The BomborasSongs From Beyond!MuSick Recordings [2023] In the realm of surf rock, few bands capture the spirit of the genre as brilliantly as The Bomboras. With their energetic performances and undeniable talent, the band consistently delivered a unique and captivating sound that soared in the early ’90s. However, it all came to an exhilarating end … Read more
TinariwenAmatssouWedge [2023] In the two decades since Tinariwen emerged from their base in the African desert to tour the globe, they have got to know many renowned American country, folk, and rock musicians including Kurt Vile, Cass McCombs, Micah Nelson (son of Willie Nelson) and Jack White. The story of their ninth album, Amatssou, begins … Read more
Bruce CockburnO Sun O MoonTrue North Records [2023] It’s been 6 years, since Canadian singer/songwriter Bruce Cockburn (pronounced Coe-burn) released an album with voice and lyrics, Bone On Bone, and 4 years since he’d released an album of acoustic guitar instrumentals, Crowing Ignites. “Time takes its toll,” he sings on the opening track of his … Read more
The MurlocsCalm Ya FarmATO Records [2023] Melbourne’s The Murlocs, the Australian rock band of Ambrose Kenny-Smith and associated with the King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, have returned with the more country fried Calm Ya Farm. Much like the Gizzard, The Murlocs have been cranking out music as Calm Ya Farm is their seventh full … Read more
Olivia JeanRaving GhostThird Man Records [2023] Back in 2019, when Olivia Jean was opening for The Raconteurs on tour The Fire Note review assessed that her mix of ‘50’s rock & roll, surf guitar sounds, girl group harmonies, and a definitive punk DIY attitude made for “some fun rock & roll nostalgia presented with plenty … Read more
The Lemon TwigsEverything HarmonyCaptured Tracks [2023] If there were really such a thing as time travel, it wouldn’t be all that hard to convince even the most astute music listener that the new album from The Lemon Twigs was a long-lost product from 1967, perhaps the one original copy hidden away in a time capsule … Read more
Wiped OutWelcome To Fear CityOtitis Media Records [2023] If you’re a fan of surf music, then you’ll definitely want to check out Welcome To Fear City by Wiped Out. Originally released digitally at the end of last year, the physical record is now out and this album captures the essence of classic surf music with … Read more
Rose City BandGarden PartyThrill Jockey Records [2023] Rose City Band’s Garden Party is a delightful blend of psychedelic and country sounds that create a truly unique listening experience. This fourth album in the band’s catalog is a continuation of the group’s porch music which features the signature sound of guitarist Ripley Johnson (Wooden Shjips, Moon … Read more
Indigo De SouzaAll Of This Will EndSaddle Creek Records [2023] The final track on Indigo De Souza’s sophomore album in 2021, Any Shape You Take, was “Kill Me,” a song she wrote at a very low time in her life. But by the time she recorded it, the closing line of explanation which suggests that … Read more
JETHRO TULL REVIEW HISTORYThe Zealot Gene (2022) JETHRO TULL LINKSOfficial Website | Facebook | Instagram | Inside Out Music
The NationalFirst Two Pages Of Frankenstein4AD [2023] The National’s ninth studio album, First Two Pages Of Frankenstein, derives its title from a moment deep in singer Matt Berninger’s bout with writer’s block. To break the lock, he will often grab a book off the shelf just to get some words in his head. In this … Read more
WasherImproved Means To Deteriorated EndsExploding In Sound Records [2023] Improved Means To Deteriorated Ends marks the return of the Brooklyn/Philadelphia-based indie rock duo, Washer. It has been six years since the group’s sophomore record All Aboard was released in 2017, but the extra time has paid off. Originally planning to record in 2020, Mike Quigley … Read more
CrocodilesUpside Down In HeavenLolipop Records [2023] Crocodiles’ Upside Down In Heaven is an album that showcases the band’s signature noise-pop sound, but with a more mature and refined approach. The core duo of Brandon Welchez and Charles Rowell have covered many genres that include art-punk, psychedelic haze, lush 60s-inspired pop, and trashed-out glam but their … Read more
