The Fresh & Onlys Early Years Anthology Castle Face Records [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: It is crazy to think what gets left on the cutting room floor when a record is released. This early year’s collection from The Fresh & Onlys is a prime example, as I can’t believe none of the 12 tracks … Read more
Grateful Dead 30 Trips Around The Sun: The Definitive Live Story 1965-1995 Rhino Entertainment [2015] Fire Note Says: A beginners guide to the Dead live, but with enough surprises to attract long-time fans. Album Review: 2015 is the Grateful Dead’s 50th anniversary, and the band is celebrating their half-century milestone in a number of interesting … Read more
Telekinesis Ad Infinitum Merge Records [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: I will stand by Telekinesis’ debut album (Telekinesis!) as one of the best power pop collections in the past ten years. Sadly, Michael Lerner (the artist behind the Telekinesis moniker) continues to drift away from the sound that worked so well then. His latest album, … Read more
Lucero All A Man Should Do ATO Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Lucero tones down the party for a minute with their spirited Memphis soul. Album Review: Lucero is easily one of the hardest working bands out there and have been grinding the highways since the late 90’s. The group continues to struggle with life … Read more
Metric Pagans In Vegas Universal Music Group [2015] Fire Note Says: Metric prove that selling out isn’t always a bad thing. Album Review: It really all started going sideways once Metric committed to doing the theme song for the third Twilight movie, Eclipse. That song, written by film score composer Howard Shore, bore zero resemblance … Read more
Battles La Di Da Di Warp Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Battles go purely instrumental on their taut third full length. Album Review: Battles is a band whose fly-by-the-seat-of-their-pants approach can now be clearly segmented into three distinct, yet logically progressing, eras.
Say Hi Bleeders Digest Barsuk Records [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: Say Hi is Seattle’s Eric Elbogen and he has been making records under this moniker since 2002. His ninth, Bleeders Digest, is an album about vampires and a sequel to Impeccable Blahs (2002). Say Hi’s sound has not changed much over the years and … Read more
HeCTA The Diet Merge Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Kurt Wagner follows a new path with his band HeCTA. Album Review: Kurt Wagner tends to duck any fight to establish a legacy as a treasured American songwriter. He’s a considerable talent, but not particularly interested in pushing it on you. Where Lambchop cut a very … Read more