Sorority Noise You’re Not As_____As You Think Triple Crown Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Ever-evolving emo rockers Sorority Noise fully come into their own on their third full length, deftly blending anguish, wisdom and their trademark massive guitars to produce a mature, extremely well-balanced record. Album Review: Sorority Noise is a complicated band. For every … Read more
Guided By Voices August By Cake GBV Inc. [2017] Fire Note Says: Robert Pollard’s 100th album is also one of his best. Album Review: Releasing a shit ton of music is in Robert Pollard’s DNA. Even Captain Obvious knows this. And no, he does not hold any kind of record for most songs written or … Read more
Baked Farnham Exploding In Sound Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Baked may have released one of the best albums of 2017 with the genre blending and bending second LP, Farnham. Album Review: New York’s Baked features a new lineup that consists of RJ Gordon (Titus Andronicus) on vocals and guitar, Isabella Mingione on vocals, keyboards, … Read more
Meatbodies Alice In The Red Records [2017] Who: Meatbodies are a California-based trio with connections to Fuzz and Mikal Cronin . Sound: Alice is a heavy psychedelic stoner rock epic. Fans of Ty Segall, Wand, Fuzz and Mikal Cronin will eat this up. TFN Final Take: Alice is fantastic. Chad Ubovich (Fuzz, Mikal Cronin) Kevin … Read more
Circus Devils Laughs Best (The Kids Eat It Up): Best Of Circus Devils Happy Jack Rock Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Circus Devils are sent off in fine fashion with this career-spanning double-LP compilation Album Review: Circus Devils has never been for the casual Robert Pollard fan. The “band,” comprising Pollard and brothers Todd and … Read more
Tobin Sprout The Universe And Me Burger Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Tobin Sprout’s first album in seven years is wistful, poignant and brings the rock. Album Review: Tobin Sprout returns with his first solo record since 2010’s The Bluebirds of Happiness Tried to Land on My Shoulder. The Universe and Me is a real … Read more
Votaries Psychometry Wharf Cat Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Jackson Scott has created something very special and trippy with his new band, Votaries. Album Review: Jackson Scott’s new project, Votaries, has released their first LP, Psychometry, and it is a rather stunning collection of psychedelic drone-rock. I was hooked earlier in the year when I … Read more
The Neal Morse Band The Similitude Of A Dream Radiant Records [2016] Fire Note Says: The Neal Morse Band challenge the 70’s concept classics and record one for the ages. Album Review: In the lead up to The Similitude Of A Dream drummer Mike Portnoy (ex-Dream Theater) compared this work favorably to other double concept … Read more
Sleepies Natural Selection Mirror Universe Tapes [2016] Fire Note Says: Wake up people! Sleepies third album needs your attention. Natural Selection will more than likely end up my favorite album of 2016. Album Review: I would like to say third time is a charm for this wonderful Brooklyn based band, but honestly Sleepies has been … Read more
Honey Radar Blank Cartoon What’s Your Rupture? [2016] Fire Note Says: Lo-fi pop gems that are similar to Guided by Voices, if GBV was part of the Elephant 6 Collective. Album Review: Blank Cartoon continues Honey Radar’s trend of releasing incredibly catchy lo-fi gems at a steady clip. This is their second full length release … Read more
The Hotelier Goodness Tiny Engines [2016] Fire Note Says: Surprise! The Hotelier have matured into a world-beating rock and roll band. Album Review: There was something about The Hotelier’s 2014 breakout LP, Home, Like NoPlace Is There, that just felt different than your typical, run-of-the-mill Emo band. They were smarter, that’s for sure. Singer/bass player … Read more
Yak Alas Salvation Octopus Electrical/Kobalt [2016] Fire Note Says: It might be a bit early in the year to call Album of the Year…but Debut of the Year is a lock. Album Review: London –based Yak has hit the ground running. Alas Salvation is a frenetic and enormously interesting debut LP. Alas Salvation is a … Read more
Car Seat Headrest Teens Of Denial Matador Records [2016] Fire Note Says: This is the indie rock record you need in 2016! Album Review: “I’m so sick of – fill in the blank” is the first line you hear out of founder and singer/songwriter Will Toledo’s creative brain from the excellent new long player, Teens … Read more
Radiohead A Moon Shaped Pool XL Recordings [2016] Fire Note Says: A Moon Shaped Pool shows Yorke and Co. working from the inside out. Album Review: After 2011’s The King of Limbs, Radiohead have finally returned! With them, they have brought their 9th LP entitled A Moon Shape Pool. Now I could go into the … Read more
Future Of The Left The Peace & Truce Of Future Of The Left Prescriptions [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: Everything about The Peace and Truce of Future of the Left is bigger, better, meaner and tighter than ever. Andrew Falkous certainly has not softened over the course of five LPs. If anything, he is getting … Read more
Big Ups Before a Million Universes Exploding In Sound Records [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: Big Ups 2nd LP, Before a Million Universes, is a post-hardcore juggernaut. No sophomore slump here for the Brooklyn-based quartet. It sounds like Big Ups have been listening to 90’s indie post-rock legends Slint and Rodan. Their first LP had … Read more
Kal Marks Life Is Alright, Everybody Dies Exploding In Sound Records [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: Boston’s Kal Marks sophomore effort, Life Is Alright, Everybody Dies, is brilliant. The album evokes and pulls you towards tones of deep and dark, murky then jangly, and emotions that are dour and anguished but somehow hopeful despite feeling … Read more
The Astounds The Astounds Self-Released [2016] Fire Note Says: Not surprised that Dean Wells has delivered yet another astounding, quick-hitting, lo-fi, power pop masterpiece. Album Review: Dean Wells is back. He has changed the name of the band, but there is no denying this is another Dean Wells’ project. Whether it is The Capstan Shafts, … Read more
TRAAMS Modern Dancing FatCat Records [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: On their second full-length LP, UK band, TRAAMS have created post-punk, krautrock inspired perfection. Modern Dancing’s 11 tracks move along at a brisk and urgent pace. Each track has something to offer the listener; zero filler. It is a rare thing for me to hear … Read more
Majical Cloudz Are You Alone? Matador Records [2015] Fire Note Says: An album that searches for sincerity in a space that has been salted with cliché, Are You Alone? builds an immersive world around love and loneliness. Album Review: When my infant daughter couldn’t sleep in the depths winter, I’d sometimes let her lie on … Read more
TUNGS You Could Call This Art Bad Grrrl Records [2015] Fire Note Says: I Will Call This Fantastic! A welcome display of talent and quirky rock sensibilities. This band deserves your attention. Album Review: Richmond, Virginia rockers, TUNGS’ new album, You Could Call This Art, is an excellent album. It is a brilliant follow up … Read more
Ricked Wicky Swimmer To A Liquid Armchair Guided By Voices Inc. [2015] Fire Note Says: The third time’s the charm for this Robert Pollard side project. Album Review: Critical writings on Robert Pollard’s 21st century output have generally fallen into two groups: the True Believers for whom Uncle Bob can never err and those that … Read more
Eric Gaffney A Cassetterospective Joyful Noise Recordings [2015]
The Tangent A Spark In The Aether Inside Out Music [2015] Fire Note Says: Andy Tillison’s love letter to progressive rock hits all the right notes. Album Review: The Tangent is a strange beast of a band. If Yes were part of the Canterbury Scene of English bands back in the seventies (a clutch of … Read more
Sufjan Stevens Carrie & Lowell Asthmatic Kitty Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Sufjan not only creates his most personal record to date but also one of his best. Album Review: How many times do you really hear an artist return to a past sound? I would say not that many. So many times in reviews … Read more