The Flaming Lips King’s Mouth: Music And Songs Warner Bros. Records [2019] Fire Note Says: The Flaming Lips return from the cosmos to spread their tale of the King that saved us all! Album Review: Within The Flaming Lips ethos, Record Store Day has always been held in high regard. Record ideas include: A Various … Read more
Jenny Lewis On The Line Warner Bros. Records [2019] Album Review: Jenny Lewis’ fourth solo album, On The Line, recalls an era when pop music still leaned heavily on live musicians playing sessions together in the studio, and not computerized midi keyboards and drum beats per minute. Singer/songwriters like Carly Simon, Jackson Browne, and Linda … Read more
Paul Weller Other Aspects, Live At The Royal Festival Hall Warner Bros. Records [2019] Album Review: At 60, Paul Weller, who started his career leading the seminal punk/mod revival band The Jam and spent a few years in The Style Council, a Britpop group with R&B/soul and jazz leanings, before his long and substantial solo … Read more
Muse Simulation Theory Warner Bros. Records [2018] Fire Note Says: On their 8th album, Muse loosens the concept formula enough for more humanity to shine through their larger-than-life arena rock anthems. Album Review: Muse’s 8th album in their nearly 20 year career, starts off with a rhythmic drum beat that could easily have been designed … Read more
Gorillaz The Now Now Parlophone/Warner Bros. [2018] Fire Note Says: The follow-up to last year’s “Humanz,” finds Gorillaz leaning more on singer Damon Albarn (Blur) than the hip-hop collaborations that drove previous hits up the charts. Album Review: The Gorillaz concept – a virtual band with animated characters drawn by artist Jamie Hewlett with music … Read more
Liam Gallagher As You Were Warner Bros. Records [2017] Fire Note Says: As You Were shows that Liam is a long way from being down and out. Album Review: As a critic, I learned long ago to lower my expectations. When you expect greatness, that is when you get burnt. The same goes about expecting … Read more
Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit The Nashville Sound Southeastern Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Labels fail Outlaw country musicians, but Jason Isbell delivers a great record in the tradition of great roots rockers and country players. Album Review: For the record, there has long been a vein of outlaw music running through what has … Read more
Gorillaz Humanz Parlophone/Warner Bros. [2017] Fire Note Says: Cartoon urban, dance/rap-core band, Gorillaz return with a mix-tape for the apocalypse. Album Review: Two cartoon bands come to mind: Gorillaz, and The Archies. Okay, The Monkees’ four characters were definitely conceived as cartoon-esque two-dimensional stick figures, but as time developed they grew as individualized, even humanized … Read more
Gary Clark Jr. Live / North America 2016 Warner Bros. Records [2017] Fire Note Says: More proof why you should see Gary Clark Jr. live. Album Review: As an introduction to “Honest I Do,” on this second live album in just 3 years time, blues guitarist Gary Clark Jr. offers this shout out to his … Read more
The Flaming Lips Oczy Mlody Warner Bros. Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Exiting their world of loveless doom, The Flaming Lips return with a brighter fairy tale. Album Review: The Flaming Lips have been in the music game for at least 24 years. Within those 24 years they’ve made quite a impact from battling pink … Read more
Regina Spektor Remember Us To Life Sire/Warner Bros. Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Regina Spektor’s seventh album finds her developing in satisfying and compelling ways. Album Review: Given the popularity of the show, it’s likely more people have encountered the music of Regina Spektor’s unique musical voice in the opening credits of the Netflix series … Read more
The Head And The Heart Signs Of Light Warner Bros. [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: Are you in the market for a likeable rock album? The Head and the Heart may have something to interest you with their third LP, Signs of Light. The band has a knack for meticulous harmonies and soaring singalongs. Album … Read more
Wavves V Warner Bros. Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Wavves push the tempo pedal to the floor on V. Album Review: Nathan Williams was thrust into the indie music scene spotlight back in 2009 with his sophomore record Wavvves. Right from that moment, Wavves has had to grow up from just making a record to … Read more
Gary Clark Jr. The Story Of Sonny Boy Slim Warner Bros. Records [2015] Fire Note Says: There is no denying it – Gary Clark Jr. can play! Album Review: Gary Clark Jr. has exploded since his 2012 Blak and Blu album put him on the map with its bluesy rock that was both soulful and … Read more
Wavves has just shared new song “Flamezesz” from their upcoming fifth studio record V. This record is the first time the band has properly recorded an album in a professional studio as it should be their most polished record to date. V is out October 2 via Ghost Ramp / Warner Bros. Records.
Atlas Genius has shared a new track, “Stockholm,” from the band’s forthcoming release Inanimate Objects. The ablum is due out August 31 via Warner Bros. Records. No word yet on a vinyl release but you can pre-order several other bundles HERE, which include a limited lithograph (FIRST 300 SIGNED). The band is currently playing a … Read more
Muse Drones Warner Bros. Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Muse create another stadium rocker. Album Review: I remember when Muse released their debut, Showbiz (1999), and they were considered a muscular Radiohead. The band quickly separated themselves with their sophomore effort, Origin of Symmetry (2001), and has never looked back. Over their last several releases, … Read more
Built To Spill Untethered Moon Warner Bros. Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Long live the Pacific Northwest sound: Built To Spill is back. Album Review: Although they never really went away, it seemed like we’d never hear from Doug Martsch and his band of merry men again – or at least nothing approaching the brilliance … Read more
Prince Art Official Age Warner Bros. Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Prince has arisen from cold storage hibernation to rock a new generation. Album Review: While Prince’s self-released albums of the last decade or so have been strong enough to satisfy long-time fans, there has been real excitement about his return to a relationship with … Read more
The Flaming Lips With A Little Help From My Fwends Warner Bros. Records [2014] Fire Note Says: The Flaming Lips and fwends are at it again, adding their special flavor of space bombast to a timeless classic. Album Review: “It’s in the realm of the gods,” says bandleader Wayne Coyne, in an interview with Arun … Read more
Gary Clark Jr. Live Warner Bros. Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Gary Clark Jr. Live is a solid and spirited performance. Album Review: Earlier this year, Eric Clapton was interviewed by David Fricke for Rolling Stone Magazine, as his tribute to JJ Cale, The Breeze, was hitting stores and talk of the guitar god’s retirement … Read more
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Hypnotic Eye Warner Bros. Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Hypnotic Eye finds Petty & the Heartbreakers continuing to stretch, grow, and inspire. Album Review: For nearly four decades, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers embodied a truly singular American rock band sound (perhaps second on that front only to Bruce Springsteen … Read more
Jeff the Brotherhood Dig The Classics Warner Bros. Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Jeff the Brotherhood drop a killer EP of essential covers with a thick layer of heavy garage rock fuzz and scuzz. Album Review: Nashville natives, brothers Jake and Jamin Orrall, make up the two-piece rock outfit that is Jeff the Brotherhood. The … Read more
Jenny Lewis The Voyager Warner Bros. Records [2014] Fire Note Says: After six years in the wilderness, The Voyager heralds the resurrection of all things Jenny Lewis. Album Review: Since 2002’s masterful The Execution of All Things – an album which should be handed to girls as they turn thirteen, just as all boys should … Read more
Mastodon Once More ‘Round The Sun Warner Bros. Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Mastodon ditch their space-time distortion with one of their most straight forward yet. Album Review: It‘s a heady question to ask, but how does one innovate in the metal genre today? Do you drop tuning deeper, play slower, or maybe even faster? … Read more