Neal Francis: In Plain Sight [Album Review]

Neal FrancisIn Plain SightATO Records [2021] Chicago-based singer-songwriter-pianist Neal Francis has just released one of the most warm retro groove records of the year with his sophomore album In Plain Sight. The entire record is a faithful nod to everything that was good about late 70s rock, as its songs could sit in a playlist … Read more

Amyl and The Sniffers – “Hertz” [Video]

Amyl & the Sniffers, the Melbourne, Australia rock band fronted by Amy Taylor, just released their sophomore album Comfort To Me this past Friday, via ATO Records/Rough Trade. Here is the latest single entitled “Hertz” from the Headphone Approved release. “‘Hertz’ is a daydream of wanting to go to the country/bush and see landscapes other … Read more

Amyl And The Sniffers: Comfort To Me [Album Review]

Amyl And The SniffersComfort To MeATO/Rough Trade Records [2021] I am not sure there is a world in which I would not love the new sophomore record, Comfort To Me, from Amyl And The Sniffers. The Australian quartet, led by the fierce Amy Taylor, has harnessed all of their pent up pandemic energy from 2020 … Read more

Amyl And The Sniffers – “Guided By Angels” [Video]

Amyl and the Sniffers, the Melbourne, Australia rock band fronted by Amy Taylor, will release their second album Comfort To Me on September 10 on ATO Records. Comfort To Me is the follow-up to the band’s 2019 self-titled debut album, which was absolutely killer! Taylor and her bandmates – guitarist Dec Martens, bassist Gus Romer, … Read more

The Murlocs: Bittersweet Demons [Album Review]

The MurlocsBittersweet DemonsATO/Flightless Records [2021] Melbourne-based five-piece The Murlocs always will be tagged with an asterisk that describes them as having two members of the ever growing popular King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard. Those two members are lead singer/guitarist/harmonica player Ambrose Kenny-Smith and bassist Cook Craig but the Murlocs have plenty of other talent … Read more

The Murlocs – “Bittersweet Demons” [Video]

Australian rock band The Murlocs have unveiled the title track from their upcoming new album Bittersweet Demons. The track catalyzed the album’s entire concept, with its moody piano tones and softly sprawling arrangement, the song took shape soon after the 2019 death of frontman’s Ambrose Kenny-Smith’s dear friend Keegan Walker. Says Kenny-Smith, “I was messing … Read more

The Murlocs – “Francesca” [Video]

The Murlocs have announced their fifth studio album, Bittersweet Demons, to be released June 25, 2021 via ATO and Flightless Records! The album’s first single “Francesca” was written as a rip-roaring celebration of the rejuvenated life of frontman Ambrose Kenny-Smith’s mother. Ambrose says of the track… “The song is about my mother and how she … Read more

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard: K.G. [Album Review]

King Gizzard & The Lizard WizardK.G.Flightless Records [2020] After releasing a handful of live releases earlier this year, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard have now returned with the new studio album K.G., their sixteenth since they formed in 2010. It represents a collection of songs that saw the six members of the band home … Read more

Old 97’s: Twelfth [Album Review]

Old 97’s TwelfthATO Records [2020] The Old 97’s have been plugging away since forming in 1993, playing alt-country with such consistency that it might be tempting to take their musical strengths for granted. Picking up where cow-punk 80’s bands like Jason & the Scorchers and Lone Justice left off, singer Rhett Miller, guitarist Ken Bethea, … Read more

My Morning Jacket: The Waterfall II [Album Review]

My Morning Jacket The Waterfall IIATO Records [2020] Back in 2015 when My Morning Jacket was releasing their well-received seventh studio album, The Waterfall, singer/songwriter Jim James reported that the band had recorded enough new music for it to be a double album. Like much of the MMJ oeuvre, that album was marked by the … Read more

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard: Chunky Shrapnel [Album Review]

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Chunky ShrapnelATO/Flightless Records [2020] Who: The band hails from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia and have been making music together since 2010. Sound: What makes King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard so interesting is the genres they tackle. Their musical styles include: jazz, thrash-metal, psych-pop, prog-rock, psychedelic folk, and blues to … Read more

Brittany Howard: Jaime [Album Review]

Brittany Howard Jaime ATO Records [2019] Album Review: Brittany Howard is best known for her two albums with the band Alabama Shakes, who’s 2015 release, Sound & Color, picked up four Grammy’s that year including Best Alternative Album, Best Rock Performance and Best Rock Song for “Don’t Wanna Fight.” Now, setting the band aside for … Read more

Temples: Hot Motion [Album Review]

Temples Hot Motion ATO [2019] Fire Note Says: Neo-psychedelic British band, Temples is back with their third album, bringing more of their mix of pop song melodicism with just enough colorful progressive instrumental moves to keep everyone on their toes. Album Review: The advance materials for the Kettering, Northhampshire, England band Temples’ third album release … Read more

Black Pumas: Black Pumas [Album Review]

Black Pumas Black Pumas ATO Records [2019] Who: Black Pumas is the debut full-length release from the Austin duo of Adrian Quesada and Eric Burton who were named Best New Band at the 2019 Austin Music Awards. Sound: Black Pumas play a smooth neo-psychedelia, retro-soul set. TFN Final Take: Austin’s Black Pumas shine as a … Read more

