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
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
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
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
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
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
The Rubs: Impossible Dream [Album Review]
The Rubs Impossible Dream HoZac Records [2017] Who: The Rubs hail from Chicago and Impossible Dream is their sophomore album. Sound: Impossible Dream is a … 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
Various Artists: Singles (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack – Deluxe Edition) [Album Review]
Various Artists Singles (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack: Deluxe Edition) Sony/Legacy Recordings [2017] Fire Note Says: The soundtrack that captured a change – This is the … Read more
Laura Marling: Semper Femina [Album Review]
Laura Marling Semper Femina Kobalt Music [2017] Fire Note Says: The prolific Laura Marling keeps improving. Album Review: You don’t read or hear much about … Read more
Slowdive: Slowdive [Album Review]
Slowdive Slowdive Dead Oceans [2017] Who: Slowdive is Neil Halstead (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Christian Savill (guitar), Nick Chaplin (bass), Rachel Goswell (vocals) and Simon Scott … 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
Mac DeMarco: This Old Dog [Album Review]
Mac DeMarco This Old Dog Captured Tracks [2017] Fire Note Says: Mac DeMarco dives deep for one of his most engaging records to date. Album … Read more
Moon Duo: Occult Architecture, Vol. 1 & Vol. 2 [Album Review]
Moon Duo Occult Architecture, Vol. 1 Sacred Bones Records [2017] Moon Duo Occult Architecture Vol. 2 Sacred Bones Records [2017] Who: Portland, Oregon’s Moon Duo … 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
Richard Edwards: Lemon Cotton Candy Sunset [Album Review]
Richard Edwards Lemon Cotton Candy Sunset Joyful Noise Recordings [2017] Fire Note Says: Pain, torment and anguish turn Richard Edwards’ near demise into a biographical … 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
Smug Brothers: Disco Maroon [Album Review]
Smug Brothers Disco Maroon Gas Daddy Go! Records [2017] Who: Smug Brothers, a Dayton-based quartet, return with their 10th release. Sound: Disco Maroon sees the … Read more
Feral Ohms: Feral Ohms [Album Review]
Feral Ohms Feral Ohms Silver Current Records [2017] Fire Note Says: The rock Gods are going to enjoy this one! Album Review: Feral Ohms hail … Read more