Sunflower Bean: Headful Of Sugar [Album Review]

Sunflower BeanHeadful Of SugarMom + Pop Music [2022] Like many smaller, working bands, the pandemic forced the power punk/pop trio, Sunflower Bean, to stop playing out, calling their future into question. The three members were forced into separate lockdowns while NYC shuttered all live music venues, creating identity crises for musicians that had been described … Read more

Courtney Barnett: Things Take Time, Take Time [Album Review]

Courtney BarnettThings Take Time, Take TimeMilk!/Mom+Pop Music/Marathon Artists [2021] Aussie indie/rock singer/songwriter Courtney Barnett’s third album, Things Take Time, Take Time, is the kind of intimate reflection on the small moments that combine to give shape to a person’s life that you might expect coming out of a pandemic lockdown. The chorus of “Rae Street,” … Read more

Sleater-Kinney: The Path Of Wellness [Album Review]

Sleater-Kinney The Path Of WellnessMom + Pop Music [2021] On the tenth album from Portland, Oregon’s Sleater-Kinney, the duo of Corin Tucker and Carrie Brownstein sound like the veteran musicians that they are working hard to both re-connect to the band’s nearly 30-year legacy, while continuing to evolve as they see fit. The tension is … Read more

Sleater-Kinney – “Worry With You” [Video]

Sleater-Kinney return with a new single and video entitled “Worry With You.” It marks their first new music since 2019. The accompanying visual, which was shot in Portland, OR was directed by Alberta Poon and stars Fabi Reyna and Megan Watson. The song also heralds the arrival of the group’s tenth full-length studio record, Path … Read more

Beach Bunny: Honeymoon [Album Review]

Beach BunnyHoneymoonMom + Pop Music [2020] Chicago’s Beach Bunny started out as an acoustic solo project from Lili Trifilio back in 2015 but has transformed into one of the more exciting indie rock bands today with their debut LP Honeymoon. The band has grown a consistent buzz ever since their 2018 Prom Queen EP and … Read more

Sleater-Kinney: The Center Won’t Hold [Album Review]

Sleater-Kinney The Center Won’t Hold Mom + Pop Music [2019] Who: Sleater-Kinney return with a different look and overall sound with the help of producer St. Vincent. Sound: Indie synth pop with an edge. TFN Final Take: Seems like a bunch of stuff has happened since we last gushed about Sleater-Kinney’s return on No Cities … Read more

Sunflower Bean: Twentytow In Blue [Album Review]

Sunflower Bean Twentytow In Blue Mom + Pop Music [2018] Fire Note Says: Brooklyn-based trio, Sunflower Bean, mix bubblegum and power pop, psychedelia and punk influences for a buoyant sophomore effort. Album Review: Sunflower Beam is a traditional rock trio – bass, drums & guitar – which brings it’s original songs into focus around singer/bassist … Read more

Courtney Barnett: Tell Me How You Really Feel [Album Review]

Courtney Barnett Tell Me How You Really Feel Milk!/Mom + Pop Music [2018] TFN Final Take: After Courtney Barnett’s breakout 2015 record Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit and last year’s duet record with Kurt Vile, Lotta Sea Lice, it was really a toss-up on how Tell Me How You Really … Read more

Hinds: Leave Me Alone [Album Review]

Hinds Leave Me Alone Mom + Pop Music [2016] Fire Note Says: Hinds debut is full of new band synergy. Album Review: Madrid’s Hinds have had plenty of underground hype since they released their demos back in 2014. Fast-forward to present day and the scene is even more saturated with the Hinds type of fuzzy … Read more

Neon Indian: VEGA INTL. Night School [Album Review]

Neon Indian VEGA INTL. Night School Mom + Pop Music [2015] Fire Note Says: Neon Indian floats – will you follow? Album Review: Full disclosure: I was assigned this review months ago. And I listened to it at the time, I really did. I just couldn’t hear it. So indebted to tape hiss and AM … Read more

Courtney Barnett: Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit [Album Review]

Courtney Barnett Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit Mom + Pop / Milk! Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Barnett is not afraid to say what you think. Album Review: Imagine if someone taped your daily inner thoughts and then put them on a record. Hmm – what kind of crazy would … Read more

The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion: Freedom Tower – No Wave Dance Party 2015 [Album Review]

The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion Freedom Tower – No Wave Dance Party 2015 Mom + Pop Music [2015] Fire Note Says: The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion return with no class-believe me that’s a good thing. Album Review: After asking to pay respects during opener “Funeral,” Spencer then asks “Fellas, are you ready to hit it … Read more

Parquet Courts: Sunbathing Animal [Album Review]

Parquet Courts Sunbathing Animal What’s Your Rupture? / Mom & Pop Music [2014] Fire Note Says: Parquet Courts are the current New York City sound. Album Review: Sometimes it is hard to explain why an album puts up a roadblock but that is exactly what happened to me on the third record from breakout band … Read more

Sleigh Bells: Bitter Rivals [Album Review]

Sleigh Bells Bitter Rivals Mom + Pop Music [2013] Fire Note Says: Sleigh Bells return with a flurry of noise pop endearments. Album Review: As a listener it‘s sometimes hard to know what I want. Sleigh Bells surprised us all with 2010‘s unforgettable Treats. Guitars boomed, drums thundered, and vocals looped as they reached to … Read more

Smith Westerns: Soft Will [Album Review]

Smith Westerns Soft Will Mom + Pop Music [2013] Fire Note Says: Smith Westerns return with a another batch of purposeful dream rock. Album Review: Coming off an excellent record like Smith Westerns sophomore effort Dye It Blonde (2011) is never easy. Once you add in the stress of playing the road till you about … Read more

FIDLAR: FIDLAR [Album Review]

FIDLAR FIDLAR Mom + Pop Music [2013] Fire Note Says: Living the life of a skate punk never sounded as good as it does on the debut album from FIDLAR. Album Review: FIDLAR write songs about drinking beer, getting stoned, riding skateboards, having slutty girlfriends, going surfing….REPEAT. It helps that the songs are not just … Read more