Pinegrove Cardinal Run For Cover Records [2016] Who: After a number of different EPs, a compilation and years of touring, New Jersey’s Pinegrove finally released their debut LP, Cardinal. Sound: The honest voice of Evan Stephens Hall here is the initial attraction to Pinegrove with his ever so slightly weathered vocal and complete sincerity. The … Read more
Martha Blisters In The Pit On My Heart Dirtnap Records [2016] Who: Martha is the first UK band that Dirtnap Records has worked with and you can hear how their sophomore record fits in the with the label’s pop punk vibe. Martha keeps gaining momentum and fanbase across seas as they played Glastonbury this year. … Read more
M Ross Perkins M Ross Perkins SofaBurn Records [2016] Fire Note Says: M Ross Perkins’ debut LP shows that sometimes all you need to make a great record is yourself, Album Review: It’s been quite a year for Dayton native M Ross Perkins: he had a track premiered by the High Times website, an album … Read more
Cymbals Eat Guitars Pretty Years Sinderlyn [2016] Who: Cymbals Eat Guitars have been indie darlings since their 2009 debut, Why There Are Mountains, but have changed band members over the years and now on their fourth LP, main songwriter Joseph D’Agostino is the sole remaining original member. Sound: The band has carried a very almost … Read more
Jay Som Turn Into Polyvinyl Records [2016] Who: Jay Som is the moniker for Bay Area-based singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Melina Duterte. She decided to unveil an early version of Turn Into online last year, performing every instrument—guitar, bass, keys, and drums. Polyvinyl has given it a proper release with Duterte’s proper debut set to … Read more
EZTV High In Place Captured Tracks [2016] Who: New York’s EZTV just released their sophomore album High in Place which features Jenny Lewis and Real Estate’s Martin Courtney and Matt Kallman. Sound: The band has a very soft power pop sound that throws back to The Byrds or Dwight Twilley while giving nods to Teenage … Read more
Phantogram Three Republic Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Phantogram’s exciting first half lifts up the second half of the album. Album Review: Phantogram, the New York duo consisting of Sarah Barthel and Josh Carter, has released their third album. It’s title, Three, doesn’t win many points for creativity. It’s a good thing that the psychedelic … Read more
St. Paul & The Broken Bones Sea Of Noise RECORDS/Sony Music [2016] Fire Note Says: It’s clear that the band is comfortable in their own shoes. Album Review: The first time you hear the music of St. Paul and the Broken Bones you would be forgiven if you paused to look at your time machine—as … Read more
Karmakanic DOT Inside Out Music [2016] Fire Note Says: Explore the universe with Sweden’s Karmakanic. Album Review: Karmakanic began as a side project for The Flower Kings’ bass player, Jonas Reingold. On their debut album, 2002’s Entering The Spectra, the band consisted mostly members of Reingold’s primary band but with each subsequent release (this is … Read more
The Explorer’s Club Together Goldstar Recordings [2016] Album Review: The Explorer’s Club are the 2010s equivalent of The Wondermints—Beach Boys worshippers that have done their homework, crafting tunes that may not quite reach the heights of their idols, but get pretty damn close. If their first album (Freedom Wind) was a tribute to the mid-60s … Read more
Day Wave Headcase / Hard To Read Grand Jury Music [2016] Fire Note Says: Day Wave’s debut is an engaging jangle-rock emo experience. Album Review: Day Wave is Oakland’s Jackson Phillips; he tours with other musicians who comprise the band. Headcase / Hard To Read is a full-length consisting of two EP’s, last year’s Headcase … Read more
Fascinating Dice Game Quality Time Records [2016] Who: Fascinating is a trio out of Cleveland, Ohio that is one of many projects from Quality Time Records’ Ricky Hamilton. Dice Game is the debut album from the group. Sound: Fascinating comes at you 100mph with their lower fi post punk that sounds like you are in … Read more
Ultimate Painting Dusk Trouble In Mind Records [2016] Fire Note Says: London duo take another leap forward on their third lp. Album Review: Jack Cooper and James Hoare, better known as Ultimate Painting, are back with their third album, Dusk, which is 10 tracks of some of the finest guitar pop you are going to … Read more
