Dark Records [2019] Who: This Is Not The End is Oslo, Norway’s Spielbergs debut full length. Sound: Spielbergs have a throwback alt rock sound that will have Superdrag fans loving the hooks and Hum fans loving the guitars. TFN Final Take: The Spielbergs are … Read more
Patty Griffin Patty Griffin Self-Released [2019] Fire Note Says: On her 10th studio album, singer/songwriter Patty Griffin has created an intimate, passionate recording centered around her singular artistic vision and beautiful voice. Album Review: Folk singer/songwriter, Patty Griffin’s songs on her self-titled 10th studio album are so intimate and quietly impactful, that you might forget … Read more
Three Merry Widows I Was The Moon Self-Released [2019] Fire Note Says: St. Louis folk rock band, Three Merry Widows reunites after 28 years to produce their sophomore album, a collection of mature folk rock songs that will leave you wanting more. Album Review: Once upon a time, the early 90’s to be exact, in … Read more
Girlpool What Chaos Is Imaginary ANTI- [2019] Fire Note Says: Girlpool continues to evolve on their third album. Album Review: Cleo Tucker and Harmony Tividad are back with their third LP. Following 2017’s impressive Powerplant, which incorporated fuzzy guitars and haunting harmonies, the new collection goes for more of the same, but with mixed results. … Read more
Bob Mould Sunshine Rock Merge Records [2019] Fire Note Says: Mould has always been one of alternative music’s bright shining stars. Album Review: Bob Mould makes a determined effort on his 14th solo studio album to turn from the darkness toward the light of Sunshine Rock. It’s a burst of positivity that he spells out … Read more
Jeff Johnson & Phil Keaggy Cappadocia Ark Music [2019] Fire Note Says: Johnson’s keyboards and Keaggy’s guitars find inspiration in the dramatic terrain and musical palette of the Middle East, resulting in mysterious, lush instrumentals. Album Review: Last year, new age instrumental artist Jeff Johnson released another of his wonderful collaborations with Irish flutist Brian … Read more
Guster Look Alive Nettwerk Music Group [2019] Fire Note Says: Not just an excuse to go on tour! Album Review: Fun and harmony. Two words that come to mind when thinking about Guster. Look Alive fits that bill, while allowing for comment about some of societal issues we face today. This is the Boston band’s … Read more
Cherry Glazerr Stuffed & Ready Secretly Canadian [2019] Who: Stuffed & Ready follows Cherry Glazerr’s Secretly Canadian debut Apocalipstick (2017), an album that saw a young band grow with plenty of indie cred that included earlier releases on Burger and Suicide Squeeze Records. The band has seen some lineup changes but is still driven by … Read more
Keuning Prismism Pretty Faithful [2019] Fire Note Says: The debut solo record from The Killers’ lead guitarist Dave Keuning is an earnest and fun ‘80s-inspired pop-rock success. Album Review: While promoting Prismism, his surprisingly sweet solo debut, The Killers’ guitarist Dave Keuning lamented of his songs, “I had shown them to the Killers, but they … Read more
Tallies Tallies Kanine Records [2019] Fire Note Says: Fun, promising debut from Toronto band. Album Review: Coming out of Toronto in the middle of the winter, Tallies is a welcome, surprising blast of summer guitar rock. With surf rock influences like the Beach Boys, as well as Johnny Marr-inspired New Wave smoothness, Tallies melds these … Read more
Sharon Van Etten Remind Me Tomorrow Jagjaguwar [2019] Fire Note Says: Remind Me Tomorrow isn’t a total reinvention of the wheel, but it’s a welcome evolution that finds Sharon Van Etten at the top of her game. Album Review: Ever wondered what it would sound like if Arcade Fire and The National teamed up? No? … Read more
Steve Gunn The Unseen In Between Matador Records [2019] Who: Guitarist/vocalist Steve Gunn is a name that probably is still unknown by many but over the last ten years he has released several highly praised solo records and collaborated with artists like Mike Cooper, Kurt Vile, and Michael Chapman (whose most recent studio album he … Read more
Midnight Oil Armistice Day: Live At The Domain, Sydney Sony Music [2018] Fire Note Says: The “Power And the Passion” lives on with this new burning live set from Midnight Oil. Album Review: One of the best bits of news early in 2017, was that Midnight Oil had reformed, and was planning a global tour, … Read more
Amanda Shires To The Sunset Silver Knife [2018] Fire Note Says: Amanda Shires’ may be best known as Jason Isbell’s wife and violinist in The 400 Unit, but on her 7th solo album she expresses her own poetic voice. Album Review: In her version of a “getting dumped” song, Amanda Shires’s heroine realizes that she’s … Read more
Jon Spencer Spencer Sings The Hits In The Red [2018] Who: For his first solo record, Jon Spencer (Blues Explosion, Boss Hog, Pussy Galore) partnered with Quasi frontman Sam Coomes and drummer M. Sord. Sound: This is a loose romp for Jon Spencer that brings back sounds from his early years with Pussy Galore (and … Read more
Subways On The Sun Capsize Spartan Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Subways On The Sun build on the strengths of their debut album, producing a sophomore effort that’s anything but a slump. Album Review: A second album is a tricky proposition for a lot of bands. Change direction too much, and you might lose part … Read more
The Beths Future Me Hates Me Carpark Records [2018] Who: New Zealand four-piece The Beths channel their longtime friendship into high-energy guitar indie pop on debut record. Sound: Big guitar riffs and infectious indie-rock hooks. This record has plenty of vocal harmonies and should appeal to fans of Velocity Girl, The Breeders, Rilo Kiley and … Read more
Charles Bradley Black Velvet Dunham/Daptone Records [2018] Who: Charles Bradley’s life is celebrated with this posthumous release. Sound: Bradley’s records were consistent with Daptone records revivalist approach, which offered plenty of funk and soul from the heart. TFN Final Take: It is always hard to say goodbye and when Charles Bradley passed away on September … Read more