The Killers: Pressure Machine [Album Review]
The Killers Pressure MachineIsland Records [2021] Well-paired back-to-back songs are a constant feature of The Killers’ discography. On their 2004 debut Hot Fuss, the songs … Read more
Orville Peck: Pony [Album Review]
Orville Peck Pony Sub Pop Records [2019] Fire Note Says: Orville Peck is the Great North American queer cowboy wonder. Album Review: Saddle up partner, … Read more
Dave Hause: Kick [Album Review]
Dave Hause Kick Rise Records [2019] Fire Note Says: Dave Hause’s fourth record is a satisfying blend of familiar styles. Album Review: “Wouldn’t it be … Read more
The National: I Am Easy To Find [Album Review]
The National I Am Easy To Find 4AD [2019] Fire Note Says: If I Am Easy to Find was a debut record, it’d be the … Read more
Keuning: Prismism [Album Review]
Keuning Prismism Pretty Faithful [2019] Fire Note Says: The debut solo record from The Killers’ lead guitarist Dave Keuning is an earnest and fun ‘80s-inspired … Read more
Sharon Van Etten: Remind Me Tomorrow [Album Review]
Sharon Van Etten Remind Me Tomorrow Jagjaguwar [2019] Fire Note Says: Remind Me Tomorrow isn’t a total reinvention of the wheel, but it’s a welcome … Read more
Mercy Union: The Quarry [Album Review]
Mercy Union The Quarry Self-Released [2018] Fire Note Says: How “super” does a supergroup need to be? Album Review: Mercy Union – the joint effort … Read more
Richard Edwards: Verdugo [Album Review]
Richard Edwards Verdugo Profound Discomfort [2018] Fire Note Says: Verdugo is a dreamy, free-floating work of moody melodies and emotional release. Album Review: The twelfth … Read more
Brian Fallon: Sleepwalkers [Album Review]
Brian Fallon Sleepwalkers Island Records [2018] Fire Note Says: A surprisingly joyful outing, Sleepwalkers makes clear that while Brian Fallon is certainly interested in evolving, … Read more
Lorde: Melodrama [Album Review]
Lorde Melodrama Lava Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Lorde resists contemporary pop conventions and dusts off 80’s vinyl influences to craft one of the strongest … Read more
Future Islands: The Far Field [Album Review]
Future Islands The Far Field 4AD [2017] Fire Note Says: Somber and spare, The Far Field marks a surprising change in tone for Future Islands. … Read more
The Menzingers: After The Party [Album Review]
The Menzingers After The Party Epitaph Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Bursting with big guitars, sweeping storytelling and endlessly catchy melodies, After the Party is … Read more
The Killers: Wonderful Wonderful [Album Review]
The Killers Wonderful Wonderful Island Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Epitomizing the band behind it, Wonderful Wonderful is grandiose, towering and bound to polarize. Album … Read more
The Blow: Brand New Abyss [Album Review]
The Blow Brand New Abyss Self-Released [2017] Fire Note Says: On Brand New Abyss, The Blow submerges listeners in an accessible and confessional sea of … Read more
Queen Moo: Mean Well [Album Review]
Queen Moo Mean Well Topshelf Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Mean Well is one of the biggest, baddest rock ‘n’ roll records so far this … Read more
Brand New: Science Fiction [Album Review]
Brand New Science Fiction Procrastinate! Music Traitors [2017] Fire Note Says: Out of nowhere, Brand New returns with a moody, somber final record that will … Read more
En Route: Then Is A Song [Album Review]
En Route Then Is A Song Flower Girl Records [2017] Who: En Route is a collective of some of Philadelphia’s most accomplished underground punk musicians. … Read more
Charly Bliss: Guppy [Album Review]
Charly Bliss Guppy Barsuk Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Charly Bliss’s debut LP Guppy finds the Brooklyn-based punks turning rock conventions on their heads and … Read more
Emperor X: Oversleepers International [Album Review]
Emperor X Oversleepers International Tiny Engines [2017] Fire Note Says: Offering an up-tempo lyrical tour of politics and contemporary despair, Oversleepers International will bewilder listeners … Read more
The Killers: “The Man” [Single Review]
The Killers “The Man” Island Records [2017] The Killers are back. And if anybody thought that they would be dialing it back, they’ve got a … Read more
The Smith Street Band: More Scared Of You Than You Are Of Me [Album Review]
The Smith Street Band More Scared Of You Than You Are Of Me SideOneDummy Records [2017] Fire Note Says: More Scared of You Than You … Read more
Sean Rowe: New Lore [Album Review]
Sean Rowe New Lore ANTI- [2017] Fire Note Says: Combining ingredients as limited and plain as vocals, piano, strings and silence, Sean Rowe’s New Lore … Read more
Sorority Noise: You’re Not As_____As You Think [Album Review]
Sorority Noise You’re Not As_____As You Think Triple Crown Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Ever-evolving emo rockers Sorority Noise fully come into their own on … Read more