GlittererLife Is Not A LessonANTI- [2021] Washington, D.C. resident and northeastern Pennsylvania native Ned Russin co-fronted Title Fight for many years before the band went on hiatus and Russin became Glitterer. So far, Glitterer has self-released two EP’s and his 2019 ANTI- debut LP Looking Through The Shades. That brings us to the rowdy and … Read more
Glitterer has a new track with “Didn’t Want It” which is off the new album Life Is Not A Lesson out February 26th via ANTI-. “Didn’t Want It” was the first song I wrote for the new record,” Glitterer aka Ned Russin explained. “Despite having no road map for how the rest of the songs would turn … Read more
Fleet Foxes ShoreANTI- [2020] There are a handful of songs in the middle of this fourth album from Fleet Foxes that feel very much in sync with early expectations created by the folky, rural Americana, melody focused, harmony-rich albums, their ’08 self-title debut and 2011’s Helplessness Blues. “A Long Way Past the Past” relies on … Read more
Japandroids Massey Fucking Hall (Live)ANTI- [2020] There’s a telling moment in Vancouver band Japandroids’ live concert album set, about three and half minutes into their third song “Heart Sweats,” where it feels like a natural ending. Drummer Dave Prowse stops playing and takes a long drink of water, while Brian King’s guitar’s power chords are … Read more
The Dream Syndicate The Universe InsideANTI- [2020] Generally speaking, I hate it when a press release for a new album suggests something like “this is what all the reviewers will be saying.” (I once reviewed a Meatloaf concert for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and after making a huge gaff, he told the audience what the … Read more
M. Ward Migration StoriesANTI— [2020] On the 10th solo album from M. Ward it’s unlikely that anyone who’s encountered his music over the recent decades is expecting any surprises. In the brief label bio, Ward describes this collection of Migration Stories as “characters in a dream,” which is also a way of describing the hazy … Read more
Andy Shauf The Neon Skyline ANTI- [2020] TFN Album Review: Over rock history, the soft voice story telling singer/songwriter has been a big thing with names like Billy Joel, Paul Simon, Tim Finn and Michael Penn. The list can go on but in this modern era of music I feel like the list of recognizable … Read more
The Dream Syndicate These Times ANTI- [2019] Album Review: The Dream Syndicate is a band with two distinct periods of activity, with singer/songwriter Steve Wynn as the thread that connects the two. Active throughout the 80’s, the band’s first incarnation was part of the so-called Paisley Underground, a collection of So. California bands that tended … Read more
Glen Hansard This Wild Willing Anti- [2019] Fire Note Says: Glen Hansard, of “Once,” The Frames, and The Swell Season fame, expands his musical palette, but sings in a quieter more reflective voice on his fourth solo album, This Wild Willing. Album Review: The first thought that comes to mind when I think of Glen … Read more
Mavis Staples Live In London ANTI- [2019] Album Review: At 79 years old, Mavis Staples is an R&B institution who has been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Blues Hall of Fame, but she’s not sitting back on her laurels in a rocking chair at the living legends nursing home. … Read more
Girlpool What Chaos Is Imaginary ANTI- [2019] Fire Note Says: Girlpool continues to evolve on their third album. Album Review: Cleo Tucker and Harmony Tividad are back with their third LP. Following 2017’s impressive Powerplant, which incorporated fuzzy guitars and haunting harmonies, the new collection goes for more of the same, but with mixed results. … Read more
Calexico The Thread That Keeps Us ANTI- [2018] Fire Note Says: Arizona’s Calexico offers up alt rock anthems and eclectic musical ruminations on the world at risk and the love that will sustain us in “the age of extremes,” on their ninth album, The Thread That Keeps Us. Album Review: The ninth album from Arizona-based … Read more
Glen Hansard Between Two Shores ANTI- [2018] Fire Note Says: Irish folk rocker Glen Hansard, of The Swell Season and The Frames, continues to deliver strong songs. Album Review: One of my favorite musical scenes in film is that long opening sequence at the beginning of the movie “Once,” where you can hear Glen Hansard … Read more
Mavis Staples If All I Was Was Black ANTI- [2017] Fire Note Says: In the Trump era, Mavis Staples – who earned her chops with the Staples Singers, and lately has been backing up Bob Dylan – works with producer Jeff Tweedy to provide positive anthems for the resistance. Album Review: B.B. King once told … Read more
Girlpool Powerplant ANTI- [2017] Fire Note Says: Girlpool comes and goes too quick! Album Review: Girlpool is an LA band that consists of its two founding members, Cleo Tucker and Harmony Tividad, plus a new drummer, Miles Wintner, for their sophomore album. Their debut came out two years ago, and with the addition of a … Read more
Curtis Harding Face Your Fear ANTI- [2017] Fire Note Says: Curtis Harding can hold a groove with the best! Album Review: With the recent passing of the “Screaming Eagle of Soul,” Charles Bradley in September, Sonny Knight in June and Sharon Jones last year, the retro soul movement has taken a serious blow. Their talents … Read more
Sean Rowe New Lore ANTI- [2017] Fire Note Says: Combining ingredients as limited and plain as vocals, piano, strings and silence, Sean Rowe’s New Lore is an endearing and memorable alt folk achievement. Album Review: If not for Sean Rowe’s voice, the most effective, emotionally-loaded moments of his new record New Lore would the record’s … Read more
Delicate Steve This Is Steve Anti- [2017] Fire Note Says: Guitar fans will want to connect with this talented musician’s rock insturmentals. Album Review: Perhaps you’re not yet familiar with the fine guitar stylings of Delicate Steve, aka Steve Marion, but it’s very likely that you’ve heard his playing before. Marion provide slide guitar from … Read more
Japandroids Near To The Wild Heart Of Life ANTI- [2017] Fire Note Says: Rock lovers rejoice: Japandroids have returned! Album Review: Are you ready to rock? If so, Canadian duo Japandroids have something for you on their third LP, Near To The Wild Heart of Life. An alternative title to the album could be We’ve … Read more
Daniel Lanois Goodbye To Language ANTI- [2016] Fire Note Says: Established producer to the stars has a new album. Album Review: The latest album from Daniel Lanois, established producer to the stars (Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Emmylou Harris, Peter Gabriel, and along with Brian Eno, some of U2’s biggest hits), can be described in one … Read more
Wilco Schmilco ANTI-/dBpm Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Wilco toy with their sound, defy expectations and thrill us all at the same time. Album Review: There’s a funny thing about expectations. We the listener, what we expect out of our favorite band, we put expectations from them that we shouldn’t. Musicians are free to make … Read more
Deafheaven New Bermuda ANTI- Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Deafheaven refuse to buckle under the weight of expectations. Album Review: So what does a young, up-and-coming band do after releasing one of the most critically acclaimed albums of the decade? Do they expand on all the things people found so intriguing about them in the … Read more
Wilco Star Wars ANTI-/dBpm Records [2015] Fire Note Says: This is a free offering you should keep! Album Review: “Thank you and goodnight” is what you could hear after the opening track, “EKG,” on Wilco’s new surprise ninth record Star Wars. The disjointed instrumental affair is loose and free and would fit nicely into this … Read more