Dream Police Hypnotized Sacred Bones Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Mark Perro and Nick Chiericozzi of The Men debut new side project Dream Police. Album Review: I hate to admit it, but I’ve never heard an album by The Men. I am quite familiar with label Sacred Bones catalogue, though: Moon Duo, Psychic Ills, Amen … Read more
Mourn Mourn Captured Tracks [2015] Fire Note Says: Don’t let the age of Mourn fool you. Album Review: What if I asked you to tell my why you like new music? What would you say? Does a record need to meet a certain critic criteria to be liked such as Pitchfork’s Best New Music or … Read more
Dave Kerzner New World (Deluxe Edition) eSoundz [2015] Fire Note Says: Dave Kezner’s rolodex is way better than yours and he proves it! Album Review: I became aware of Dave Kerzner through his association with Phil Collins’ son, Simon, and their short-lived band Sound Of Contact. That band released one terrific album, Dimensionaut, and then … Read more
If you are like me, you have a long history with Hayden. If you are old enough you probably remember all the buzz that came along with his 1996 debut record, Everything I Long For, as its rootsy and solitary post-punk put him on the map. Fast forward to 2015, and the Canadian lo-fi folkster … Read more
The Neal Morse Band The Grand Experiment Radiant Records[2015] Fire Note Says: Ex-Spock’s Beard frontman puts the Christian themes on the back-burner to create a near masterpiece. Album Review: After six albums with the LA-based retro-prog stalwarts Spock’s Beard, Neal Morse underwent a conversion to Christianity and quit not only that band but supergroup Transatlantic … Read more
Ty Segall Band Live In San Francisco Castle Face Records [2015] Fire Note Says: The Ty Segall Band take no prisoners on the excellent Live in San Francisco. Album Review: Every so often an artist comes around where you don’t even need to think about it, you just buy the records. Ty Segall is unquestionably … Read more
Rhiannon Giddens Tomorrow Is My Turn Nonesuch Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Carolina Chocolate Drop Giddens spreads her wings on new solo record. Album Review: Rhiannon Giddens is not a name new to us, she was part of the critically lauded roots/string & jug band, the Carolina Chocolate Drops, and then signed on as part … Read more
The cold and snow keep pressing on as Punxsutawney Phil predicted six more weeks of winter but that should give you even more incentive to dive in here for some new music. The February edition holds some experimental rock from Northampton, desert drone from Tucson, progressive rock from Miami and not one but two bands … 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
Beardfish +4626-Comfortzone Inside Out Music [2015] Fire Note Says: Eclectic Swedes take listeners on a strange and diverse journey. Album Review: Beardfish is, as their name might imply, one strange band. Through eight albums since their formation in 2001 they have never locked into one sound nor have they become beholden to any particular set … Read more
St. Lenox Ten Songs About Memory And Hope Anyway Records [2015] Fire Note Says: St. Lenox’s debut is an emotional experience. Album Review: Andrew Choi, the principal of St. Lenox, has an interesting story. With a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the Ohio State University and also some law school (at NYU) under his belt, you … Read more
Dayton, Ohio bands are known for working quickly and the Smug Brothers are no different. After last year’s Headphone Approved On The Way To The Punchline, Smug Brothers are back with a new full length February 24th titled Woodpecker Paradise. Today’s Fire Track, “Meet A Changing World,” is the lead song off the new record … Read more
Björk Vulnicura One Little Indian Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Few and far between artists can compare, Björk again makes her own way. Album Review: In the over 20 years since Björk broke out of the Icelandic band Sugarcubes, she has created a unique body of work, driven by her experimental and eclectic sonic choices, … Read more
Butch Walker Afraid Of Ghosts Dangerbird Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Butch Walker bravely strips the polish on Afraid Of Ghosts. Album Review: It might be a surprise to you but Butch Walker has had more success in the music business than most artists dream about. So you ask – If that is so true … Read more
Grenades!? Interrobang Self-Released [2015] Fire Note Says: Grenades!?’s debut is strong for a group stretching their legs for the first time. Album Review: It feels like the phrase “stretching their legs for the first time” is a bit of an exaggeration. There’s been quite a history between lead-vocalist/keyboardist Daniel Madero and Mike Patak Jr. From … Read more
Murder By Death Big Dark Love Bloodshot Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Murder By Death stay true to the title with the looming Big Dark Love. Album Review: Without even hearing the background story on Murder By Death’s seventh record, Big Dark Love, you just know the band is coming at you like a tsunami … Read more
Pond Man It Feels Like Space Again Modular Recordings [2015] Fire Note Says: Tame Impala offshoot Pond returns only to blast back into space. Album Review: It’s interesting to think that 2013’s Hobo Rocket was recorded before Pond’s current release Man It Feels Like Space Again. While reviewing Hobo Rocket I said the album “speaks … Read more
Ricked Wicky I Sell The Circus Guided By Voices Inc. [2015] Fire Note Says: You want rock? Pollard’s Ricked Wicky has you covered! Album Review: If you have been a fan of the Guided By Voices reunion output then I am sure you are still feeling the punch in the gut that came back in … Read more
You may not know the name but hopefully you are familiar with Andy Gabbard’s daytime band the Buffalo Killers. They didn’t just have one but two releases last year on Sun Pedal Recordings and have an entire catalog linked to Alive Natural Sound Records. That is the quick background music history on Andy as his … Read more
Benjamin Booker Benjamin Booker ATO Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Benjamin Booker’s debut LP is ambitious and fun. Album Review: Benjamin Booker might have put out the best blues-rock album in 2014. In a year in which such high-profile acts like The Black Keys, Jack White, and Black Pistol Fire put out new albums, this … Read more
Twerps Range Anxiety Merge Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Twerps return with another batch of indie jangle bliss. Album Review: There is always a place for simple guitar, simple lyrics and bright melodies in indie rock and that is exactly what Australia’s Twerps offered on their 2011 self-titled debut. With plenty of critic praise, it … Read more
D’Angelo & The Vanguard Black Messiah RCA Records [2014] Fire Note Says: It has been 14 years but time didn’t seem to phase D’Angelo. Album Review: Arriving 14 years after his much-praised sophomore album, Voodoo, it appears that reports of D’Angelo’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. The neo-soul singer first burst on the scene with … Read more
The Dodos Individ Polyvinyl Records [2015] Fire Note Says: The Dodos play to their strengths on Individ. Album Review: The Dodos are the California-based duo consisting of Meric Long and Logan Kroeber. Their music has been defined through their now six albums as songs full of intricate guitar-playing and drumming. Long and Kroeber seemed to … Read more
Alex Calder Strange Dreams Captured Tracks [2015] Fire Note Says: Alex Calder creates experimental indie pop on his debut Strange Dreams. Album Review: Strange Dreams is the debut record from Edmontonion Alex Calder who is better known from his previous band, Makeout Videotape which also included Mac DeMarco. Of course, followers of DeMarco will want … Read more
Justin Townes Earle Absent Fathers Vagrant Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Earle delivers a heart felt album with the new Absent Fathers. Album Review: It looks to be hard enough to make a name for one’s self, shape a sound, build a following, but when you add climbing out from beneath the shadow of a … Read more