Flat Worms Into The Iris Drag City/GOD? Records [2019] Who: LA-based noise punk trio, Flat Worms are poised to take over the world, or at least what you are listening to. Sound: Into the Iris see the Flat Worms sharpen their hooks and keeping things lean with a very accessible and aggressive noise pop hybrid. … Read more
Guided By Voices Zeppelin Over China GBV, Inc.[2019] Fire Note Says: Guided By Voices’ latest effort is a 32 song, double album behemoth. But is it any good? Album Review: After dedicating all of last year to the release and support of one (just one) album, the late-career masterpiece Space Gun, Robert Pollard and his … Read more
Mercy Union The Quarry Self-Released [2018] Fire Note Says: How “super” does a supergroup need to be? Album Review: Mercy Union – the joint effort of Jared Hart from The Scandals and Benny Horowitz of The Gaslight Anthem, plus Rocky Catanese and Nick Jorgensen – is a New Jersey punk rock dream collaboration. But unless … Read more
IDLES Joy As An Act Of Resistance Partisan Records [2018] Who: Bristol-based joy punks, IDLES have released one of 2018’s finest and vital albums. Sound: Joy as an Act of Resistance is a joyful collection of insightful, important and fun punk rock. TFN Final Take: IDLES were not content to rest on their laurels after … Read more
Pile Odds And Ends Exploding In Sound Records [2018] Who: Boston-based Pile please their fans with an essential compilation of their twisted, genre-defying songs. Sound: Odds and Ends is a tidy collection of Pile songs that span 2010-2017. TFN Final Take: It’s no secret that I am a big Pile fan. Odds and Ends does … Read more
Big Bite Big Bite Pop Wig Records [2018] Who: Seattle, Washington based Big Bite have released a stunning debut album. Sound: Big Bite’s debut is a bold and satisfying mix of Wipers and contemporaries such as Pardoner and Baked. TFN Final Take: I have been a Big Bite tear for the past month. Their self-titled … Read more
Doffing Tower Of Ten Thousand Miles Self-Released [2018] Who: Montreal’s Doffing may have released one of 2018’s best albums. Tower of Ten Thousand Miles is flying under the radar, but try your best to lock on and engage. Sound: Doffing emulate and honor 90’s indie rock with an entertaining blend of weirdo rock that is … Read more
Astral Swans Strange Prison Tiny Room Records [2018] Who: Calgary’s Astral Swans sophomore LP, Strange Prison is a haunting and stark look into the imaginative psyche of songwriter Matthew Swann . Sound: Matthew Swann’s quirky blend of lo-fi melancholic folk rock stays with you long after the album finishes playing. TFN Final Take: 2015’s My … Read more
Greed Island Nest Egg Salty Speakers [2018] Who: Dover, New Hampshire’s Greed Island 7-track EP, Nest Egg, is one of the best things I have heard in 2018. Sound: Greed Island generate a heady buzz with their brand of indie guitar rock that will remind listeners of Archers of Loaf, Pavement and Dinosaur Jr. TFN … Read more
Guided By Voices Space Gun GBV, Inc. [2018] Fire Note Says: Robert Pollard and his band of merry men use every trick in the book and create a masterpiece. Album Review: I have been a fan of Guided By Voices since I first heard Bee Thousand way back in 1994. It seemed timeless yet still … Read more
Kal Marks Universal Care Exploding in Sound Records [2018] Who: Boston’s Kal Marks get the new year started off on the right foot. Universal Care is my first favorite new record of 2018! Sound: Universal Care finds the band evolving into a distinctive brand of intense and monolithic noise rock. It is still Kal Marks; … Read more
R.E.M. Automatic For The People (25th Anniversary Edition) Craft Recordings [2017] Fire Note Says: A masterpiece for all times! Album Review: R.E.M.’s Automatic For the People is a masterpiece that gets a lot of love on its 25th anniversary. A live disc and 20 demos/outtakes accompany the original album. The extras are interesting and noteworthy; … Read more
Lorde Melodrama Lava Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Lorde resists contemporary pop conventions and dusts off 80’s vinyl influences to craft one of the strongest and most original pop records of the year. Album Review: Four years ago, the meteoric rise of New Zealand’s Lorde was fueled by the strength of “Royals,” a single that … Read more
