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Black Pistol Fire Don’t Wake The Riot Modern Outsider Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Black Pistol Fire keep hitting the target. Album Review: Black Pistol Fire’s third full-length album, Don’t Wake The Riot, continues to build on the duo’s sound. Kevin McKeown (vocals, guitar) and Eric Owen (drums) have an infectious energy and swagger that … Read more

Peter Wolf A Cure For Loneliness Concord Music Group [2016] Fire Note Says: Artful and engaging, Peter Wolf continues to serve up well-crafted songs. Album Review: Peter Wolf is an old school rock singer/icon, schooled in blues, soul, R&B, and country, essentially all the roots musics that came together to create the bastard child that … Read more

Mudcrutch 2 Reprise Records [2016] Fire Note Says: 2 succeeds with the writing skills and delivery of Tom Petty. Album Review: One of the challenges that artists fortunate enough to have a long and fruitful career have to face is how does one keep their work fresh, inspiring and entertaining for themselves and for their … Read more

Various Artists Day Of The Dead 4AD [2016] Fire Note Says: Day of the Dead is a fittingly sprawling tribute to the Grateful Dead. Album Review: Whether you like them or not, there’s no denying that the Grateful Dead have had a massive impact on both music and American culture. The band blended psychedelia, folk, … Read more

Andrew Bird Are You Serious Loma Vista [2016] Fire Note Says: Are You Serious brings a high level of energy and musicality to the table. Album Review: Andrew Bird has been busily carving out a unique place for himself among the indie/folk & rock movement as an artist in his own right ever since departing … Read more

Hey Lover Sinking Ships Hovercraft Records [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: I know if you read TFN then you will totally be a sucker for Hey Lover’s style of jangly garage pop. The Portland group will immediately connect as they have the gleaming pop of Imperial Teen with a sweetness like the Vaselines while still … Read more

Thao & The Get Down Stay Down A Man Alive Ribbon Music [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: Thao & The Get Down Stay Down have been putting out quirky indie rock since their 2008 debut We Brave Bee Stings and All. Bandleader Thao Nguyen continues to get stronger with her presence and on the band’s … Read more

Blood Ceremony Lord Of Misrule Rise Above Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Canadian doom metalists expand their sound on a very solid fourth album. Album Review: So, when last we encountered the Toronto-based four piece Blood Ceremony they had just released their best record to date (the terrific The Eldritch Dark), one which I subsequently … Read more

Kyle Craft Dolls Of Highland Sub Pop Records [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: The debut from singer/songwriter Kyle Craft will be one of the more interesting and entertaining records you will hear this year. In a world where it seems that the classic style of a Bowie, Dylan, Bolan or Elton John have been somewhat … Read more

Charles Bradley Changes Dunham/Daptone Records [2016] Fire Note Says: The Screaming Eagle of Soul returns with another honest helping of soul. Album Review: To quote the album introduction given by Charles Bradley “God Bless America”. Bradley says, “America you’ve been real, honest, hurt, and sweet to me. But, I wouldn’t change it for the world. … Read more

Weezer Weezer (White Album) Crush/Atlantic Records [2016] Fire Note Says: This is the album for your summer vacation! Album Review: It seems like every new album from Weezer comes with a tale about how Rivers Cuomo has finally recaptured the lighting in a bottle that sparked those great songs from the band’s 1994 self-titled debut … Read more

Cloud Cult The Seeker Earthology Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Wacky Minnesota tree huggers’ 10th LP is easily among their very best. Album Review: Cloud Cult might be the most earnest band in the world. A lot of musicians talk about saving the planet and all that eco-friendly stuff but since Craig Minowa started recorded … Read more

Sunwatchers Sunwatchers Castle Face Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Sunwatchers produce a strange, intoxicating mix. Emphasis on the strange. Album Review: To assemble and write an album like this it takes a group of interesting heavy hitters. Luckily, New York’s Sunwatchers do just that. Comprised of Jim McHugh (Guitar, Electric Phin), Peter Kerlin (Bass), Jeff … Read more

Mike and the Melvins Three Men and a Baby Sub Pop Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Mike and the Melvins revive a long-shelved project from arrested development hell. Album Review: In 1998 godheadSilo bassist/vocalist, Mike Kunka joined the Melvins on tour and recorded the bulk of Three Men and a Baby with them in ’99. … Read more

Woods City Sun Eater In The River Of Light Woodsist Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Woods always delivers the goods, and Sun City Eaters in the River of Light proves that fact once again. Album Review: When you listen to a Woods record one thing is going to jump out at you immediately, Jeremy Earl’s … Read more

Radiation City Synesthetica Polyvinyl Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Radiation City impresses on new label Polyvinyl. Album Review: Portland’s Radiation City is a band I’d never heard of before checking out some of their stuff on a whim. They caught my attention with their single “Juicy” and kept my attention with their excellent third album, … Read more

Iggy Pop Post Pop Depression Loma Vista [2016] Fire Note Says: Iggy Pop at his best! Album Review: At this late date, one imagines it would be difficult to make new music with Iggy Pop. With such a unique and established artist, whose excessive live performances are the stuff of rock music legend, it would … Read more

Seth Bogart Seth Bogart Burger Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Seth Bogart’s self-titled solo album is a wild and colorful ride. Album Review: You’re a member of a punk band (Hunx and His Punx) with a cult following. You’re also a hairdresser. You want to make your first album under your own name – Seth … Read more

Vandaveer The Wild Mercury WhiteSpace Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Vandaveer deliver one of their most mature and fully realized collection of songs to date. Album Review: Vandaveer is the name used by Washington D.C.-based, folk/rock singer-songwriter Mark Charles Heidinger and a close group of musicians who collaborate on his projects. Debuting as a recording … Read more

Mind Spiders Prosthesis Dirtnap Records [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: I have seen so much negative talk lately about punk music it makes me tired. The question has come up time and time again – has punk music influenced anything? Is there any substance to most punk music? Punk just all sounds the same? For … Read more

Bent Shapes Wolves Of Want Slumberland Records [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: In all the haze of rock these days, I find myself being easily drawn to a well done power pop record. Boston’s Bent Shapes has released just the record with their sophomore outing Wolves Of Want. The record has plenty of guy/gal harmonies, … Read more

FEELS FEELS Castle Face Records [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: Oh how LA can always seem to bring a gritty rock to the scene. That is exactly what we get on the Ty Segall produced debut from FEELS. The four piece from the City of Angels is led by singer Laena Geronimo, that brings a … Read more