The Wombats: Fix Yourself, Not The World [Album Review]
The WombatsFix Yourself, Not The WorldAWAL [2022] While The Wombats, who got their start in Liverpool, have absorbed British pop and indie rock influences from … Read more
Adia Victoria: A Southern Gothic [Album Review]
Adia VictoriaA Southern GothicCanvasback Music [2021] The third album from Nashville-based singer/songwriter Adia Victoria, A Southern Gothic embodies everything that title suggests. Vibrating thanks to … Read more
Elbow: Flying Dream 1 [Album Review]
ElbowFlying Dream 1Polydor Records [2021] The ninth studio album from acclaimed British band, Elbow, has the gentle, dreamy feel of a long, reflective quarantine nap. … Read more
Snail Mail: Valentine [Album Review]
Snail MailValentineMatador Records [2021] As the “best of year” lists – here at The Fire Note, and everywhere music fans and music critics connect – … Read more
Liam Kazar: Due North [Album Review]
Liam KazarDue NorthWoodsist Records [2021] Before moving to Kansas City in 2019, Liam Kazar had built a hefty reputation around Chicago as a band member, … Read more
Hushdrops: The Static [Album Review]
HushdropsThe StaticPravda Records [2021] Chicago-band, Hushdrops, are considered a supergroup around those parts, the trio perhaps better known for the folk they support in other … Read more
Aimee Mann: Queens Of The Summer Hotel [Album Review]
Aimee MannQueens Of The Summer HotelSuperEgo [2021] Over the course of her nearly 40 year career, Aimee Mann has pretty much done it all. In … Read more
Damon Albarn: The Nearer The Fountain, More Pure The Stream Flows [Album Review]
Damon AlbarnThe Nearer The Fountain, More Pure The Stream FlowsTransgressive Records [2021] In many ways, Damon Albarn’s official second solo album is as influenced by … Read more
Robert Plant | Alison Krauss: Raising The Roof [Album Review]
Robert Plant | Alison KraussRaising The RoofRounder Records [2021] The huge success created by the first collaboration by Led Zep rock howler Robert Plant and … Read more
An Evening With Gary Clark Jr. [Concert Review]
Gary Clark Jr.: Express LIVE; Columbus, OH; Tuesday, November 9, 2021 Before the lights went down and Gary Clark Jr. led his band to the stage … Read more
Sufjan Stevens & Angelo De Augustine: A Beginner’s Mind [Album Review]
Sufjan Stevens & Angelo De AugustineA Beginner’s MindAsthmatic Kitty Records [2021] Just as Sufjan Stevens turned to video game culture to inspire the music of … Read more
Courtney Barnett: Things Take Time, Take Time [Album Review]
Courtney BarnettThings Take Time, Take TimeMilk!/Mom+Pop Music/Marathon Artists [2021] Aussie indie/rock singer/songwriter Courtney Barnett’s third album, Things Take Time, Take Time, is the kind of … Read more
Laura Jane Grace: At War With The Silverfish (EP) [Album Review]
Laura Jane GraceAt War With The Silverfish (EP)Polyvinyl Records [2021] By now fans of Laura Jane Grace are well acquainted with her transitional journey, the … Read more
My Morning Jacket: My Morning Jacket [Album Review]
My Morning JacketMy Morning JacketATO Records [2021] From all reports, there was a pretty good chance that the last music recorded by the members of … Read more
Lilly Hiatt: Lately [Album Review]
Lilly HiattLatelyNew West Records [2021] Nashville singer/songwriter Lilly Hiatt had the misfortune to release her last album, the Lincoln Parish (formerly of Cage the Elephant) … Read more
Mac McCaughan: The Sound Of Yourself [Album Review]
Mac McCaughanThe Sound Of YourselfMerge Records [2021] One of the perks of owning a record company would have to be that you get to make … Read more
Ada Lea: One Hand On The Steering Wheel The Other Sewing A Garden [Album Review]
Ada LeaOne Hand On The Steering Wheel The Other Sewing A GardenSaddle Creek Records [2021] All of the songs Ada Lea wrote for her follow-up … Read more
The War On Drugs: I Don’t Live Here Anymore [Album Review]
The War On DrugsI Don’t Live Here AnymoreAtlantic Records [2021] It’s hard to imagine a new release with more anticipatory buzz than this new studio … Read more
Allison Russell: Outside Child [Album Review]
Allison RussellOutside ChildFantasy Records [2021] In her solo debut album, Outside Child, Allison Russell finally gets around to telling her own story, in her own … Read more
Pokey LaFarge: In The Blossom Of Their Shade [Album Review]
Pokey LaFargeIn The Blossom Of Their ShadeNew West Records [2021] Anyone familiar with the work of Pokey LaFarge will tell you that his music is … Read more
Madi Diaz: History Of A Feeling [Album Review]
Madi DiazHistory Of A FeelingANTI- [2021] If there are actually five stages of grief, Nashville singer/songwriter Madi Diaz may have stumbled on a few more … Read more
The Wild Feathers: Alvarado [Album Review]
The Wild FeathersAlvaradoNew West Records [2021] As Nashville’s Wild Feathers entered their second decade as a band, they were more or less forced to pause … Read more
Steve Gunn: Other You [Album Review]
Steve GunnOther YouMatador Records [2021] Steve Gunn may have started out as a go-to sideman who worked with Kurt Vile, desirable for his estimable guitar … Read more
The Beths: Auckland, New Zealand, 2020 [Album Review]
The BethsAuckland, New Zealand, 2020Carpark Records [2021] Power pop/rock band The Beths are easily the best thing to come out of New Zealand since Crowded … Read more
José González: Local Valley [Album Review]
José GonzálezLocal ValleyCity Slang/Mute Records [2021] Swedish folk singer/songwriter and guitarist, José González brings his unique finger picking approach and take on world music to … Read more