Hoops Routines Fat Possum Records [2017] Who: Hoops is a Bloomington, Indiana four-piece and Routines is their debut full length. Hoops was born in frontman Drew Auscherman’s teenage bedroom as a solo ambient and beat-driven project but with growth Hoops gained memomentum after releasing three cassette tapes and last year’s self-titled debut EP. Sound: Hoops … Read more
David Payne Cheaper Than Therapy EP Self-Released [2017] Fire Note Says: New Old Fashioned frontman David Payne goes back to basics with this strong 6-song EP. Album Review: Sometimes when inspiration hits and the songs start pouring out of you, the urge to get them out into the world becomes too much to bear. That’s … Read more
The National Sleep Well Beast 4AD Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Sleep Well Beast is one of the most expansive sounding albums The National has released. Album Review: The National are back with their seventh studio album, Sleep Well Beast, which marks their first release in four years. Right out of the gate, I will … Read more
Deerhoof Mountain Moves Joyful Noise Recordings [2017] Fire Note Says: The more things change the more Deerhoof stay kind of the same. Album Review: The headline above should in no way be read as a slight against the seminal noise-pop pioneers. In the twenty years since their first album, Deerhoof has been one of the … Read more
Offa Rex The Queen Of Hearts Nonesuch Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Olivia Chaney is a true gem on this new collaboration with The Decemberists. Album Review: Anyone who’s followed Portland, Oregon’s The Decemberists over the last decade or more has likely suspected that an album like this collaboration with British folk … Read more
Jack Cooper Sandgrown Trouble In My Mind [2017] Who: Sandgrown is the debut solo album from Ultimate Painting’s Jack Cooper. He also was in the band Mazes. Sound: Jack Cooper has a super smooth voice that is in the same tone of Dean Wareham (Luna) or Stuart Lee Murdoch (Belle & Sebastian). His delivery is … Read more
Oh Sees Orc Castle Face Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Orc holds no limits and sounds as free as anything the Oh Sees have released. Album Review: What’s in a name? For John Dwyer, it doesn’t seem to matter much as his OCS/The Oh Sees/Thee Oh Sees/Oh Sees project continues to morph its 20 year … Read more
Brand New Science Fiction Procrastinate! Music Traitors [2017] Fire Note Says: Out of nowhere, Brand New returns with a moody, somber final record that will satisfy longtime fans and initiate legions of new ones. Album Review: For fans of the cagey Long Island emo band Brand New, the past eight years have been a painful … Read more
BIRDS Everything All At Once Greenway Records [2017] Who: Brooklyn band BIRDS is the quartet of Duane Lauginiger (guitar, vocals), Jessica Reynoza (bass, vocals), Jess Rees (guitar), and Tim Plunkett (drums). Everything All At Once is the bands debut record. Sound: BIRDS offer a very organic free flowing fuzzed-out mix of psychedelic rock that sways … Read more
Needles//Pins Good Night, Tomorrow Mint/Dirt Cult Records [2017] Who: Vancouver power trio Needles//Pins began in 2009 and now have released their third LP with Good Night, Tomorrow. Sound: The band belts out gruff punk rock melodies that can send you back to the sound of The Buzzcocks, while hitting the sweet spot of 90’s punk … Read more
Finn’s Motel Jupiter Rex Victory Over Gravity Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Jupiter Rex. Thebeau has found his own voice, still connecting with those great early 80s influences, but not stuck there. Album Review: When you’ve been writing and recording music in relative obscurity for close to 30 years, as has Joe Thebeau, you reach … Read more
MIND MELD MIND MELD Permanent Records [2017] Who: Los Angeles, MIND MELD has been creating a buzz since 2015. The trio have several singles under their rock belt and now a self-titled full-length debut. Sound: MIND MELD plays a heavy psychedelic garage rock that has modern flare like Thee Oh Sees and Ty Segall but … Read more
B Boys Dada Captured Tracks [2017] Who: Brooklyn-based trio, B Boys follow up their debut EP with a solid debut LP. Sound: B Boys’ sound takes elements of taut post punk and goofy punk and blends them together for a sound that falls somewhere in-between Wire and The Spits . TFN Final Take: B Boys’ … Read more
