Brendan Benson: Low Key [Album Review]
Brendan BensonLow KeySchnitzel Records [2022] Brendan Benson released his seventh solo album, Dear Life, early in 2020, and even though he played all the instruments … Read more
Too Much Joy: All These Fucking Feelings [Album Review]
Too Much JoyAll These Fucking FeelingsPropeller Sound Recordings [2022] It seems that when the members of Too Much Joy pulled their instruments out of mothballs … Read more
Nora O’Connor: My Heart [Album Review]
Nora O’ConnorMy HeartPravda Records [2022] Chicago-based vocalist Nora O’Connor’s list of credits providing backing vocal support, both in the studio and on tour, is as … Read more
Mike Baggetta/Jim Keltner/Mike Watt: Everywhen We Go [Album Review]
Mike Baggetta/Jim Keltner/Mike WattEverywhen We GoBIG EGO Records [2022] I can’t be the only music fan that has imagined what it would be like to … Read more
Todd Rundgren: Space Force [Album Review]
Todd RundgrenSpace ForceCleopatra Records [2022] Fifty two years into a career that includes more than twenty solo studio albums, another ten with the band Utopia, … Read more
Spoon: Lucifer On The Moon [Album Review]
SpoonLucifer On The MoonMatador Records [2022] In just a few weeks, The Fire Note will publish its writers’ favorites and picks for the best releases … Read more
Dream, Ivory: About A Boy [Album Review]
Dream, IvoryAbout A BoyAWAL [2022] The music of Dream, Ivory is the product of Filipino/American twentysomething siblings raised on the endless musical resource of the … Read more
Weyes Blood: And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow [Album Review]
Weyes BloodAnd In The Darkness, Hearts AglowSub Pop Records [2022] Singer/songwriter Natalie Mering performs under the moniker Weyes Blood, a name derived from her original … Read more
The Tallest Man On Earth: Too Late For Edelweiss [Album Review]
The Tallest Man On EarthToo Late For EdelweissANTI- [2022] Swedish folk singer/songwriter Kristian Matsson performs under the moniker The Tallest Man on Earth, and Too … Read more
Phoenix: Alpha Zulu [Album Review]
PhoenixAlpha ZuluLoyaute/Glassnote Records [2022] It’s been 13 years since French electro/pop/alt/dance band Phoenix released their American breakout album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix with hit singles “Lisztomanio” … Read more
Lambchop: The Bible [Album Review]
LambchopThe BibleMerge Records [2022] Over the decades, Kurt Wagner and his various collaborators have more than lived up to their early claim to the title … Read more
Weezer: SZNZ – Autumn [Album Review]
WeezerSZNZ: AutumnCrush Music/Atlantic Records [2022] Sure as autumn follows summer, Weezer has delivered their third volume in this year’s concept album project, SZNZ: Autumn. While … Read more
Simple Minds: Direction Of The Heart [Album Review]
Simple MindsDirection Of The HeartBMG [2022] Scottish band Simple Minds came to the attention of American rock audiences in the early 80’s alongside UK bands … Read more
Dropkick Murphys: This Machine Still Kills Fascists [Album Review]
Dropkick MurphysThis Machine Still Kills FascistsDummy Luck Music [2022] In 2003, Boston-based Celtic punk rock band Dropkick Murphys covered Woody Guthrie’s song “Gonna Be a … Read more
Death Cab For Cutie: Asphalt Meadows [Album Review]
Death Cab For CutieAsphalt MeadowsAtlantic Records [2022] While responses to the 2018 release from Death Cab For Cutie were mixed, there were hints in several … Read more
Richard X. Heyman: 67,000 Miles An Album [Album Review]
Richard X. Heyman67,000 Miles An AlbumTurn-Up Records [2022] The speed of the earth as it moves in orbit around the sun is 67,000 miles an … Read more
The 1975: Being Funny In A Foreign Language [Album Review]
The 1975Being Funny In A Foreign LanguageDirty Hit/Polydor/Interscope Records [2022] One of the challenges in describing the music and albums of The 1975 in the … Read more
Robyn Hitchcock: Shufflemania! [Album Review]
Robyn HitchcockShufflemania!Tiny Ghost Records [2022] With 22 studio albums to his credit, and the subject of a concert film by Jonathan Demme, Robyn Hitchcock may … Read more
Lou Reed: Words & Music, May 1965 [Album Review]
Lou ReedWords & Music, May 1965Light In The Attic Records [2022] The standard rock critic cliché often attributed to Brian Eno—he of early Roxy Music … Read more
Pixies: Doggerel [Album Review]
PixiesDoggerelBMG [2022] Neil Young famously wrote that “it’s better to burn out than to fade away,” in his song “Hey Hey, My My (Out of … Read more
Daniel Lanois: Player, Piano [Album Review]
Daniel LanoisPlayer, PianoModern Recordings [2022] Here’s a sentence I never expected I’d write: Daniel Lanois has made a quiet, quaint, and charming little piano album. … Read more
No. 2: First Love [Album Review]
No. 2First LoveJealous Butcher Records [2022] It’s been 20 years since Neil Gust last played with his Portland, Oregon band-mates in No. 2, the aptly … Read more
The Cult: Under The Midnight Sun [Album Review]
The CultUnder The Midnight SunBlack Hill Records [2022] If they gave out rewards for perseverance, there’s no doubt that singer Ian Astbury and guitarist Billy … Read more
Tedeschi Trucks Band: I Am The Moon: IV. Farewell [Album Review]
Tedeschi Trucks BandI Am The Moon: IV. FarewellFantasy / Concord Music [2022] There’s a satisfying sense of closure flowing nicely through the six songs of … Read more
Yeah Yeah Yeahs: Cool It Down [Album Review]
Yeah Yeah YeahsCool It DownSecretly Canadian [2022] Returning to recording nine years after their last album, Mosquito, NYC’s Yeah Yeah Yeahs are back with a … Read more