Rick Rude Make Mine Tuesday TinyRadars/Sophomore Lounge Records [2017] Who: New Hampshire’s Rick Rude make a lasting impression with Make Mine Tuesday. Sound: Make Mine Tuesday is a stunning debut album that is sure to make people who like Built to Spill, Heartless Bastards and The Pauses swoon. TFN Final Take: Another “Better Late than … Read more
The Menzingers After The Party Epitaph Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Bursting with big guitars, sweeping storytelling and endlessly catchy melodies, After the Party is a bold realization that finds The Menzingers’ raising the bar yet again. Album Review: From the crunchy guitars and lightning-fast drums of their debut record A Lesson in the Abuse … Read more
Pardoner Uncontrollable Salvation Father/Daughter Records [2017] Who: San Francisco’s Pardoner blend and bend their influences into a rather epic debut LP. Sound: Uncontrollable Salvation is a fantastic blend of fuzzy power noise slathered with skewed guitars, impeccable pop moments and an abundance of shoegaze noise. TFN Final Take: Pardoner’s debut LP, Uncontrollable Salvation was an … Read more
Spirit Of The Beehive Pleasure Suck Tiny Engines [2017] Who: Philadelphia-based Spirit of the Beehive deliver a superb album packed with lo-fi psychedelic charm. Sound: Pleasure Suck is a giant leap forward for the band. Their earlier LP and EP were good, but this album emits a warm druggy vibe that is part slacker rock, … Read more
Washer All Aboard Exploding in Sound Records [2017] Who: Brooklyn duo, Kieran McShane and Mike Quigley, expand and improve their sound with this excellent sophomore effort. Sound: All Aboard builds off Washer’s solid debut and ends up being one of the best post-grunge albums of 2017. TFN Final Take: I was already a Washer fan. … Read more
PLAX Clean Feeling Super Secret Records [2017] Who: Austin-based quasi-punk band comprised of members of Spray Paint, OBN IIIs, Skeleton and Sweet Talk. Sound: Clean Feeling may be the best indie-punk album of 2017. Twitchy and heavy in perfect doses. TFN Final Take: Last year I fell head over heels in love with Austin’s Spray … Read more
Queen Moo Mean Well Topshelf Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Mean Well is one of the biggest, baddest rock ‘n’ roll records so far this year. Album Review: Clocking in at just under thirty minutes, Mean Well, the second full-length release from Connecticut band Queen Moo, reinvents rock ‘n’ roll in ways you didn’t know … Read more
Guided By Voices How Do You Spell Heaven GBV, Inc. [2017] Fire Note Says: The revamped Guided By Voices continue their hot streak with an instant classic. Album Review: You can be forgiven for missing some of Robert Pollard’s output – the discography is indeed deep and daunting. That said, let me put this right … Read more
Dove Lady One DZ Tapes / Inflated Records [2017] Who: DC-based spastic noise rock duo. Sound: Dove Lady dish out a disarming array of influences and styles on One. ‘Debut of the Year’ honors should be a lock for this fantastic album. TFN Final Take: Dove Lady’s One is a wildly unpredictable debut album. Over … Read more
En Route Then Is A Song Flower Girl Records [2017] Who: En Route is a collective of some of Philadelphia’s most accomplished underground punk musicians. Sound: In five drifting, heavy and quietly groundbreaking songs, En Route makes clear their intention to lead the slowcore revival. TFN Final Take: En Route’s first EP “then is a … Read more
Flotation Toy Warning The Machine That Made Us Talitres [2017] Fire Note Says: Flotation Toy Warning returns after a 13-year hiatus and deliver a staggering masterpiece. Album Review: To say that I have been eagerly awaiting this album for some time would be a bit of an understatement. 2004’s Bluffer’s Guide to the Flight Deck … Read more
Pile A Hairshirt Of Purpose Exploding In Sound Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Pile’s A Hairshirt of Purpose is an iconic slab of indie noise rock. One of the best releases for 2017! Album Review: Boston-based Pile pull off another stunning effort with A Hairshirt of Purpose. I have been listening to this album for … Read more