Sonic Avenues Disconnector Dirtnap Records [2016] Who: Montreal-based band Sonic Avenues has just released their fourth album with Disconnector. Sound: Sonic Avenues play a new wave style of punk rock. TFN Final Take: Sonic Avenues have released one of their tightest sounding records to date. Quick sing along harmonies, Devo like tempo changes that include … Read more
Pixies Head Carrier Pixiesmusic/PIAS [2016] Fire Note Says: Pixies rock with a sense of history, but also look ahead. Album Review: Pixies, an alt/rock quartet originating out of Boston, is one of those bands whose shadow of influence has been far greater than their actual sales. Like the Velvet Underground, it’s been said that not … Read more
Ghost Wave Radio Norfolk Flying Nun Records [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: Ghost Wave hails from New Zealand and is on Flying Nun Records, home of The Clean, The Bats, The Verlaines, and the Chills to name only a few. Flying Nun is a legendary label is what I’m trying to say, they are a … Read more
TUNS TUNS Royal Mountain Records [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: If you know your Canadian power pop then TUNS will be a no brainer. The band consists of Sloan’s Chris Murphy, The Inbreds’ Mike O’Neil, and Super Friendz’s Matt Murphy. All 90’s veterans of the Northern scene and without even trying, TUNS soars with its … Read more
Marriage + Cancer Demonstrations II EP Self-Released [2016] Fire Note Says: Marriage + Cancer have had a complete sound overhaul. Album Review: I have been a longtime follower of Robert Komets’ music. His Nucular Aminals’ albums and the earlier versions of Marriage + Cancer were some wonderfully off beat, sometimes goofy, sometimes dour, but always … Read more
Beach Slang A Loud Bash Of Teenage Feelings Polyvinyl Records [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: TFN has been all over Beach Slang’s Replacement style rock n roll since their pair of EP debuts back in 2014. This Philly band has quickly progressed and now with A Loud Bash of Teenage Feelings, they have already released … Read more
Jack White Acoustic Recordings 1998-2016 Third Man/Columbia Records [2016] Fire Note Says: The softer side of Jack! Album Review: There are not that many times that you can say you saw an artist when but that is how I have always been with The White Stripes as I caught them opening for Sleater-Kinney in 2000 … Read more
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Skeleton Tree Bad Seed LTD. [2016] Fire Note Says: Filled with pure, unbridled pain, Nick Cave once again exorcises his demons. Album Review: There may be nothing more painful to experience than pure unadulterated grief. Which is why many will choose to pass on the latest album from Australian … Read more
Altadore Opal, Luna, And Hymn Randm Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Altadore’s David Katz confronts loss full on while channeling the sounds of Nilsson and 3rd Sister Lovers era Big Star. Album Review: Altadore is Portland, OR based artist David Katz, and his second album, Opal, Luna and Hymn deals with the dissolution of a … Read more
Tim Easton American Fork Last Chance Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Another heartfelt delivery from singer/songwriter Tim Easton. Album Review: Tim Easton is the singer/songwriter that you just can’t stop from delivering a pure heartfelt record. His eleventh, yes eleventh, record American Fork feels and sounds like an artist at the top of his game … Read more
Wilco Schmilco ANTI-/dBpm Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Wilco toy with their sound, defy expectations and thrill us all at the same time. Album Review: There’s a funny thing about expectations. We the listener, what we expect out of our favorite band, we put expectations from them that we shouldn’t. Musicians are free to make … Read more
Gregory Alan Isakov Gregory Alan Isakov With The Colorado Symphony Suitcase Town Music [2016] Fire Note Says: Gregory Alan Isakov revitalizes some of his best work. Album Review: The cover of Gregory Alan Isakov’s new album depicts an outstretched hand with a flame in it. I won’t pretend to understand what Isakov was going for … Read more