Ha Ha Tonka Heart-Shaped Mountain Bloodshot Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Stretching the category of roots rock, Ha Ha Tonka mix a variety 80’s classic alternative sounds with an organic country rock flare. Album Review: A decade into their relationship with Bloodshot Records, Ha Ha Tonka release their 5th album of rootsy Mid-American college rock … Read more
Temples Volcano Fat Possum Records [2017] Fire Note Says: New sounds erupt on Temples’ second album. Album Review: Temples seemingly came out of nowhere in early 2014 with their debut album Sun Structures. Packed with fully-formed neo-psychedelic pop and cavernous space rock, Sun Structures set the bar high and garnered the band some well-deserved attention … Read more
Jay Som Everybody Works Polyvinyl Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Jay Som is doing her own thing that results in a fresh proper debut. Album Review: Jay Som was doing her own DIY thing posting music online when Polyvinyl officially released her first batch of songs last year with the excellent introduction album Turn Into. … Read more
Old 97’s Graveyard Whistling ATO Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Old 97’s embrace their roots! Album Review: Drinkin’, whiskey, cars, trouble, women, God and Texas – Dallas, Texas that is. That has been the story of the Old 97’s since their first record, Hitchhike To Rome which was released back in 1994. A parallel story … Read more
Pissed Jeans Why Love Now Sub Pop Records [2017] Fire Note Says: In a world of “locker room talk“ Pissed Jeans return to kick shit in the face of mundane, modern life. Album Review: Pissed Jeans are my unlikely heroes right now. Why you ask? If you look and listen to what the new album, … Read more
Enemies Valuables Topshelf Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Enemies go out on a high note. Album Review: The moment you fire up Enemies’ third album Valuables, you’re greeted with a jammy, proggy, sound. The Irish band, who announced their breakup after the release of this album, does an incredible job at creating ambience. Subdued vocals … Read more
Beach Slang Here, I Made This For You (Mixtape Vol. 2) Polyvinyl Records [2017] Who: After just releasing their sophomore full-length, A Loud Bash Of Teenage Feelings (2016), Beach Slang returns with the second installment of its covers mixtape series. Sound: Replacements meets Bruce Springsteen rock from Philly on a can’t miss karaoke night! TFN … Read more
Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears Backlash INgrooves Music Group [2017] Fire Note Says: Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears make the soulful rock return you expect! Album Review: Austin’s Black Joe Lewis is back and once again is adding The Honeybears into the moniker after his 2013 solo titled record Electric Slave. If you … Read more
Sinai Vessel Brokenlegged Tiny Engines [2017] Who: Sinai Vessel began as a one-man project for singer/guitarist Caleb Cordes which released a debut full length in 2011 and his Profanity EP in 2014, with the help of some volunteer musicians. The band we hear today formed after the 2014 release so Brokenlegged feels like a true … Read more
Surfer Blood Snowdonia Joyful Noise Recordings [2017] Fire Note Says: Surfer Blood stay true to their roots after their loss. Album Review: Surfer Blood lost Thomas Fekete, their original drummer, to cancer in 2016. He had left the band a year earlier to receive medical treatment; the band raised funds for his treatment in 2015 … Read more
Conor Oberst Ruminations Nonesuch [2016] Fire Note Says: Oberst makes an intimate recording of his deeper, darker thoughts. Album Review: In 2004/5 Conor Oberst had his 15 minutes as the Next Big Thing, drawing comparisons to Bob Dylan, when his band Bright Eyes drew national attention with two very different releases, and ended up touring … Read more
Delicate Steve This Is Steve Anti- [2017] Fire Note Says: Guitar fans will want to connect with this talented musician’s rock insturmentals. Album Review: Perhaps you’re not yet familiar with the fine guitar stylings of Delicate Steve, aka Steve Marion, but it’s very likely that you’ve heard his playing before. Marion provide slide guitar from … Read more
