D’Angelo & The Vanguard Black Messiah RCA Records [2014] Fire Note Says: It has been 14 years but time didn’t seem to phase D’Angelo. Album Review: Arriving 14 years after his much-praised sophomore album, Voodoo, it appears that reports of D’Angelo’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. The neo-soul singer first burst on the scene with … Read more
Justin Townes Earle Absent Fathers Vagrant Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Earle delivers a heart felt album with the new Absent Fathers. Album Review: It looks to be hard enough to make a name for one’s self, shape a sound, build a following, but when you add climbing out from beneath the shadow of a … Read more
Viet Cong Viet Cong Jagjaguwar Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Ruthless, cold, endearing, and machine-like, Viet Cong produce an impressive debut. Album Review: If Viet Cong is any indication of what Matt Flegel and Mike Wallace’s previous outfit Women sounded like then I wish I knew more. The project ended on a sad note, as … Read more
Jack White Live From Bonnaroo 2014 Third Man Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Jack White releases vault package #22 as a triple LP tour-de-force. Album Review: 2015 is shaping up to be a hell of a year. A new Sleater-Kinney album, a new Radiohead album, The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion’s Freedom Tower announced for March, … Read more
Parkay Quarts Content Nausea What’s Your Rupture? Records [2014] Fire Note Says: A late 2014 release from Parquet Courts offshoot project is a must have! Album Review: Parkay Quarts is the side project of Andrew Savage and Austin Brown of Parquet Courts, and one can only assume that this side project is a way of … Read more
The Decemberists What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World Capitol Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Lighter and a bit brighter, The Decemberists have greater focus on their 7th studio record. Album Review: The folky harmonica driven song that gives this 7th studio album from Portland, Oregon’s The Decemberists its title is “12-17-12,” a song … Read more
COZY Button By Button HoZac Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Give COZY 31 minutes and they will make you believe they are the best band in the world! Album Review: Two things you need to know right off the bat about COZY, they play loud, catchy power pop punk with attitude and they are on … Read more
Speaking Suns Vanishing Country Great Guys Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Speaking Suns’ debut is a surprisingly mature musical statement. Album Review: Originally hailing from the land of Dave Chappelle and famous liberal arts school Antioch College (a.k.a. Yellow Springs, OH), Speaking Suns is a pretty young band—both in the age of its members and … Read more
Red Aunts Come Up For A Closer Look In The Red Recordings [2014] Fire Note Says: Get to know the Red Aunts! Album Review: For most, this new compilation release from the Red Aunts will be an introductory point and that is just fine. The all-female punk band from Long Beach, California ruled the underground … Read more
Philip Selway Weatherhouse Bella Union [2014] Fire Note Says: Radiohead’s drummer returns with a solo album that builds on the successes of his debut. Album Review: While Thom Yorke’s solo work is probably the most well-known to come out of the band’s frequent downtime, he isn’t the only member to release music outside of the … Read more
Matthew Melton Outside Of Paradise Southpaw Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Matthew Melton hits all the right chords on catchy sophomore outing. Album Review: From the opening guitar ramble on Matthew Melton’s sophomore album, Outside of Paradise, you just know that you are in for a really cool lo-fi garage ride. You may know Melton … Read more
Ty Segall $ingle$ 2 Drag City Records [2014] Fire Note Says: A fantastic collection of non-album singles and b sides brings 2014 to the perfect end for Ty Segall fans. Album Review: How does Ty Segall cap off a brilliant 2014, a year that saw him releasing the best album of his career and one … Read more
The New Basement Tapes Lost On The River Harvest Records [2014] Fire Note Says: A pleasant exploration of early Dylan through the eyes of some very different songwriters. Of course, the original “Basement Tapes,” were recordings made in Woodstock, NY in 1967, when Bob Dylan, recovering from a motorcycle accident, spent 5 months woodsheding songs … Read more
The Paperhead Africa Avenue Trouble In Mind Records [2014] Fire Note Says: The Paperhead play the 60’s with a modern pulse. Album Review: If you have been around music long enough (yes I am calling myself old) then the statement “Sooner or later, everything old is new again” seems to ring true with every “fresh” … Read more
Dads I’ll Be The Tornado 6131 Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Dads brings a grunge aesthetic with a modern twist with I’ll Be The Tornado. Album Review: Dads is a New Jersey-based duo consisting of John Bradley (drums and vocals) and Scott Scharinger (guitar and vocals). Their style can be described as 1990’s-inspired indie rock. … Read more
Flying Lotus You’re Dead! Warp Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Flying Lotus defies description with You’re Dead. Album Review: Flying Lotus, nee Steven Ellison, can be counted on to make interesting music. His latest, You’re Dead!, ups that factor by a degree or two. This is Flying Lotus’ fifth studio album and his experience is … Read more
Wilco Alpha Mike Foxtrot: Rare Tracks 1994-2014 Nonesuch Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Rarities compilation aimed at the sweet spot of many of Wilco’s hard-core fans. Album Review: Twenty years is a long time. And if you’re industrious or plagued by insomnia you can make a lot of music in twenty years. That seems to … Read more
Ariel Pink Pom Pom 4AD Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Pom Pom is an insanely infectious joyride that seems to take you on a different route each time you listen. Album Review: You probably haven’t heard anything like Pom Pom, the 17 track new album from Ariel Pink (minus his Haunted Graffiti) this year, and … Read more
Pissed Jeans Shallow Sub Pop Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Shallow shows where the wallow rock all started. Album Review: Sub Pop Records has had two important reissues this year with the releases of the Sleater Kinney box set Start Together and the pre-Shins band Flake Music’s When You Land Here, It’s Time To Return. … Read more
Cool Ghouls A Swirling Fire Burning Through The Rye Empty Cellar Records [2014] Fire Note Says: These garage-psych revivalists have done their homework! Album Review: Cool Ghouls is a four-piece based in San Francisco, and with their new album A Swirling Fire Burning Through The Rye, they’ve done the near-impossible: they’ve created a full-length LP … Read more
Buffalo Killers Fireball Of Sulk Sun Pedal Recordings [2014] Fire Note Says: Fireball of Sulk is the Buffalo Killers heaviest guitar release to date. Album Review: Cincinnati’s Buffalo Killers like to keep busy as Fireball of Sulk represents their second release this year. The six song record follows their Sun Pedal debut, Heavy Reverie, which … Read more
Lucinda Williams Down Where The Spirit Meets The Bone Highway 20 Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Lucinda Williams has settled into a comfortable groove. Album Review: Two things come to mind with the mention of Lucinda Williams: that voice and those songs. That voice has found her singing on records by some of the best … Read more
OK Go Hungry Ghosts Paracadute/BMG Records [2014] Fire Note Says: OK Go’s Hungry Ghosts is fun and lively. Album Review: It’s tempting to start a review of an OK Go album by talking about treadmills or Nike+. That is to say, the band may be better known as a marketing concept rather than as creators … Read more
Gary Clark Jr. Live Warner Bros. Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Gary Clark Jr. Live is a solid and spirited performance. Album Review: Earlier this year, Eric Clapton was interviewed by David Fricke for Rolling Stone Magazine, as his tribute to JJ Cale, The Breeze, was hitting stores and talk of the guitar god’s retirement … Read more
Nada Surf B-Sides Barsuk Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Nada Surf helps round out your collection. Album Review: One of the cooler concert experiences I have had in the past several years was checking out a show from Nada Surf. Their set was solid but it was what happened after the show that was truly … Read more