Mac DeMarco This Old Dog Captured Tracks [2017] Fire Note Says: Mac DeMarco dives deep for one of his most engaging records to date. Album Review: Maturity is a weird thing because not only does it seem to happen overnight but you can typically identify the very “moment” it takes place. You can recognize it … Read more
Moon Duo Occult Architecture, Vol. 1 Sacred Bones Records [2017] Moon Duo Occult Architecture Vol. 2 Sacred Bones Records [2017] Who: Portland, Oregon’s Moon Duo return for their fourth album which was released in two separate volumes. Sound: Moon Duo have a heavy psychedelic krautrock sound that is layered with clever flourishes of synth and … Read more
Robert Randolph & The Family Band Got Soul Sony Masterworks [2017] Fire Note Says: Nothing else sounds like the mysterious pedal steel guitar in the hands of Robert Randolph, who mixes blues, gospel, R&B with jam band rock on his latest studio outing. Album Review: Fifteen years ago, Robert Randolph and his Family Band burst … Read more
Guided By Voices August By Cake GBV Inc. [2017] Fire Note Says: Robert Pollard’s 100th album is also one of his best. Album Review: Releasing a shit ton of music is in Robert Pollard’s DNA. Even Captain Obvious knows this. And no, he does not hold any kind of record for most songs written or … Read more
Richard Edwards Lemon Cotton Candy Sunset Joyful Noise Recordings [2017] Fire Note Says: Pain, torment and anguish turn Richard Edwards’ near demise into a biographical rebirth. Album Review: Through my musical journey, Margot and the Nuclear So and So‘s is a band that‘s meant quite a lot to me. Not only have they shaped what … Read more
Bill Mallonee & The Big Sky Ramblers The Rags Of Absence Self-Released [2017] Fire Note Says: Mallonee’s literate poetic sensibilities matched by the music’s virtuosity and tone, produce another powerful concoction. Album Review: The first time I heard songs by singer/songwriter Bill Mallonee was when his debut major label album with Vigilantes of Love arrived … Read more
Smug Brothers Disco Maroon Gas Daddy Go! Records [2017] Who: Smug Brothers, a Dayton-based quartet, return with their 10th release. Sound: Disco Maroon sees the Smug Brothers carry on their tradition of delivering ultra-catchy rock to their listeners. TFN Final Take: Even though they are 10 releases into their discography, the Smug Brothers continue to … Read more
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
Feral Ohms Feral Ohms Silver Current Records [2017] Fire Note Says: The rock Gods are going to enjoy this one! Album Review: Feral Ohms hail from Oakland, California and you may remember this power trio when we covered their Live In San Francisco release back in January. Now, the band has finally released their much … Read more
Why? Moh Lhean Joyful Noise Recordings [2017] Fire Note Says: Well worth the 4 year wait, Moh Lhean is a beautifully-produced, introspective concept LP that begs to be listened to in its entirety, multiple times. Album Review: Brothers Yoni and Josiah Wolf, well known in fringe and art rock circles of Cincinnati, are heavy hitters … Read more
Meatbodies Alice In The Red Records [2017] Who: Meatbodies are a California-based trio with connections to Fuzz and Mikal Cronin . Sound: Alice is a heavy psychedelic stoner rock epic. Fans of Ty Segall, Wand, Fuzz and Mikal Cronin will eat this up. TFN Final Take: Alice is fantastic. Chad Ubovich (Fuzz, Mikal Cronin) Kevin … Read more
Circus Devils Laughs Best (The Kids Eat It Up): Best Of Circus Devils Happy Jack Rock Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Circus Devils are sent off in fine fashion with this career-spanning double-LP compilation Album Review: Circus Devils has never been for the casual Robert Pollard fan. The “band,” comprising Pollard and brothers Todd and … Read more
Fancey Love Mirage Stoner Disco Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Love Mirage is a soundtrack for all seasons, from the sunny thaw of Winter to the liberating joy of summertime. Album Review: Love Mirage, is the third release from Canadian polymath performer, Todd Fancey. Recorded under the name Fancey, retro influenced goodness is consistent throughout … Read more
