Japanese Breakfast: Soft Sounds From Another Planet [Album Review]
Japanese Breakfast Soft Sounds From Another Planet Dead Oceans [2017] Who: Japanese Breakfast is the solo project of Michelle Zauner of Little Big League. She’s … Read more
Protomartyr: Relatives In Descent [Album Review]
Protomartyr Relatives In Descent Domino Records [2017] Who: Detroit’s Protomartyr are a post punk band that has just released their fourth lp and first for … Read more
Sleepies: Melt To You [Album Review]
Sleepies Melt To You Mirror Universe Tapes [2017] Who: Brooklyn-based SLEEPiES release yet another winner with this 4-track EP. Sound: Melt To You EP is … Read more
Julien Baker: Turn Out The Lights [Album Review]
Julien Baker Turn Out The Lights 6131/Matador Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Julien Baker tells a story that you instantly will want to hear again. … Read more
Spirit Of The Beehive: Pleasure Suck [Album Review]
Spirit Of The Beehive Pleasure Suck Tiny Engines [2017] Who: Philadelphia-based Spirit of the Beehive deliver a superb album packed with lo-fi psychedelic charm. Sound: … Read more
Shagg: Shagg [Album Review]
Shagg Shagg Quality Time/Greenway Records [2017] Shagg should be on your radar. This Cleveland band will rock the crap out of you for this entire … Read more
Washer: All Aboard [Album Review]
Washer All Aboard Exploding in Sound Records [2017] Who: Brooklyn duo, Kieran McShane and Mike Quigley, expand and improve their sound with this excellent sophomore … Read more
The War On Drugs: A Deeper Understanding [Album Review]
The War On Drugs A Deeper Understanding Atlantic Records [2017] Fire Note Says: The War on Drugs creates an accessible yet sophisticated album. Album Review: … Read more
PLAX: Clean Feeling [Album Review]
PLAX Clean Feeling Super Secret Records [2017] Who: Austin-based quasi-punk band comprised of members of Spray Paint, OBN IIIs, Skeleton and Sweet Talk. Sound: Clean … 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
Broken Social Scene: Hug Of Thunder [Album Review]
Broken Social Scene Hug Of Thunder Arts & Crafts [2017] Fire Note Says: All killer, no filler. Album Review: For a band with as many … Read more
Perfume Genius: No Shape [Album Review]
Perfume Genius No Shape Matador Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Perfume Genius is perfectly realized on their latest. Album Review: Mike Hadreas, who performs as … Read more
Guided By Voices: How Do You Spell Heaven [Album Review]
Guided By Voices How Do You Spell Heaven GBV, Inc. [2017] Fire Note Says: The revamped Guided By Voices continue their hot streak with an … Read more
Dove Lady: One [Album Review]
Dove Lady One DZ Tapes / Inflated Records [2017] Who: DC-based spastic noise rock duo. Sound: Dove Lady dish out a disarming array of influences … Read more
Manchester Orchestra: A Black Mile To The Surface [Album Review]
Manchester Orchestra A Black Mile To The Surface Loma Vista Recordings [2017] Fire Note Says: A decade in, Adam Hull and Manchester Orchestra manage to … 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
Christian Fitness: Slap Bass Hunks [Album Review]
Christian Fitness Slap Bass Hunks Prescriptions Music [2017] Who: Andrew Falkous’ one man band project, Christian Fitness, is a vital off-shoot of his past work … Read more
Elf Power: Twitching In Time [Album Review]
Elf Power Twitching In Time Orange Twin Records [2017] Who: One of the more resilient acts from the fabled Elephant Six Collective, Elf Power is … Read more
Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit: The Nashville Sound [Album Review]
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 … Read more
Flotation Toy Warning: The Machine That Made Us [Album Review]
Flotation Toy Warning The Machine That Made Us Talitres [2017] Fire Note Says: Flotation Toy Warning returns after a 13-year hiatus and deliver a staggering … 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
Big Thief: Capacity [Album Review]
Big Thief Capacity Saddle Creek Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Second album from Brooklyn quartet is more varied, more broken, more human. Album Review: After … Read more
R. Ring: Ignite The Rest [Album Review]
R. Ring Ignite The Rest SofaBurn Records [2017] Who: Kelley Deal (Breeders) and Mike Montgomery (Ampline) join forces for their debut LP. Sound: Ignite the … 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
CFM: Dichotomy Desaturated [Album Review]
CFM Dichotomy Desaturated In The Red Records [2017] Who: Charles Francis Moothart, aka CFM, continues to branch out on his second solo LP. Sound: Dichotomy … Read more