Neko Case Hell-On ANTI- Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Indie rock icon, chanteuse and auteur, Neko Case returns after 5 years with a strong self-produced collection of songs, her best yet. Album Review: It’s been five years since Neko Case’s last album, but it’s not as if she’s been silent since the release of The … Read more
Wire Pink Flag (Special Edition Reissue) Pinkflag [2018] Chairs Missing (Special Edition Reissue) Pinkflag [2018] 154 (Special Edition Reissue) Pinkflag [2018] Fire Note Says: Influential British punk band Wire is re-issuing their three earliest albums, including special editions that unearth b-sides, demos, rarities and previously unreleased recordings. Album Review: I think it was Brian Eno … Read more
Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks Sparkle Hard Matador Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Stephen Malkmus’ 7th album with The Jicks continues to explore diverse musical approaches from his own post-punk point of view, with the aid of producer Chris Funk, of the Decemberists. Album Review: If you include the 5 albums Stephen Malkmus made as … Read more
Dr. Dog Critical Equation We Buy Gold/Thirty Tigers [2018] Fire Note Says: On its tenth band outing, Dr. Dog continues its legacy of indie rock that mixes 60’s style songwriting and harmonies with just enough instrumental psychedelia to keep things interesting. Album Review: Philadelphia’s quintessential indie rock outfit, Dr. Dog has never stretched too far … Read more
Franz Ferdinand Always Ascending Domino Records [2018] Fire Note Says: On their fifth album, Franz Ferdinand embrace a polished pop sensibility. Album Review: If you’ve been paying attention to creative movement in the rock music scene for long enough you begin to notice how sounds and styles tend to recycle even as new artists are … Read more
The Bonnevilles Dirty Photographs Alive Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Northern Irish guitar/drum duo, The Bonnesvilles stay true to their “garage punk blues” ethos on Dirty Photographs, with modest accents as a sign of growth. Album Review: The Bonnevilles, the guitar/drum duo of Andre McGibbon, Jr., and Chris McMullan of Northern Ireland, have made a … Read more
The Voidz Virtue Cult/RCA Records [2018] Fire Note Says: If The Strokes fail to get their act together for another full-length – The Voidz are working out just fine. Album Review: With The Strokes sitting back most of the 2010’s it’s not a real surprise to find singer Julian Casablancas getting busy with his side … Read more
Eels The Deconstruction E Works/[PIAS] [2018] Fire Note Says: The Eels 12th outing. Album Review: On the 12th Eels album in 22 years, principal singer/songwriter Mark Oliver Everett, known as E, continues a long and lengthy practice of deconstructing the major myths of the American Dream, and the myths and fables of romance, Capitalism and … Read more
Ben Harper and Charlie Musselwhite No Mercy In This Land ANTI- Records [2018] Fire Note Says: The warm humanity of the songs on No Mercy In This Land with the melding of emotion and technique in the two performers solos leaves a satisfying feeling. Album Review: The last time bluesman Charlie Musselwhite and jam band … Read more
David Byrne American Utopia Nonesuch Records [2018] Fire Note Says: David Byrne brings his years of musical experimentation, as a primary creative force in Talking Heads, and through his ten studio albums, collaborations with Brian Eno and others, as well as his work on various film scores into conversation with American pop culture, and has … Read more
Phil Madeira Providence Mercyland Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Phil Madeira, one of Emmylou Harris’ Red Dirt Boys, delivers an album of piano songs – that mix pop song craft with soulful jazz tendencies – about the town he grew up in, Providence, Rhode Island. Album Review: Phil Madeira is one of those Nashville-based Jack-of-all-trades … Read more
Erika Wennerstrom Sweet Unknown Partisan Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Erika Wennerstrom of Heartless Bastards takes a solo run. Album Review: Last May, when Lucinda Williams and her band made their way to the intimate confines of the Victoria Theater in Dayton, the unexpected special guest opening the show was Erika Wennerstrom, best known for … Read more
