Temples Hot Motion ATO [2019] Fire Note Says: Neo-psychedelic British band, Temples is back with their third album, bringing more of their mix of pop song melodicism with just enough colorful progressive instrumental moves to keep everyone on their toes. Album Review: The advance materials for the Kettering, Northhampshire, England band Temples’ third album release … Read more
Wilco Ode To Joy dBpm [2019] Fire Note Says: Wilco’s 11th studio album starts out resembling Jeff Tweedy’s solo albums, but the second half brings the band back to life on some of their best pop singles. Album Review: The return of Wilco to the studio after a 2 and a half year hiatus from … Read more
The Lumineers III Dualtone/Decca [2019] Album Review: The Lumineers’ third outing, helpfully titled III, finds the songwriting duo of Wesley Schultz and Jeremiah Fraites attempting to take their folk-song storytelling up a notch. The band’s long-time member Neyla Pekarek, who played cello and sang backing vocals, left the band last year. Like novelists, “III” consists … Read more
Alasdair Roberts The Fiery Margin Drag City Records [2019] Fire Note Says: Scottish folk singer Alasdair Roberts returns with another album of originals that echo the traditional storytelling folk music that he would have grown up on. Album Review: Scottish folk singer Alasdair Roberts has been consistently releasing albums of both original music and projects … Read more
Pixies Beneath The Eyrie BMG/Infectious [2019] Album Review: For nearly a decade the reunited Pixies, who came back together in 2004, seemed willing to rest on the laurels of their iconic early masterpieces like Surfer Rosa and Doolittle, playing the old “hits” on the retro circuit. Now, as far as that goes, many of us … Read more
The Highwomen The Highwomen Low Country Sound/Elektra Records [2019] Album Review: The idea of a collaborative supergroup of female country artists is hardly novel, but dates all the way back to early sing-alongs on the Grand Ol’ Opry, but was no doubt given contemporary commercial viability when Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris came … Read more
David G. Smith Who Cares Hey Dave Music [2019] Fire Note Says: Americana singer/songwriter delivers a solid collection of story songs supported by the strong musicianship and production of Blue Miller. Album Review: Who Cares is the fourth independent studio album from David G. Smith, a singer/songwriter native to Iowa, who’s cultivated musical connections in … Read more
Sheer Mag A Distant Call Wilsuns Recording Co. [2019] Album Review: Philadelphia indie-rockers Sheer Mag kick off their sophomore outing with a sonic blast from the past, with vocalist Tina Halladay offering a full throated 80’s metal scream to launch the retro sound of “Steel Sharpens Steel,” with a nod to Judas Priest. Elsewhere, they … Read more
Robert Randolph & The Family Band Brighter Days Mascot Label Group [2019] Fire Note Says: 17 years and 6 studio albums later, Robert Randolph & The Family Band celebrate their early roots in soulful Gospel grooves and funky R&B and rock suitable for the clubs. Album Review: Robert Randolph and his Family Band came on … Read more
Violent Femmes Hotel Last Resort [PIAS] [2019] Fire Note Says: Acoustic folk/punk rockers, Violent Femmes carries forward their unique musical vision for the next decade. Album Review: On their 10th album, 36 years after their self-titled debut that included some of their best-loved songs – “Blister in the Sun,” “Kiss Off,” and “Add It Up,” … Read more
Redd Kross Beyond The Door Merge Records [2019] Album Review: Here in the new dark ages, I can think of no better antidote to the political malaise or our troubled times than the return of power-pop (with the emphasis on the “power” & the “pop”) wunderkinds, Redd Kross. Arriving in the 80’s along-side Material Issue, … Read more
The Hold Steady Thrashing Thru The Passion Frenchkiss Records [2019] Album Review: Very few fans of The Hold Steady have any doubts about the story writing ability of singer/songwriter Craig Finn, but if anyone did by the release of the band’s sixth and last release, 2014’s Teeth Dreams, we now have three more solo albums … Read more
