Local CD Reviews
Issue 237 / September 2008 More from this Issue
Download PDF
The Smash Brothas
Bout Damn Time
Self-Released
Street: 08.07
The Smash Brothas = SwollenMembers + Jedi Mind Tricks +Aquemini-era Outkast
Hip Hop is not dead in Utah. Reports ofits death have been greatly exaggerated.The crews around here should startpaying attention, or at least start buyingbeats from the laundry list of producersand DJs that The Smash Brothas utilizeon their latest release. These songs arenot only varied in their style (rangingfrom slow, down tempo jams to excitedsample-heavy bangers), but they havecompetent rhymes as well. Insightfultracks like "More Moes," a trackabout people who eat "green Jell-Owith carrots" and who "control theschools, control the media, business orreligion cuz it's getting much greedier"delivers some scathing criticism of thepopular culture in the area. "Rappers"is another notable track that educatesby breaking down the nomenclaturebehind "rappers" and "MCs." And if youdon't know the difference, perhaps theBrothas can school you. -JP
Some Beasts
Self-Titled
Self-released
Street: 04.01
Some Beasts = Caspian + Akron/Family - vocalists + organicsounds
A nostalgic tinkering oxf an orchestralkind, this album is bursting withdelectable sounds. From tambourinesto pots and pans to castanets todelayed acoustic guitars, the musicis extremely varied and colorful. Theenergy that is channeled throughout thealbum is of such a marvelous kind thatit's almost hard to believe. Although itis an instrumental work, each song'stitle gives the listener just enough of anidea to make each track a picturesquelittle world of its own. From the damp,rainy perception that "Some Days AreWet And Green" produces to the feelingof lounging near the French Riviera in"In Tangier," the listener is taken ona mindful journey that encompassesmore senses than just that of hearing.This album seems to have appearedout of nowhere one early-springafternoon when Some Beasts' onlymember, Jordan Badger, decidedto self-release this splashy whirlwindbefore jetting off to unknown territories.Erin Kelleher
The Tenants of Balthazar'sCastle
3 Dreams
American West Freedom SocietyPress
Street: 06.03
The Tenants of Balthazar's Castle =Eliane Radigue + Zeljko McMullen
Michael Biggs'(aka The Tenants of Balthazar's Castle)music requires patience, but thatpatience is rewarded with intrigue.Divided into three movements, Biggsstarts the set with "Room (Dream)," afairly grumbling, sometimes explosive,sub-frequency driven mix of oscillatedgestures and reedy snippets. As thepiece progresses, Biggs guides hisbass tones into a solemn, yet surging,ostinato (sounding much like a gearshiftingvehicle) before pulling the floorout and exposing even lower rumbles.Softer still, "City Dream" just occasionallywiggles, tremolo guitars striking atintervals to break up the stirring roomnoise. For the aptly named "ValleyDream," Biggs creates a pastoral blendof just-before-the-dawn, field-recordedambience with his clarinet set onfeedback delay, carefully calling hisensemble home in the distance as thedisc dies out. It's a terrific balance oforganics and mechanics.Dave Madden
Bout Damn Time
Self-Released
Street: 08.07
The Smash Brothas = SwollenMembers + Jedi Mind Tricks +Aquemini-era Outkast
Hip Hop is not dead in Utah. Reports ofits death have been greatly exaggerated.The crews around here should startpaying attention, or at least start buyingbeats from the laundry list of producersand DJs that The Smash Brothas utilizeon their latest release. These songs arenot only varied in their style (rangingfrom slow, down tempo jams to excitedsample-heavy bangers), but they havecompetent rhymes as well. Insightfultracks like "More Moes," a trackabout people who eat "green Jell-Owith carrots" and who "control theschools, control the media, business orreligion cuz it's getting much greedier"delivers some scathing criticism of thepopular culture in the area. "Rappers"is another notable track that educatesby breaking down the nomenclaturebehind "rappers" and "MCs." And if youdon't know the difference, perhaps theBrothas can school you. -JP
Some Beasts
Self-Titled
Self-released
Street: 04.01
Some Beasts = Caspian + Akron/Family - vocalists + organicsounds
A nostalgic tinkering oxf an orchestralkind, this album is bursting withdelectable sounds. From tambourinesto pots and pans to castanets todelayed acoustic guitars, the musicis extremely varied and colorful. Theenergy that is channeled throughout thealbum is of such a marvelous kind thatit's almost hard to believe. Although itis an instrumental work, each song'stitle gives the listener just enough of anidea to make each track a picturesquelittle world of its own. From the damp,rainy perception that "Some Days AreWet And Green" produces to the feelingof lounging near the French Riviera in"In Tangier," the listener is taken ona mindful journey that encompassesmore senses than just that of hearing.This album seems to have appearedout of nowhere one early-springafternoon when Some Beasts' onlymember, Jordan Badger, decidedto self-release this splashy whirlwindbefore jetting off to unknown territories.Erin Kelleher
The Tenants of Balthazar'sCastle
3 Dreams
American West Freedom SocietyPress
Street: 06.03
The Tenants of Balthazar's Castle =Eliane Radigue + Zeljko McMullen
Michael Biggs'(aka The Tenants of Balthazar's Castle)music requires patience, but thatpatience is rewarded with intrigue.Divided into three movements, Biggsstarts the set with "Room (Dream)," afairly grumbling, sometimes explosive,sub-frequency driven mix of oscillatedgestures and reedy snippets. As thepiece progresses, Biggs guides hisbass tones into a solemn, yet surging,ostinato (sounding much like a gearshiftingvehicle) before pulling the floorout and exposing even lower rumbles.Softer still, "City Dream" just occasionallywiggles, tremolo guitars striking atintervals to break up the stirring roomnoise. For the aptly named "ValleyDream," Biggs creates a pastoral blendof just-before-the-dawn, field-recordedambience with his clarinet set onfeedback delay, carefully calling hisensemble home in the distance as thedisc dies out. It's a terrific balance oforganics and mechanics.Dave Madden
Page: << Prev 1 2 [3]
Facebook
Myspace
Twitter
YouTube
RSS
Be the first to comment!
Add a comment
Please keep your comments on the subject of the article.
We will delete your comment if it is racist, misogynistic, sexist, bigoted or just plain lame.
No HTML allowed!