Big Joanie: Back Home [Album Review]
Big JoanieBack HomeKill Rock Stars [2022] It has been four years since the debut album from Black feminist punk band Big Joanie. The UK trio … 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
Ribbon Stage: Hit With The Most [Album Review]
Ribbon StageHit With The MostK Records [2022] Ribbon Stage are a trio from NYC that have created a debut album that is a compact earworm … Read more
The Stroppies: Levity [Album Review]
The StroppiesLevityTough Love Records [2022] After the release of The Stroppies debut Whoosh and the Look Alive EP, the Melbourne quartet firmly established themselves 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
The Reds, Pinks & Purples: Summer At Land’s End [Album Review]
The Reds, Pinks & PurplesSummer At Land’s EndTough Love/Slumberland Records [2022] San Francisco’s The Reds, Pinks & Purples can write some of the most gorgeous … 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
GIFT: Momentary Presence [Album Review]
GIFTMomentary PresenceDedstrange Records [2022] Brooklyn-based GIFT are a psych-rock quintet that have blended a classic shoegaze approach with muscular indie guitars and airy vocals to … 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
Smirk: Material [Album Review]
SmirkMaterialFeel It Records [2022] Nick Vicario and his project Smirk gained some deserved spotlight last year with the release of LP. The album combined tracks … 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
Delivery: Forever Giving Handshakes [Album Review]
DeliveryForever Giving HandshakesFeel It/Spoilsport/Anti Fade Records [2022] The intense pulsating rhythm in Delivery’s opening track, “Picture This,” will give you your first realization that their … 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
Dumb: Pray 4 Tomorrow [Album Review]
DumbPray 4 TomorrowMint Records [2022] I really like it when you can hear progression with a band, but the overall group sound doesn’t drastically change. … 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
Wild Pink: ILYSM [Album Review]
Wild PinkILYSMRoyal Mountain Records [2022] I don’t use the word gorgeous very often to describe music as I feel it never really defines the artists … Read more
Martha: Please Don’t Take Me Back [Album Review]
MarthaPlease Don’t Take Me BackSpecialist Subject/Dirtnap Records [2022] Now on their fourth album, Durham, England’s Martha has perfected their indie pop punk formula as they … 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
Ghost Funk Orchestra: A New Kind Of Love [Album Review]
Ghost Funk OrchestraA New Kind Of LoveKarma Chief/Colemine Records [2022] When Ghost Funk Orchestra’s debut LP for Karma Chief, Song For Paul, made its way … 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
Surprise Chef: Education & Recreation [Album Review]
Surprise ChefEducation & RecreationBig Crown Records [2022] In the music critic business, you would be surprised sometimes on how promoters create large reaching descriptors for … Read more