Waxahatchee Out In The Storm Merge Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Katie Crutchfield continues to impress with a tight and inspired set. Album Review: If you don’t know the names Waxahatchee or Katie Crutchfield don’t feel too bad. Now you do and, if I’m right, so will a large swath of the music consuming public. … Read more
Ricky Hamilton Killed By Ricky Objectively Good Records & Tapes [2017] Who: Ricky Hamilton runs Quality Time Records and plays in a multitude of bands currently rocking Cleveland. Killed By Ricky is his sophomore solo effort. Sound: Ricky’s solo work continues along a similar noisy lo-fi punk mode of his bands. This effort has the … Read more
Charly Bliss Guppy Barsuk Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Charly Bliss’s debut LP Guppy finds the Brooklyn-based punks turning rock conventions on their heads and sewing together sugary-sweet grunge-pop rippers–and having a ton of fun doing it. Album Review: The grunge revival has long been underway, but until now, the Speedy Ortizes, Courtney Barnetts and … Read more
Various Artists Treasure Of The Broken Land: The Songs Of Mark Heard Storm Weathered Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Twenty-five years after his death, Nashville talents come together to resurrect the music of singer/songwriter Mark Heard, and it’s a treasure. Album Review: The commercial success of tribute compilation albums usually depends on three factors: 1) … Read more
Rozwell Kid Precious Art SideOneDummy Records [2017] Who: Rozwell Kid write fun and gritty power-punk songs as Precious Art is the West Virginian four-piece’s fourth full length. Sound: Fun and smart power pop punk songs that have a Weezer bright side and a Hotelier emo other side. TFN Final Take: It is so easy in … Read more
Lo Tom Lo Tom Barsuk Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Lo Tom is much more than just a friendly jam. Album Review: This 8 song debut from Lo Tom is going to feel pretty familiar to fans of David Bazan or his previous band, Pedro The Lion, which also featured TW Walsh, and Starflyer 59’s … Read more
Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit The Nashville Sound Southeastern Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Labels fail Outlaw country musicians, but Jason Isbell delivers a great record in the tradition of great roots rockers and country players. Album Review: For the record, there has long been a vein of outlaw music running through what has … Read more
Beach Fossils Somersault Bayonet Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Beach Fossils keep things moving and interesting on Somersault. Album Review: Beach Fossils are impressive for many reasons, but the other bands that started as their offshoots is attention-grabbing. Former members John Pena and Cole Smith started Heavenly Beat, and DIIV, respectively. While Beach Fossils sit … Read more
King Washington Potential The End Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Inventive modern pop/rock quartet from LA, King Washington channel the best musical inclinations of the past in a hip, fresh sound. Album Review: King Washington is a talented indie-rock band from LA whose sound reveals artists that have mastered the musical vocabulary of some of … Read more
Matthew Sweet Tomorrow Forever Honeycomb Hideout/Sony/RED [2017] Fire Note Says: Matthew Sweet is back after a six-year hiatus and Tomorrow Forever finds him in top form. Album Review: With 11 albums under his belt, Matthew Sweet knows who he is. This eleventh LP, Tomorrow Forever, sees Sweet return to his power pop roots with clean, … Read more
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Murder Of The Universe ATO/Flightless Records [2017] Fire Note Says: King Gizzard continue their 2017 releases with the chaptered concept album Murder Of The Universe. Album Review: Melbourne’s King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard are back with a behemoth of an album titled Murder Of The Universe. It is … Read more
Kevin Morby City Music Dead Oceans [2017] Fire Note Says: Kevin Morby changes the scenery and tempo for album number four. Album Review: Kevin Morby broke out last year with his fantastic third LP, Singing Saw. The record was easily his best to date and rightfully earned the #3 spot on TFN Top 50 of … Read more