Roger Waters: Is This The Life We Really Want? [Album Review]
Roger Waters Is This The Life We Really Want? Columbia Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Roger Waters creates a soundtrack for the resistance to Trump’s … Read more
U2: The Joshua Tree Tour [Concert Review]
U2 w/ The Lumineers: MetLife Stadium; Meadowlands, New Jersey – Wednesday, June 28, 2017 After U2’s triumphant tour two years ago in support of their … Read more
King Washington: Potential [Album Review]
King Washington Potential The End Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Inventive modern pop/rock quartet from LA, King Washington channel the best musical inclinations of the … Read more
Deep State: Thought Garden [Album Review]
Deep State Thought Garden Friendship Fever [2017] Fire Note Says: Deep State churn up a big, fast, punk rock sound on their second album, Thought … Read more
Fleet Foxes: Crack-Up [Album Review]
Fleet Foxes Crack-Up Nonesuch Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Fleet Foxes go through artistic growth on Crack-Up. Album Review: Remember back to hazy, crazy days … Read more
Todd Rundgren: White Night [Album Review]
Todd Rundgren White Night Cleopatra Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Veteran rocker Todd Rundgren mixes it up with Robyn, Trent Rezner of NIN, some new … Read more
Chris Stapleton: From A Room – Volume 1 [Album Review]
Chris Stapleton From A Room: Volume 1 Mercury Records Nashville [2017] Fire Note Says: Chris Stapleton has arrived just in time to save country music … Read more
Nowhere Else Festival [Concert Review]
Nowhere Else Festival: Featuring Over the Rhine & the Band of Sweethearts, Birds of Chicago, Red Dirt Boys, Carrie Newcomer, Carrie Rodriguez, “Treasure of the … Read more
Gorillaz: Humanz [Album Review]
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 … Read more
Feist: Pleasure [Album Review]
Feist Pleasure Interscope Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Folk pop Feist expands the creative palette for her folk pop fanbase with an eclectic and creative … Read more
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers: 40th Anniversary Tour [Concert Review]
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers w/ Joe Walsh: Scottrade Center, St. Louis, MO – May 12, 2017 When Tom Petty led the Heartbreakers to the … Read more
Bob Dylan: Triplicate [Album Review]
Bob Dylan Triplicate Columbia Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Dylan attempts to “uncover” these familiar songs. Album Review: By now, any fan of Bob Dylan … Read more
The Afghan Whigs: In Spades [Album Review]
The Afghan Whigs In Spades Sub Pop Records [2017] Fire Note Says: The Afghan Whigs’ Greg Dulli returns with a more compositionally rich and textured … Read more
Dave Perkins: Fugitive Colors [Album Review]
Dave Perkins Fugitive Colors Lugnut Music [2017] Fire Note Says: Longtime Nashville guitarist sideman, delivers another record of strong songs, and blistering guitar work. Album … Read more
Depeche Mode: Spirit [Album Review]
Depeche Mode Spirit Columbia Records [2017] Fire Note Says: On their 14th studio album, synth pop pioneers Depeche Mode have become more predictable compared to … Read more
Ray Davies: Americana [Album Review]
Ray Davies Americana Sony/Legacy Recrodings [2017] Fire Note Says: Kinks’ rocker Ray Davies joins with alt-country Jayhawks to take a musical journey through the wild … Read more
Chris Shiflett: West Coast Town [Album Review]
Chris Shiflett West Coast Town SideOneDummy Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Foo Fighter’s Chris Shiflett’s high octane approach emphasizes the rock in country rock. Album … Read more
Robert Randolph & The Family Band: Got Soul [Album Review]
Robert Randolph & The Family Band Got Soul Sony Masterworks [2017] Fire Note Says: Nothing else sounds like the mysterious pedal steel guitar in the … Read more
Aimee Mann: Mental Illness [Album Review]
Aimee Mann Mental Illness Superego [2017] Fire Note Says: Aimee Mann returns to her most comfortable acoustic folk/pop surroundings. Album Review: If Aimee Mann had … Read more
Craig Finn: We All Want The Same Things [Album Review]
Craig Finn We All Want The Same Things Partison Records [2017] Fire Note Says: The Hold Steady’s Craig Finn finds his own voice, a stark … Read more
Gary Clark Jr.: Live / North America 2016 [Album Review]
Gary Clark Jr. Live / North America 2016 Warner Bros. Records [2017] Fire Note Says: More proof why you should see Gary Clark Jr. live. … Read more
Bill Mallonee & The Big Sky Ramblers: The Rags Of Absence
Bill Mallonee & The Big Sky Ramblers The Rags Of Absence Self-Released [2017] Fire Note Says: Mallonee’s literate poetic sensibilities matched by the music’s virtuosity … Read more
Spoon: Hot Thoughts [Album Review]
Spoon Hot Thoughts Matador Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Austin’s Spoon returns with another strong collection, emphasizing keyboards over a disco beat, and jazzy inclinations. … Read more
The Shins: Heartworms [Album Review]
The Shins Heartworms Aural Apothecary/Columbia Records [2017] Fire Note Says: The Shins bring a creative, cool, and connected song-craft. Album Review: Like most everybody else, … Read more
Ha Ha Tonka: Heart-Shaped Mountain [Album Review]
Ha Ha Tonka Heart-Shaped Mountain Bloodshot Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Stretching the category of roots rock, Ha Ha Tonka mix a variety 80’s classic … Read more