The Decemberists I’ll Be Your Girl Capitol Records [2018] Fire Note Says: This one is a keeper. Album Review: When The Decemberists’ first single for I’ll Be Your Girl, “Severed” showed up on the appropriate alternative-friendly satellite radio stations a few weeks ago, I bet I wasn’t the only fan to begin worrying that the … Read more
Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats Tearing At The Seams Stax Records [2018] Fire Note Says: That S.O.B. Nathaniel Rateliff returns to his roots in R&B and Americana on the strength of the horn-driven Night Sweats. Album Review: After several years of experimenting around the Denver music scene with alternative rock and folk music combos, … Read more
Barrence Whitfield & The Savages Soul Flowers Of Titan Bloodshot Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Barrence Whitfield & The Savages play oldschool R&B with the energy of garage-rock punkers, serving up passion and intensity, giving life to familiar blues riffs. Album Review: Soul Flowers Of Titan, the fourth album from Boston-based R&B soul shouter Barrence … Read more
Moby Everything Was Beautiful, And Nothing Hurt Little Idiot/Mute Records [2018] Fire Note Says: On his 15th studio album, Moby creates an atmospheric soundtrack for the post-apocalyptic age to come. Album Review: Moby was making electronic dance music hits before we knew to call it EDM, when it was still called techno/dance pop, but his … Read more
Jimi Hendrix Both Sides Of The Sky Legacy Recordings [2018] Fire Note Says: Both Sides Of The Sky will be especially appreciated by collectors and hardcore fans who want to hear everything. Album Review: It is strange here in 2018 to be talking about “new” music from Jimi Hendrix, who died tragically in 1970 after … Read more
Finn’s Motel Quinta del Sordo Victory Over Gravity Records [2017] Fire Note Says: St. Louis power pop/rock quartet returns with a second album in a year, with the emphasis on solid songwriting and smart, catchy songs. Album Review: Finn’s Motel came out of hibernation last year, 12 years after their last full-length recording, with a … Read more
The Breeders All Nerve 4AD [2018] Fire Note Says: Kim Deal reunites the Last Splash Breeders line-up for another dark ride around her inner world and she’s All Nerve. Album Review: In 2013, I had the good fortune to be in Nashville for a conference on a night that coincided with The Breeders’ reunion tour … Read more
Ruby Boots Don’t Talk About It Bloodshot Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Aussie country rocker with promise debuts States-side for Bloodshot Records. Album Review: The second album from Ruby Boots roars out of the gate with “It’s So Cruel,” a cow-punk rocker that recalls the energy of Jason & The Scorchers. But before you get … Read more
Bill Mallonee & The Big Sky Ramblers Forest Full Of Wolves Self-Released [2018] Fire Note Says: Bill Mallonee is one of those best-kept secrets you really want to share with the rest of the music loving world. Album Review: No one is ever going to call singer/songwriter Bill Mallonee an under-achiever. His latest release, a … Read more
Calexico The Thread That Keeps Us ANTI- [2018] Fire Note Says: Arizona’s Calexico offers up alt rock anthems and eclectic musical ruminations on the world at risk and the love that will sustain us in “the age of extremes,” on their ninth album, The Thread That Keeps Us. Album Review: The ninth album from Arizona-based … Read more
Neil Young + Promise Of The Real The Visitor Reprise Records [2017] Fire Note Says: At 72, Neil Young is still making a difference, wearing his politics on his sleeve, and producing anthems for the resistance. Album Review: Neil Young has never been an artist to shrink back from a difficult political moment and leave … Read more
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club Wrong Creatures Vagrant Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club delivers another solid outing shaped by riff-rock and post-punk distortion. Album Review: There are those bands that you just want to root for, they may not yet have produced that breakthrough album you know they are capable of, but … Read more
Glen Hansard Between Two Shores ANTI- [2018] Fire Note Says: Irish folk rocker Glen Hansard, of The Swell Season and The Frames, continues to deliver strong songs. Album Review: One of my favorite musical scenes in film is that long opening sequence at the beginning of the movie “Once,” where you can hear Glen Hansard … Read more