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard: Infest The Rats’ Nest [Album Review]

King Gizzard & The Lizard WizardInfest The Rats’ NestFlightless Records [2019] If you’re a fan of King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, then you already know that being surprised is a key element of the band. Despite working tirelessly, they have never churned out the same record over their 15 studio albums in this short … Read more

Amyl And The Sniffers: Amyl And The Sniffers [Album Review]

Amyl And The Sniffers Amyl And The Sniffers Flightless/ATO Records [2019] Who: Formed in Melbourne, Australia in early 2016, Amyl and The Sniffers wrote, self-recorded and released their debut EP, Giddy Up, all in a span of twelve hours. Already signed to Flightless Records for Australia and New Zealand, the band capped off a monster … Read more

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard: Fishing For Fishies [Album Review]

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Fishing For Fishies ATO/Flightless Records [2019] Who: Australian neo-psych wizards King Gizzard are back with their 14th long player. Sound: 70′ warm jamming sound laced with harmonica and some electro Devo rhythms. TFN Final Take: King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard have returned with their fourteenth album since their … Read more

ORB: The Space Between [Album Review]

ORB The Space Between ATO/Flightless Records [2018] Who: Formed in Geelong, Victoria, Australia the trio: guitarist and lead singer Zak Olsen, guitarist and bassist Daff Gravolin, and drummer Jamie Harmer have been bringing their riffs from the stars and beyond since January 2015. Sound: ORB doesn’t just live in the fuzz, they were born in … Read more

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard: 5 Reissues (ATO Color Vinyl | 2000 Copies)

King Gizzard fans have been waiting for this day as their first five titles are being reissued which include reimagined artwork, packaging, liner notes and fresh vinyl colors. ATO has set variants that are limited to 2000 copies each and Flightless Records has limited variants which are 5000 copies each. You can find the ATO … Read more

Amyl And The Sniffers – “Cup Of Destiny” [Video]

Here is the latest and greatest from Flightless & ATO Records. Melbourne punks Amyl and the Sniffers have just released a limited edition 7” vinyl and “Cup of Destiny” is the b-side. The young band opened for King Gizzard on their 2018 summer tour. Singer Amy Taylor’s stage presence are all you need to see and hear to enjoy this group.

The band will release their debut album in early 2019 on ATO/Flightless Records (North America) / Flightless Records (Australia & New Zealand) / Rough Trade (ROW). The band is currently in the midst of a worldwide tour and will hit North America in October for a series of dates in major cities including NYC, LA, Chicago and more (all tour dates below).

Amyl and the Sniffers tour:
9/27 – London, UK @ International Festival Forum
9/29 – Memphis, TN @ Gonerfest
9/30 – Nashville, TN @ Springwater
10/02 – Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle
10/03 – Ferndale, MI @ The Loving Touch
10/04 – Cleveland, OH @ Happy Dog
10/05 – Toronto, Canada @ Hard Luck Bar
10/06 – Montreal, Canada @ La Sala Rosa
10/08 – Cambridge, MA @ Middle East
10/11 – Brooklyn, NY @ Baby’s All Right
10/12 – Philadelphia, PA @ Beautiful World Syndicate
10/13 – Washington, DC @ Songbyrd Music House
10/15 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo
11/07 – Newcastle, UK @ O2 Academy
11/08 – Glasgow, UK @ Barrlowland
11/10 – Nottingham, UK @ Rock City
11/12 – Belfast, IE @ The Limelight
11/15 – Norwich, UK @ UEA
11/16 – Liverpool, UK @ O2 Academy
11/17 – Manchester, UK @ Manchester Academy
11/19 – Leeds, UK @ O2 Academy
11/20 – Briston, UK @ O2 Academy
11/22 – Cardiff, UK @ Tramshed
11/23 – Birmingham, UK @ O2 Academy
11/24 – London, UK @ Alexandra Palace

Jim James: Uniform Distortion [Album Review]

Jim James Uniform Distortion ATO Records [2018] Fire Note Says: My Morning Jacket’s Jim James delves into some nostalgia for guitar driven pop/rock, fun, hooky songs, and simpler times. Album Review: It’s just like the spirited Jim James, best known as the leader, singer/songwriter and guitarist with My Morning Jacket, to deliver a guitar oriented … Read more

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard: Gumboot Soup [Album Review]

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Gumboot Soup ATO/Flightless Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Australia’s psych rock heroes make good on their promise! Album Review: Australia’s King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard made the crazy announcement back in November of 2016 that the band would release five albums in 2017. Releasing this much music in … Read more

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard: Sketches Of Brunswick East [Album Review]

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Sketches Of Brunswick East ATO/Flightless Records [2017] Who: Ever since our first review of 2014’s I’m In Your Mind Fuzz, The Fire Note has been big fans. Psychedelic Aussies King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard is an expansive band that doesn’t shy away from musical challenge and experimentation. Sound: … Read more

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard: Murder Of The Universe [Album Review]

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Murder Of The Universe ATO/Flightless Records [2017] Fire Note Says: King Gizzard continue their 2017 releases with the chaptered concept album Murder Of The Universe. Album Review: Melbourne’s King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard are back with a behemoth of an album titled Murder Of The Universe. It is … Read more