Pile: Odds And Ends [Album Review]

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

Ovlov: Tru [Album Review]

Ovlov Tru Exploding in Sound Records [2018] Who: Newtown, Connecticut’s Ovlov return after 5 years to release a vibrant, noisy and fascinating album. Sound: Ovlov’s brand of melancholy muscle fuzz soars high on their new LP. TFN Final Take: It’s been a few years since the last Ovlov LP, am, came out, but time has … Read more

Big Ups: Two Parts Together [Album Review]

Big Ups Two Parts Together Exploding In Sound Records [2018] Who: Brooklyn’s Big Ups return in a big way with their 3rd full-length LP. Sound: Big Ups continue to impress on Two Parts Together. They may be from Brooklyn but they are channeling 90’s era Louisville Kentucky post rock to great effect. TFN Final Take: … Read more

Shell Of A Shell: Already There EP [Album Review]

Shell Of A Shell Already There EP Exploding In Sound Records [2018] Who: Nashville, Tennessee quartet, Shell of a Shell craft a delightful debut EP with Already There. Sound: Shell of a Shell will delight fans of Exploding In Sounds Record’s artist roster. They are a blend of Pile’s edginess mixed with a penchant for … Read more

Kal Marks: Universal Care [Album Review]

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

Washer: All Aboard [Album Review]

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

Pile: A Hairshirt Of Purpose [Album Review]

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

Baked: Farnham [Album Review]

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

Pile: You’re Better Than This [Album Review]

Pile You’re Better Than This Exploding In Sound Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Pile’s third LP continues their trend of incredible releases, and this time they have out done themselves. This is album of the year material. Album Review: Once upon a time, I heard a disjointed, but oddly intriguing LP, Pavement’s Slanted and Enchanted. … Read more

Grass Is Green: Vacation Vinny [Album Review]

Grass Is Green Vacation Vinny Exploding In Sound Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Grass Is Green make a post-punk record you can have fun with. Album Review: Boston band Grass Is Green take a Fugazi meets Pavement approach on their new record Vacation Vinny which has an instant appeal right from the opening track “Sammy … Read more

Pile: Dripping [Album Review]

Pile Dripping Exploding In Sound Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Pile’s Dripping rocks a page right out of the 90’s playbook-and that is a good thing. Album Review: Imagine a world with The Pixies haphazard vocal styling, Failure’s quirky chord voicing and hard rock dissonance, a touch of Jawbox noise, and Torche’s all-out energy. Now … Read more