Metallica72 SeasonsBlackened Recordings [2023] Metallica’s 72 Seasons is a true testament to the band’s longevity, power, and unbridled creativity. It is their first studio album since 2016’s Hardwired… to Self-Destruct, and their second album to feature bassist Robert Trujillo as a full-time member. With its 12 tracks, 72 Seasons is a masterful blend of the … Read more
supervioletInfinite SpringLame-O Records [2023] superviolet is the moniker for Ohio-based songwriter and former The Sidekicks frontman Steven Ciolek. Infinite Spring is his debut record and its more acoustic approach marks a departure from his previous band’s work of energetic guitar driven melodies with punk rock influences. What still exists with Ciolek is his emotionally raw … Read more
HaydenAre We GoodArts & Crafts [2023] Hayden is a Canadian singer-songwriter known for his introspective and emotive lyrics, melodic sensibilities, and his ability to create a warm and inviting atmosphere in his music. One of his most well-known albums is Everything I Long For, which was released in 1995 and featured the indie hit “Bad … Read more
The Hold SteadyThe Price Of ProgressPositive Jams/Thirty Tigers [2023] With 20 years and eight albums worth of songs under their belt, The Hold Steady are now a recognizable quantity. Coming together in Minneapolis their classic rock meets punk guitar rock vibe showed signs of taking to heart local music heroes like The Replacements and Husker … Read more
The Reds, Pinks & PurplesThe Town That Cursed Your NameTough Love/Slumberland Records [2023] The Reds, Pinks & Purples was the DIY kitchen pop project of San Franciscan Glenn Donaldson but has quickly turned into his main musical vehicle over the last five years. His prolific writing and releasing of music has benefited the listener for … Read more
Lana Del ReyDid You Know That There’s A Tunnel Under Ocean BlvdInterscope Records [2023] At several points on this monumental 9th album from singer/songwriter Lana Del Rey, she reports that “When you know, you know.” Yet after numerous listens to this album that no less than pop superstar Taylor Swift recently described as “brilliant” and … Read more
Andrew GabbardCedar City SweetheartColemine/Karma Chief Records [2023] He’s finally gone and done it: Andrew Gabbard made a country album. For those who jumped on board with 2021’s Homemade, this might be a slight surprise. That album was full of hazy folk-rock and psych-pop gems that may have had some twang here or there, but were mostly … Read more
ConnectionsCool ChangeTrouble In Mind Records [2023] Connections have established a strong position on the indie music scene since 2013 with five full lengths and a handful of 7″s released over the span of six years. Now, five years has passed since their last release, Foreign Affairs (2018), and the band has made a glorious rock … Read more
The Lost DaysIn The StoreSpeakeasy Studios SF [2023] After meeting at a memorial for a mutual friend, Tony Molina (Ovens) and Sarah Rose Janko (Dawn Riding) started spending time together playing guitar and singing their hearts out. This was the beginning of The Lost Days and after their 5-song Lost Demos EP was released in … Read more
The Royal Arctic InstituteFrom Coma To CatharsisAlready Dead Tapes And Records [2023] The Royal Arctic Institute is a quintet of seasoned NYC musicians playing their own brand of cinematic, post-rock & jazz instrumentals, with nine titles of previous recordings available on their Bandcamp site. The 6-track EP that is From Coma to Catharsis comes a … Read more
Gee TeeGoodnight NeanderthalUrge/Goner Records [2023] Sydney’s Kel Mason is the man behind the spastic lo-fi punk sounds of Gee Tee. He has released a multitude of music under this moniker since 2016 and has grown his underground following with every new release. Gee Tee’s newest long player, Goodnight Neanderthal, formalizes all his past work and … Read more
EyelidsA Colossal Waste Of LightJealous Butcher Records [2023] As they finish out their first decade as a band, Portland, Oregon’s Eyelids have covered a lot of ground. From the half-studio, half-live hybrid of 2018’s Maybe More, 2019’s EP with John Cameron Mitchell (Turning Time Around), and 2020’s collaboration with Tim Buckley lyricist Larry Beckett (The … Read more