Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs Under The Covers Vol. 3 Shout! Factory [2013] Fire Note Says: Sweet and Hoffs revisit the 80’s on their latest Under The Covers installment. Album Review: It’s felt like too long a wait for those who enjoyed Susanna Hoffs and Matthew Sweet’s collection of 60’s and 70’s covers that made … Read more
The Bottle Rockets Bottle Rockets / The Brooklyn Side (Deluxe Edition) Bloodshot Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Two influential Americana records that you should have in your collection. Album Review: While Americana fans are looking forward to the re-issue of the mother ship album that launched a movement and named a fanzine, Uncle Tupelo’s No … Read more
Los Lobos Disconnected In New York City 429 Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Los Lobos celebrate 40 years with their excellent new live record. Album Review: What do you do on your band’s 40th anniversary, especially if on your 20th you released an exhaustive two-disc collection of your early triumphs that includes many of your … Read more
Pearl Jam Lightning Bolt Monkeywrench/Universal Records [2013] Fire Note Says: This “Lightning Bolt” still doesn’t strike twice in the same place. Album Review: If you were to take your cues from so-called “classic rock” radio (remember radio?), you’d be convinced that Pearl Jam did all its best work on the 1991 debut, Ten, and a … Read more
Elvis Costello and The Roots Wise Up Ghost and Other Songs Blue Note Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Teaming up with The Roots is an obvious next step on Costello’s life-long creative quest! Album Review: Over the decades, the one time punk rocker Elvis Costello has proved surprisingly versatile in a variety of musically diverse … Read more
The Civil Wars The Civil Wars Sensibility/Columbia Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Civil Wars build on their debut and point toward a viable musical future, should they decide to accept it. Album Review: While we’ve gotten used to the kind of sensational personal drama that makes careers at the expense of the actual music, … Read more
The Rides Can’t Get Enough 429 Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Stills, Shepherd and Goldberg debut their blues. Album Review: If you’ve ever found yourself thinking that the world already has too many blues and boogie bands, then The Rides – the collaboration of Steven Stills, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Barry Goldberg – is not … Read more
Tedeschi Trucks Band Made Up Mind Sony Masterworks [2013] Fire Note Says: Tedeschi Trucks Band honors all that was vital and consistently relevant in the tradition with fresh, authentic voices. Album Review: If the combined talents of Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks felt like a revelation to so many blues fans when they brought their … Read more
Over The Rhine Meet Me At The Edge Of The World Great Speckled Dog Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Even as they write songs about life’s inevitable end in death, Over the Rhine seek the passion and beauty of life’s loves. Album Review: “We are hungry for the secret news about life,” said Stanley Kunitz, … Read more
Todd Rundgren State Esoteric Recordings [2013] Fire Note Says: The State of Todd Rundgren’s Union of Pop and Art. Album Review: Although Todd Rundgren stepped away from his band Nazz to begin his eventually successful solo career in 1970, in the 43 intervening years that lead up to this 23rd solo release, State, Rundgren has … Read more
Steve Earle The Low Highway New West Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Steve Earle continues to make good (music). Album Review: On this 14th full-length album since his ’86 debut, Guitar Town, Steve Earle has defied expectations of an early drug-fueled demise, only to deliver yet another vibrant, life informed collection of country and folk … Read more
Son Volt Honky Tonk Rounder Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Son Volt’s Honky Tonk is like a lost sleeve from the golden era of country music’s creative past. Album Review: Here’s a funny thing: when loading Honky Tonk into my iTunes library, the digital overlords saw fit to label it as “rock,” however, the two … Read more