New Swears Junkfood Forever, Bedtime Whatever Dirt Cult Records [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: There’s no way that Ottawa’s number one party band can possibly top their last album, the audio equivalent of a kick-ass blaster that was Funny Isn’t Real, right? Wrong, they can top it, and in fact they not only topped it, … Read more
SPORTS All Of Something Father/Daughter Records [2015] Fire Note Says: SPORTS pulls out a winner with sophomore record All of Something! Album Review: SPORTS is a basement rock band, started in 2012 at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. The group has had all the normal up and downs of beginning young bands but on its … Read more
Drive-By Truckers It’s Great To Be Alive! ATO Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Southern storytellers weave their ultimate tale on epic 35 song triple live album! Album Review: A convincing argument could be made that the Drive-By Truckers are the best American rock band of the past 15 years or so. DBT seems to be … Read more
Riverside Love, Fear And The Time Machine Inside Out Music [2015] Fire Note Says: Polish progressive metal band drops the metal and releases a gem. Album Review: If you’re like me you’ve probably never heard this band, let alone delved into their back catalog. So enthralled am I with this record that I went back … Read more
Deerhunter Fading Frontier 4AD [2015] Fire Note Says: Just in case we weren’t already convinced, Deerhunter proves their greatness…again. Album Review: That Deerhunter has been on a roll is a bit self-evident and although there were some who felt their last album, Monomania, was a step backwards Fading Frontier leaves little doubt about the Atlanta … Read more
Motel Beds Mind Glitter Anyway Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Mind Glitter is full of harmonic gold! Album Review: Motel Beds are easily one of the best bands to come out of Dayton, Ohio in some time and they back that statement up with their new release; Mind Glitter. The record has slowly been simmering … Read more
TUNGS You Could Call This Art Bad Grrrl Records [2015] Fire Note Says: I Will Call This Fantastic! A welcome display of talent and quirky rock sensibilities. This band deserves your attention. Album Review: Richmond, Virginia rockers, TUNGS’ new album, You Could Call This Art, is an excellent album. It is a brilliant follow up … Read more
The Bottle Rockets South Broadway Athletic Club Bloodshot Records [2015] Fire Note Says: South Broadway Athletic Club is what maturity looks like. Album Review: It’s been 6 years since the last studio album of originals for Bottle Rockets, but 23 years into their recording career the St. Louis Americana quartet remains true to their classic … Read more
Ricked Wicky Swimmer To A Liquid Armchair Guided By Voices Inc. [2015] Fire Note Says: The third time’s the charm for this Robert Pollard side project. Album Review: Critical writings on Robert Pollard’s 21st century output have generally fallen into two groups: the True Believers for whom Uncle Bob can never err and those that … Read more
Kurt Vile b’lieve i’m goin’ (deep) down… Matador Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Kurt Vile is back with another great sounding storybook. Album Review: Like bands, the singer/songwriter can be broken down into categories. You have your super voices grouping that I still use Jeff Buckley and Elliott Smith as the bar for comparison, there … Read more
The New Old-Fashioned Low-Down Dirty Summer Nights Self-Released [2015] Fire Note Says: The New Old-Fashioned knock it out of the park on their second album Album Review: Some albums just hit you at the right moment—lyrics, songwriting, and arrangements combine in a way that connects with you, and become more than the sum of their … Read more
Girl Band Holding Hands With Jamie Rough Trade Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Brutal noise rock that dares you to like it. Rewards await those that can get past the initial layer of ugliness and brash noise. Album Review: Girl Band, a quartet from Dublin, have been wowing me over the past year through various … Read more
Radkey Dark Black Makeup +180 Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Radkey’s full-length debut is fast and furious. Album Review: Beware the speed when listening to Radkey’s debut album, Dark Black Makeup. I found this out the hard way when recently traveling down the highway. The album was blaring in my car and within seconds I … Read more
Spock’s Beard The Oblivion Particle Inside Out Music[2015] Fire Note Says: Album number twelve finds Spock’s Beard finally settling into their own skin. Album Review: Since Prog legend Neal Morse left Spock’s Beard in 2002 they have been struggling to find an identity. For four albums after that major defection, drummer Nick D’Virgilio, in true … Read more
Deaf Wish Pain Sub Pop Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Noisy Aussies find the right balance between clamor, chaos and beauty. Album Review: Let’s get this out of the way right up front: Deaf Wish like to make a racket. On the Melbourne, Australia band’s first album for Sub Pop they explore the full gamut … Read more
Brother O’ Brother Show Pony Fonoflo Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Get your rock blues groove on with Brother O’ Brother. Album Review: This has been a year that finds many in the music critic world asking questions like; are there any new sounds out there?, is everything new really a rehash?, and is that … Read more
Eric Gaffney A Cassetterospective Joyful Noise Recordings [2015]
Ricked Wicky King Heavy Metal Guided By Voices Inc. [2015] Fire Note Says: Pollard’s Ricked Wicky sparks your rock n roll juices! Album Review: The journey for Robert Pollard’s Ricked Wicky continues just five months after their debut with the sophomore album, King Heavy Metal. Sure, it is a quick turn-around but c’mon – what … Read more
Flotation Toy Warning Bluffer’s Guide To The Flight Deck Talitres Records [2015]
Richard Thompson Still Fantasy Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Still works as a re-introduction of an artist that any serious music fan will want to hear for yourself. Album Review: Richard Thompson has been a music critics’ favorite since his early days in the premier British folk rock group of the late 60’s, Fairport Convention, … Read more
Haynes Boys Haynes Boys Slab / Re-Vinyl Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Haynes Boys debut should be in your collection. Album Review: How about I introduce you to one of the best roots rock records you never took for a spin? An alt-country / Americana staple before the genre was really defined. That would be … Read more
Lost Boy? Canned Papercup Music [2015] Fire Note Says: Lost Boy? are a dream come true for 90’s indie rock fans. Bits and pieces of your favorite bands pasted together in a catchy and fun album. Album Review: I have been listening to Davey Jones’ project, Lost Boy? for the last year or so. They … Read more
The Sonics This Is The Sonics Revox Records [2015] Fire Note Says: The Sonics return after more than forty years to show modern garage rockers how it’s done. Album Review: When it comes to garage rock bands, you’d be hard-pressed to find a group more legendary than Tacoma, WA’s The Sonics. Formed in 1960, the … Read more
Mikal Cronin MCIII Merge Records [2015] Fire Note Says: How do you follow-up an album of the year? Easy, record another potential album of the year! Album Review: To say that expectations are high for the new Mikal Cronin lp at Fire Note Headquarters is a massive understatement. Cronin’s last album, MCII, came in at … Read more
The Tallest Man On Earth Dark Bird Is Home Dead Oceans [2015] Fire Note Says: The Tallest Man on Earth manages to grow up even more. Album Review: With a name like The Tallest Man on Earth, you’d think that there wouldn’t be room for an artist to grow. Sweden’s Kristian Matsson has managed to … Read more