So Pitted Neo Sub Pop Records [2016] Fire Note Says: So Pitted’s Neo resonates as if it were a behemoth robotic demon beating up a bunch of pansy robots. I say good…those smarmy droids need a good trashing and so do your ears. Album Review: Kent, Washington-based So Pitted just stormed out of the gate … Read more
Good English Good English Self-Released [2016] Fire Note Says: Good English is all rock n roll! Album Review: So what was the last all female rock record you took for a spin that almost knocked you down? Some of you have already yelled out, Sleater-Kinney’s excellent No Cities To Love from last year. For me, … Read more
Heron Oblivion Heron Oblivion Sub Pop [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: As far as debuts go, San Francisco’s Heron Oblivion puts forth a strong effort. Drawing off sounds old and new, Heron Oblivion’s influences range from Sandy Denny/Fairport Convention to Jefferson Airplane, Six Organs of Admittance to Dead Meadow, and the cosmic antics of Endless … Read more
Daughter Not To Disappear 4AD [2016] Fire Note Says: Daughter’s sophomore album gets stronger from start to finish, and with repeated listens. Album Review: Daughter has put out a lot of material prior to the January release of their latest album, Not To Disappear. However, this happens to be only the Brits’ second LP. With … Read more
King Mud Victory Motel Sessions Alive Records [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: How about some in your face bar rocking blues? The debut release from King Mud is raw, muscular and full of distorted hard blues rock that will have you grinding your own air guitar in minutes. The band is no stranger to this … Read more
Bonnie Raitt Dig In Deep Redwing Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Raitt is completely in charge, doing it her way from start to finish. Album Review: On her 2012 release, Slipstream, Bonnie Raitt had returned to recording after a quiet time of loss and grief – her mother and father had died in ‘04 and … Read more
Rob Crow’s Gloomy Place You’re Doomed. Be Nice. Temporary Residence Ltd. [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: I think everyone collectively sighed when Pinback’s Rob Crow publicly withdrew from music early last year but let’s pretend that did not happen because one of indie rock’s best vocals is back with a new band respectfully titled his … Read more
Ra Ra Riot Need Your Light Barsuk Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Ra Ra Riot’s fourth LP calms things down while the band grows up. Album Review: The first two tracks on Ra Ra Riot’s newest long-player, Need Your Light, are also its first two singles and the best two tracks on the album. It … Read more
Quilt Plaza Mexican Summer [2016] Fire Note Says: Boston quartet remain lost in a haze of vintage sixties psychedelia – thank God. Album Review: Quilt’s second album, Held In Splendor, was one of 2014’s biggest surprises. I ranked it the #9 album of the year but in the twenty-four months since its release I confess … Read more
Lucinda Williams The Ghosts Of Highway 20 Highway 20 Records [2016] Fire Note Says: It is clear that Williams owns this patch of the road. Album Review: “I know about the pain and all that jazz,” sings Lucinda Williams in her smokiest voice, and you sense that she’s just scratching the surface of that deep … Read more
Tedeschi Trucks Band Let Me Get By Concord Music Group [2016] Fire Note Says: Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks have brought a level of purpose to their third record. Album Review: On their third collaborative studio album, singer Susan Tedeschi, guitarist Derek Trucks and company have brought a level of intentionality and purpose to their … Read more
DIIV Is The Is Are Captured Tracks [2016] Fire Note Says: DIIV come back with a more focused sound. Album Review: Sophomore albums are never easy and especially hard when your debut was critically hailed across the land like DIIV’s debut Oshin (2012). One way to attack the possible failure is to confront it with … Read more
Freakwater Scheherazade Bloodshot Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Freakwater return with another folk drenched record for your soul. Album Review: 10 years is a long time between albums, so Scheherazade is a true welcome back to the simple folky rooted songs from Catherine Ann Irwin and Janet Beveridge Bean of Freakwater. For some, this reunion … Read more
Eleanor Friedberger New View Frenchkiss Records [2016] Fire Note Says: New View offers a streamlined version of the Eleanor Friedberger experience, and it may be the album she was trying to make all along. Album Review: There are two ways to read the easygoing charms of Eleanor Friedberger’s newest album. The first is that she’s … Read more
Chairlift Moth Columbia Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Chairlift’s eclectic pop is fun and engaging. Album Review: Chairlift comes to us from Brooklyn by way of Colorado. The electronic pop duo consists of Caroline Polachek and Patrick Wimberly; Moth is their third released LP and first in four years. For those of you not familiar … Read more
Ty Segall Emotional Mugger Drag City Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Another great record from the reigning king of indie rock! Album Review: On Ty Segall’s last solo album, 2014’s Manipulator, he delivered a double album masterpiece, a bold artistic statement that would prove to be incredibly difficult to follow up. In fact, by his … Read more
Savages Adore Life Matador Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Fiery London four piece prove their debut album was no fluke. Album Review: Right from the start these ladies had something to say. They posted their manifesto on the walls of the London clubs they played and on their Facebook page. Before hearing a single note … Read more
Quiet Arrows Year Of The Cartographer Self-Released [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: Around TFN we could write, write and write some more but we still wouldn’t be able to capture everything we hear that deserves a spotlight. Samuel Robertson’s Quiet Arrows is one of those records, as we have been sitting with it since last … Read more
Graham Repulski High On Mt. Misery Shorter Recordings [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: We have consistently told you about Philadelphia’s lo-fi prolific guru Graham Repulski and why you should check him out – so how about one more reminder?! On March 1st, GR has a new 4-song EP coming out titled High On Mt. Misery … Read more
Cage The Elephant Tell Me I’m Pretty RCA Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Cage The Elephant returns with an impressive fourth LP. Album Review: When I heard the first single, “Mess Around,” from Cage The Elephant’s latest album, I was less than impressed. The same was true with the album as a whole. However, after … Read more
Joseph Airport Recording Lake Superior Tsunami Patrol Music [2015] Fire Note Says: Joseph Airport keep things eclectic while upping the consistency. Album Review: Joseph Airport released their first album just about 15 months ago, and in the time since then they’ve kept themselves busy. Several live shows (including an appearance at Heedfest) and the fantastic … Read more
S.M. Wolf Neon Debris In Store Recordings/Jurassic Pop Records [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: There is nothing better than when you stumble across an artist that was only supposed to be a one-time recording project but releases material that quickly changes things. That is exactly what we have here with Indianapolis’ S.M. Wolf after a … Read more
Frankie Cosmos Fit Me In EP Bayonet Records [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: My only complaint about the new Frankie Cosmos is that it is too short. Sure, I know it is an EP but its eight minutes is just an excellent tease of what is for sure to come from this soon to breakout … Read more
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Paper Mâché Dream Balloon ATO Records [2015] Fire Note Says: KGATLW goes all flute on you with plenty of quirky and catchy outcomes. Album Review: Hopefully we have featured King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard enough lately that you shouldn’t be scared of the name because they definitely stands … Read more
Kishi Bashi String Quartet Live! Joyful Noise Recordings [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: Several years ago you would have never heard me go on and on about a violin player but K. Ishibashi (aka Kishi Bashi) changed all of that with his genre changing debut 151a (2012). String Quartet Live! features reimagined versions from not … Read more