Vampire Weekend unveils a third dimension of its eagerly awaited new album with “Classical,” the latest advance offering from Only God Was Above Us, out April 5th via Columbia Records. Written by Ezra Koenig, produced by Ariel Rechtshaid and Koenig and featuring an orchestral arrangement by Will Canzoneri, Koenig and Rechtshaid, “Classical” is Vampire Weekend at its most… well… classic: Gorgeous, uplifting melodies that … Read more
Depeche ModeMomento MoriColumbia Records [2023] By all accounts, Depeche Mode were unlikely to make their 15th album, “Momento Mori.” Tensions between the band’s two creative voices, Martin Gore and Dave Gahan became so intense during the making of their 2017 release Spirit, that producer James Ford had to kick everyone else, including the duo’s primary … Read more
Arcade FireWEColumbia Records [2022] Nobody accuses Canadian band Arcade Fire of lacking ambition. In a brief paragraph attached to the CD-ROM version of their 6th album, WE, Win Butler describes the inspirations underlying this collection, starting with tracing the recording’s title and division into two sections, I and We, to a Russian Sci-Fi novel written … Read more
WE, is the sixth studio album by Arcade Fire, which is be released on May 6, 2022 via Columbia Records. WE’s arrival is preceded by first single “The Lightning I, II,” available now across digital platforms – and as a video directed by Emily Kai Bock. Produced by Nigel Godrich, Win & Régine, and recorded … Read more
The White Stripes Greatest HitsThird Man Records/Columbia Records [2020] Here in 2020, 13 years after the last studio release from The White Stripes, it’s funny for those of us who saw the band live in their heyday in the 00’s because apart from hearing “Seven Nation Army,” on what’s left of alternative rock radio, probably … Read more
Bruce Springsteen Letter To YouColumbia Records [2020] Bruce Springsteen, the very guy who wrote “Glory Days” about folk who spend their adult years looking back to the time when they were in their prime and their star shined brightest, should probably have seen this time in his life and career coming. Maybe it’s a little … Read more
The Chicks GaslighterColumbia Records [2020] With women coming on strong in popular country music last year via strong feminist empowerment anthems from the Highwomen collaborative made up of Brandi Carlile, Amanda Shires, Natalie Hamby, and Maren Morris, and Carlile’s collaborative production giving Tanya Tucker a career reboot, you had to know that we were due … Read more
Bob Dylan Rough And Rowdy WaysColumbia Records [2020] At this point, there’s really no easy way to explain the unique place that Bob Dylan has marked out for himself in the rock music pantheon to those who set themselves beyond the reach of his artistic influence. In 2016, when Dylan was awarded the Nobel Prize … Read more
Bruce Springsteen Western Stars Columbia Records [2019] Fire Note Says: Bruce Springsteen steps out for some 60’s & 70’s California folk/pop a la Glen Campbell’s “Wichita Lineman” on his 19th studio album, Western Stars. Album Review: The advance word on Western Stars, the nineteenth studio album from Bruce Springsteen was a major change of direction … Read more
Vampire Weekend Father Of The Bride Columbia Records [2019] TFN Final Take: Six years between records is a long time for any group and especially in this current music climate when people forget about you as soon as their newest Spotify playlist has ended. Well, Vampire Weekend have done just that with their new release … Read more
Jack White Boarding House Reach Third Man/Columbia Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Jack White’s most eclectic listen to date. Maybe rock is dead? Or is it?. Album Review: If anyone in the indie rock nation could help push the disappearing genre back into the spotlight you think Jack White would be the artist. After already … Read more
First Aid Kit Ruins Columbia Records [2018] Who: Swedish sisters with their fourth full-length. Sound: Americana with a country-western influence. TFN Final Take: Klara and Johanna Soderberg have put out their fourth full-length album since 2010. Their sound has bounced between folk and occasional pop since then; Ruins see the band settle more deliberately on … Read more
LCD Soundsystem American Dream DFA/Columbia Records [2017] Fire Note Says: LCD Soundsystem’s take on the American Dream is far more realistic and delivers on its promises. Album Review: It would be easy to write off LCD Soundsystem, even convenient when you consider that many of their electronic dance tracks can feel repetitive and often run … Read more