Sleater-Kinney Live In Paris Sub Pop Records [2017] Fire Note Says: The stage is where Sleater-Kinney shine! Album Review: Did it really take this long to get a live set from one of the greatest power trios the stage has seen? I guess it did but I will tell you up front that it was … Read more
Feral Ohms Live In San Francisco Castle Face Records [2016] Who: Hailing from Oakland, Ca. power trio Feral Ohms is like a good friend. Feral Ohms doesn’t overstay their welcome, they have fun all the while kicking your ass, and finally you have to know when you can hang out again. Sound: What really caught … Read more
Cherry Glazerr Apocalipstick Secretly Canadian [2017] Who: Clementine Creevy is a headstrong 19-year-old that dreamed up Cherry Glazerr in her LA bedroom alone. The groups debut was on Burger Records and they released a 7” on Suicide Squeeze so they have plenty of indie credibility. Apocalipstick is their Secretly Canadian debut and features two new … Read more
Lydia Loveless Real Bloodshot Records [2016] Fire Note Says: In a more polished, pop oriented release, Lydia Loveless proves she’s the real thing. Album Review: With Real, the fourth full-length album from the Columbus OH native, Lydia Loveless continues to sing of love’s challenging foibles in rock & roll in a voice with a strong … Read more
Sonny Knight & The Lakers Sooner Or Later Secret Stash Records [2016] Who: Sonny Knight is a 68-year-old retired truck driver that sings his soul out on his sophomore record accompanied by his multi-talented 7-piece band, The Lakers. Sound: Sonny Knight has a very traditional soul/R&B sound that is in the wheelhouse of Daptone talents … Read more
Sloucher Certainty Swoon Records [2016] Who: After writing a batch of songs on his downtime as drummer in Cayucas and Hibou, Jay Clancy recruited guitarist Kyle Musselwhite (The Globes) and drummer Jack Hamrick to solidify Seattle’s Sloucher as a trio. Sound: Is pop perfect guitar rock a description? It is for sure when talking about … Read more
Drive-By Truckers American Band ATO Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Politically charged album from one of America’s best bands! Album Review: It has been said that the only two things in life you can count on are death and taxes. Well I’m saying there are at least three things, death, taxes, and Drive-By Truckers. The … Read more
Two Door Cinema Club Gameshow Glassnote Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Try not to dance to the newest from Two Door Cinema Club. Album Review: It’s taken Two Door Cinema Club four years to release their third full-length album. The Irish three-piece took their time to craft a confectionary gem with Gameshow. It’s dance rock … Read more
Danny & The Darleans Bug Out In The Red Records [2016] Who: Danny (Dan Kroha) was a founding member of the legendary Gories. Bug Out is the second LP from Danny & The Darleans. Sound: With the Darleans, Kroha returns to his garage rock Detroit roots that is played from the hip with hard hitting … Read more
Company Man Brand Standard EP Overthought Musik [2016] Who: Company Man wants you to be a trillionaire as they claim millionaires are the new middle class. Follow their steps and you will be on your way to mega money. Ok – so all that jazz is a clever cover story for a new rock n … Read more
The Rolling Stones Blue & Lonesome Interscope Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Rolling Stones release their first studio album in over a decade. Album Review: It’s well known by now that the earliest influences of The Rolling Stones, now in their 6th decade as veteran recording artists and classic rockers, were American blues artists like … Read more
Regina Spektor Remember Us To Life Sire/Warner Bros. Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Regina Spektor’s seventh album finds her developing in satisfying and compelling ways. Album Review: Given the popularity of the show, it’s likely more people have encountered the music of Regina Spektor’s unique musical voice in the opening credits of the Netflix series … Read more
St. Lenox Ten Hymns From My American Gothic Anyway Records [2016] Fire Note Says: St. Lenox’s second album is a poignant reflection on identity. Album Review: Andrew Choi and friends are back on his sophomore album, Ten Hymns From My American Gothic. Choi’s folk-electronic style is alive and well on this effort – it may … Read more