The Dream Syndicate These Times ANTI- [2019] Album Review: The Dream Syndicate is a band with two distinct periods of activity, with singer/songwriter Steve Wynn as the thread that connects the two. Active throughout the 80’s, the band’s first incarnation was part of the so-called Paisley Underground, a collection of So. California bands that tended … Read more
Jeff Tweedy Warmer dBpm Records [2019] Fire Note Says: Jeff Tweedy’s Record Store Day release follow-up to Warm is now available everywhere, adding more personal acoustic songs to the original, while we wait on a new Wilco album. Album Review: Jeff Tweedy’s Warm arrived at the end of last year, offering a more intimate collection … Read more
The Minus 5 Stroke Manor Yep Roc [2019] Album Review: In November of 2017, Scott McCaughey, the central figure in The Minus 5 alongside Peter Buck, who also played an auxiliary role in R.E.M. when it was active, had a stroke that pretty much stripped all knowledge of music from his memory. The Portland, Ore. … Read more
The Ocean Blue Kings And Queens / Knaves And Thieves Korda Records [2019] Album Review: The Ocean Blue return after a six-year absence (and nearly a decade before that) with a sound that would feel right at home on their earliest major label albums, including their self-titled debut released 30 years ago. Signed by Sire … Read more
Kristin Hersh Possible Dust Clouds Fire Records [2019] Album Review: Ever since her arrival on the scene in Throwing Muses, the band she shared with her step-sister Tanya Donelly in the early 80’s, Kristin Hersh has been steadily releasing music that speak to her unique musical vision. While Donelly, who went on to start the … Read more
The Black Keys Let’s Rock Easy Eye Sound/Nonesuch Records [2019] Fire Note Says: The Black Keys return with a fun album that lives up to its title: Let’s Rock. Album Review: Too often, when we think of rock music – that guitar driven folk music of the common people that grew out of geographically unique … Read more
Bruce Springsteen Western Stars Columbia Records [2019] Fire Note Says: Bruce Springsteen steps out for some 60’s & 70’s California folk/pop a la Glen Campbell’s “Wichita Lineman” on his 19th studio album, Western Stars. Album Review: The advance word on Western Stars, the nineteenth studio album from Bruce Springsteen was a major change of direction … Read more
Silversun Pickups Widow’s Weeds New Machine Recordings [2019] Fire Note Says: With Widow’s Weeds, LA’s Silversun Pickups break fresh musical ground with the help of producer, Butch Vig. Album Review: Widow’s Weeds, the fifth studio album from L.A. band Silversun Pickups, depicts an artist/band going through dramatic life changes. The album’s first single, “It Doesn’t … Read more
The Waterboys Where The Action Is Cooking Vinyl [2019] Fire Note Says: Irish rocker Mike Scott’s Waterboys return with another outing of the “Big Music.” Album Review: Irish rockers, The Waterboys arrived on the scene making “The Big Music,” in the same wave that introduced bands like U2 and the Scottish Big Country. A mix … Read more
T Bone Burnett / Jay Bellerose / Keefus Ciancia The Invisible Light: Acoustic Space Verve Forecast [2019] Fire Note Says: Producer/artist/influencer, T Bone Burnett joins forces to create a strong experimental soundtrack for these challenging times. Album Review: “`The Invisible Light,’” explains T Bone Burnett in this album’s liner notes, “is a song cycle concerned … Read more
Andy Statman Monroe Bus Shefa Records [2019] Fire Note Says: Andy Statman pays tribute to the father of bluegrass, Bill Monroe, with this instrumental album rooted in the mastery of the mandolin. Album Review: Andy Statman’s had a long and celebrated career (he’s 79) has deep roots in two classic musical traditions. As a clarinetist, … Read more
The Yawpers Human Question Bloodshot Records [2019] Fire Note Says: The Yawpers return with a primal scream of roots rock originality that demands to be heard. Album Review: That the Denver-based trio took their name from a piece of Walt Whitman poetry should tell us something, but don’t think quiet library reading rooms. “I sound … Read more
Mavis Staples We Get By ANTI- [2019] Fire Note Says: Mavis Staples wraps up her 8th decade by putting her best musical foot forward with the aid of Ben Harper. Album Review: I’ll have whatever it is that Mavis Staples is having. Of course, we’re talking about the hardest working 80 year old working in … Read more