Vagabon Infinite Worlds Father/Daughter Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Vagabon delivers an emotionally superb debut. Album Review: Rarely anymore does a debut album get me revved up but that is exactly what happened the first time I heard the songs of Cameroon-born artist Laetitia Tamko, aka Vagabond. Infinite Worlds is an album of finding herself … Read more
Rhiannon Giddens Freedom Highway Nonesuch Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Freedom Highway is a monumental achievement from Rhiannon Giddens. Album Review: One of the most powerful things that art can do is hold up a mirror to popular culture and society at large to reveal the ugly underbelly, the dark history that would otherwise be … Read more
Son Volt Notes Of Blue Transmit Sound/Thirty Tigers [2017] Fire Note Says: Jay Farrar employs plenty of finger-picking here that finds Son Volt rocking on song’s that capture life in the American Midwest. Album Review: It’s been four years since the last Son Volt album, Honky Tonk (Rounder, 2013), and Jay Farrar describes his effort … Read more
Ryan Adams Prisoner PAX AM/Blue Note Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Ryan Adams explores heartbreak and loss on one of the best albums of his career. Album Review: It all starts with a rager, “Do You Still Love Me?” Which rocks like no other song on the album rocks. It’s the paranoia that gets the … Read more
Young Legs The Petal and The Page Mint 400 Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Young Legs is heartfelt, bold, and enthralling. Album Review: Young Legs is primarily Steven Donahue, who hails from New Jersey. His second full-length album, The Petal and The Page defies genre classification. At times it is beautiful folk music, at others … Read more
Graham Repulski I’m Even Younger Now Shorter Recordings [2017] Who: Graham Repulski is a prolific lo-fi songwriter based in Philadelphia that has a plethora of releases which are full of catchy melodies and one minute master pieces. Sound: Lo-fi auteur Graham Repulski follows up 2016’s triple album release with a concise slab of psychedelic noise … Read more
Ty Segall Ty Segall Drag City Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Segall delivers one of the best albums of his career. Album Review: Opening with the thunderous guitar riff of “Break a Guitar” it is immediately obvious that Ty Segall is going to be a pretty special album. Last year’s Ty Segall offering Emotional Mugger … Read more
Japandroids Near To The Wild Heart Of Life ANTI- [2017] Fire Note Says: Rock lovers rejoice: Japandroids have returned! Album Review: Are you ready to rock? If so, Canadian duo Japandroids have something for you on their third LP, Near To The Wild Heart of Life. An alternative title to the album could be We’ve … Read more
Tobin Sprout The Universe And Me Burger Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Tobin Sprout’s first album in seven years is wistful, poignant and brings the rock. Album Review: Tobin Sprout returns with his first solo record since 2010’s The Bluebirds of Happiness Tried to Land on My Shoulder. The Universe and Me is a real … Read more
The xx I See You Young Turks [2017] Fire Note Says: The xx takes a big step forward on I See You. Album Review: The xx, the London trio consisting of Romy Madley Croft, Oliver Sim and Jamie Smith, have released their third album, and their first in five years. Of course, Smith’s 2015 release … Read more
Cattle Nature’s Champion Hominid Sounds [2016] Who: Precise, rough-hewn heavy noise rock from Leeds. Sound: Cattle boasts an intense heavy sound that fans of Dope Body and Slint would appreciate. TFN Final Take: Cattle hit me right across the jaw with their opening track, “Tanking the Piss” off their new LP Nature’s Champion. This is … Read more
Mitski Puberty 2 Dead Oceans [2016] Who: Mitski Miyawaki aka Mitski released her fourth album overall and first through Dead Oceans. The singer-songwriter always delivers honest and somewhat dark lyricism that is supported by edgy indie rock! Sound: PJ Harvey meets Angel Olsen croon, electronic drum machines meets Pixies-ish style guitars while quiet moments can … Read more