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
Durand Jones & The Indications American Love Call Dead Oceans/Colemine Records [2019] Who: American Love Call is Bloomington, Indiana’s Durand Jones & The Indications sophomore record. Sound: Durand Jones & The Indications have a soaring and infectious 70’s soul sound. TFN Final Take: Durand Jones 2016 self-titled debut was another stellar release in the retro-soul … Read more
Gary Clark Jr. This Land Warner Bros. [2019] Fire Note Says: “Guitar Man,” Gary Clark Jr. shows that he can do it all on his third major label album, This Land, from the traditional blues to rock & roll, pop, R&B, hip-hop and soul. Album Review: Near the end of Gary Clark Jr.’s latest album, … Read more
Smug Brothers Attic Harvest Gas Daddy Go! Records [2019] Who: Dayton, Ohio-based Smug Brothers make a dream come true and finally release an album on vinyl. Attic Harvest is a dream for us listeners, too. Sound: Attic Harvest features a new lineup for Smug Brothers, but not to worry, Smug Brothers still showcase catchy and … Read more
Swervedriver Future Ruins Dangerbird Records [2019] Who: This is Swervedriver’s sixth album and first since 2015’s I Wasn’t Born to Lose You. Sound: Swervedriver is a name that typically (and should) come up when talking about ‘90s shoegaze. On that spectrum, Swervedriver leaned more on the rock side with their blending of guitar, vocals and … Read more
Mike Krol Power Chords Merge Records [2019] Who: LA-based Mike Krol is all about the power chords and hooks on his new LP. Sound: Power Chords is a delightful balancing act of garage rock, fuzz , power pop and earnest lyrics. TFN Final Take: Power Chords is the first Mike Krol album I have heard. … Read more
The Neal Morse Band The Great Adventure Radiant Records [2019] Fire Note Says: American Prog warriors unleash sequel to 2016’s The Similitude Of A Dream in convincing fashion. Album Review: Prog is a tough sell and, especially in the US, the market for it is extremely limited. There are, however, a few brave artists who … Read more
Flat Worms Into The Iris Drag City/GOD? Records [2019] Who: LA-based noise punk trio, Flat Worms are poised to take over the world, or at least what you are listening to. Sound: Into the Iris see the Flat Worms sharpen their hooks and keeping things lean with a very accessible and aggressive noise pop hybrid. … Read more
Guided By Voices Zeppelin Over China GBV, Inc.[2019] Fire Note Says: Guided By Voices’ latest effort is a 32 song, double album behemoth. But is it any good? Album Review: After dedicating all of last year to the release and support of one (just one) album, the late-career masterpiece Space Gun, Robert Pollard and his … Read more
Pedro The Lion Phoenix Polyvinyl Records [2019] Fire Note Says: It is the nature of the “Phoenix,” to rise up, lift off, and take flight – that is what David Bazan accomplishes on the return of Pedro the Lion. Album Review: It’s always a curious thing when an artist who is the dominant artistic driver … Read more
Deerhunter Why Hasn’t Everything Already Disappeared? 4AD [2019] Fire Note Says: Rock’s last great hope? Deerhunter makes a strong case on their eighth full-length. Album Review: Deerhunter saves the world! Wouldn’t that be nice? All the ragged dreams of a future in which guitar-driven rock music rules the airwaves rest on the shoulders of just … Read more
Jeff Tweedy WARM dBpm Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Jeff Tweedy, of Wilco and Uncle Tupelo, delivers a singer/songwriter solo turn that touches base with his roots rock/alt country origins. Album Review: One of the factors that attracts us to a certain writer, artist or musician is an ineffable sense that they have something in … Read more
Tropical Fuck Storm A Laughing Death In Meatspace Joyful Noise Recordings [2018] Fire Note Says: Tropical Fuck Storm’s debut is freaky and funky in equal parts. Album Review: Australia has really been a hot bed for what’s good in music these days. Bands such as: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Stonefield, Wolfmother (more or … Read more
Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit Live From The Ryman Southeastern Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Jason Isbell and his fine band, The 400 Unit, deliver up the best of his last three albums recorded at sold-out shows at Nashvilles “Mother Church,” The Ryman Auditorium. Album Review: Jason Isbell has had a pretty good year, … Read more
Sloucher Be True Swoon Records [2018] Who: Seattle quartet Sloucher has been building a fan base in the Pacific Northwest since their 2016 debut EP Certainty and the band has shared the stage with such acts as Portugal. The Man, Guided By Voices, and Angel Olsen. Sound: Sloucher play an upbeat and harmonized indie rock … Read more
Rick Rude Verb For Dreaming Exploding in Sound Records [2018] Who: New Hampshire’s Rick Rude follow up their brilliant debut with a fine LP that is full of ideas and styles. Sound: Verb for Dreaming sees Rick Rude continuing their penchant for varied styles of rock wrapped up in a LP format. TFN Final Take: … Read more
Hippo Campus Bambi Grand Jury Music [2018] Fire Note Says: Hippo Campus’s sophomore LP is a stunning achievement. Album Review: St. Paul’s Hippo Campus has emerged over the past few years on the strength of several singles and EP’s. Bambi is their second LP, and it is a revelation. Hippo Campus takes their base sound, … Read more
GØGGS Pre-Strike Sweep In The Red [2018] Who: Ty Segall, Charles Moothart (Fuzz, CFM) and Chris Shaw (Ex-Cult) record another rousing fuzz punk record. Sound: GØGGS’ second release proves they are no fluke. Pre-Strike Sweep is a force to be reckoned with. TFN Final Take: I am not a huge Ty Segall fan by any … Read more
Ty Segall Fudge Sandwich In The Red [2018] Fire Note Says: Ty makes all 11 tracks here his own! Album Review: I typically don’t get too excited about a covers record but Fudge Sandwich from Ty Segall is a template for how to do it right. Ty is not trying here and that is the … Read more
Mercy Union The Quarry Self-Released [2018] Fire Note Says: How “super” does a supergroup need to be? Album Review: Mercy Union – the joint effort of Jared Hart from The Scandals and Benny Horowitz of The Gaslight Anthem, plus Rocky Catanese and Nick Jorgensen – is a New Jersey punk rock dream collaboration. But unless … Read more
IDLES Joy As An Act Of Resistance Partisan Records [2018] Who: Bristol-based joy punks, IDLES have released one of 2018’s finest and vital albums. Sound: Joy as an Act of Resistance is a joyful collection of insightful, important and fun punk rock. TFN Final Take: IDLES were not content to rest on their laurels after … Read more
The The Bottle Rockets Bit Logic Bloodshot Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Another fine rockin’ country album from these St. Louis pros. Album Review: If the alt-country Bottle Rockets ever have need for a patron saint, they explain in “Bad Time to Be an Outlaw,” from their 13th album, Bit Logic, their prayer asks “What … Read more
Richard Thompson 13 Rivers New West Records [2018] Fire Note Says: At 69, Richard Thompson, one of the world’s best songwriters as well as one or rock’s greatest guitarists, brings it altogether again on “13 Rivers,” one of the very best albums of his long and storied career. Album Review: Who knew there would be … Read more
Swamp Dogg Love, Loss, And Auto-Tune Joyful Noise Recordings [2018] Who: Jerry Williams Jr. a.k.a Swamp Dogg has been making music since the 1960’s. The Swamp Dogg moniker appeared in 1970 after Williams reinvented his sound with Total Destruction To Your Mind Sound: Swamp Dogg has alway presented a unique sound. Williams core will always … Read more
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