Haim Something To Tell You Columbia Records [2017] Who: Trio of sisters from Los Angeles. Sound: Guitar-heavy pop music. TFN Final Take: There’s no doubt that Haim can construct an earworm; they have the talent to tap into the brain chemistry that creates pleasing sensations. This is most evident on the song “Kept Me Crying,” … Read more
Arcade Fire Everything Now Columbia Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Arcade Fire beat to their own drum. Album Review: You probably think the new Arcade Fire sucks, right? Why wouldn’t you? It has been panned by multiple respected publications and seems to be everyone’s new favorite punching bag. It still was the number one record … Read more
Roger Waters Is This The Life We Really Want? Columbia Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Roger Waters creates a soundtrack for the resistance to Trump’s American dream, echoing his past work with Pink Floyd. Album Review: Roger Waters is angry. Let me rephrase that: Roger Waters is ANGRY! Of course, if you’ve been paying attention … Read more
Bob Dylan Triplicate Columbia Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Dylan attempts to “uncover” these familiar songs. Album Review: By now, any fan of Bob Dylan is familiar with that hilarious comment to the over-serious music journalist in the now infamous, televised 1965 press conference in San Francisco which can be found on youtube.com. Dylan had … Read more
Depeche Mode Spirit Columbia Records [2017] Fire Note Says: On their 14th studio album, synth pop pioneers Depeche Mode have become more predictable compared to their early work. Album Review: By now, nearly 40 years in, Depeche Mode must be the most popular and successful of the 80s bands that abandoned traditional instruments for the … Read more
The Shins Heartworms Aural Apothecary/Columbia Records [2017] Fire Note Says: The Shins bring a creative, cool, and connected song-craft. Album Review: Like most everybody else, I first discovered The Shins in that great scene in the coming of age movie “Garden State” (2004) where Zach Braff’s character tries on the headphones of Natalie Portman to … Read more
Jack White Acoustic Recordings 1998-2016 Third Man/Columbia Records [2016] Fire Note Says: The softer side of Jack! Album Review: There are not that many times that you can say you saw an artist when but that is how I have always been with The White Stripes as I caught them opening for Sleater-Kinney in 2000 … Read more
David Bowie Blackstar Columbia Records [2016] Fire Note Says: There will only ever be one Bowie! Album Review: Released on his 69th birthday (1/8/16), and as fate would have it, two days before David Bowie would die, “Blackstar” finds the iconic rock chameleon staring down the Grim Reaper. In the album’s 10-minute title track, Bowie … Read more
Bully Feels Like StarTime Intl./Columbia Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Bully’s debut makes you wish the nineties never ended. Album Review: Alicia Bognanno has an itch to scratch. Although born the same year Nevermind was released, this particular itch seems to only be scratched effectively by emulating the music being made while still in elementary … Read more
The Vaccines English Graffiti Columbia Records [2015] Fire Note Says: The Vaccines’ third album has highs and lows. Album Review: The Vaccines are of a proud lineage – the next great rock band from the UK that never quite has the world-beating success that seemed predestined when it hit the scene. The Vaccines have toured … Read more
Passion Pit Kindred Columbia Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Passion Pit’s most commercially viable album. Album Review: Upon listening to Passion Pit’s new album Kindred, something felt off. As a big fan of the band’s first two albums, I had hefty expectations for this new one. The usual electronic pop was there, a little more … Read more
Bob Dylan Shadows In The Night Columbia Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Dylan covers tunes made famous by Sinatra with surprising success. Album Review: Bob Dylan has made a career out of confounding his audience’s expectations. Whether it was going electric at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965, going full-blown country with Nashville Skyline when … Read more