Local CD Reviews
Issue 239 / November 2008 More from this Issue
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AODL
Scab Vodka Melt
Rive
Street: Summer 2008
AODL = Twodeadslutsonegoodfuck+ Bastard Noise
Punishingly thick noise, AODL'sScab Vodka Melt has a distinctprotonoise flavora single layer offrequencies wildly fluctuating anddistorted beyond all reason. Occasionally,the sounds will layer to createa bit of a dynamic building effect,but overall the album leans towardshammering consistency and repetition.The excellence of this albumis highlighted solely by the secondtrack on the album, "Second Child".The rapid in-and-out cuts of the tracklend a rhythm to a noise that leadme to believe I was listening to theloudest sound ever produced. Whileoccasionally touching on interestingsounds, (especially on "SecondChild") overall the album lacks thedynamics that accentuate the bestnoise albums. Ryan Powers
The Bad Apples
How Ya Like Dem Apples?Part I
Penalty Box Records
Street: 10.08
The Bad Apples= Beastie Boys +Sage Francis
Salt Lake locals, The Bad Apples areback by popular demand from fans.Penalty Box Records founder, MC/producer Mike Booth, and MC SirLouis Wildamiss bring some cognizantvocals to this LP with many localartists popping up in guest spotstoo. Beat styles vary from interesting70s-era sample-inspired to more"urban" friendly thumps and beatsin between. Sample lovers will enjoy,"Xtraish" featuring local cat, Verse1.I catch my buddies dipping theirheads methodically when they hearthis: always a good sign. Unfortunately,local, homegrown hip hopmay very well go unnoticed or, at theworst, go the way of the polar bear'siced tea, unless more people pickup stuff like this and give it a seriousturn in their rotation. JP
Ex Machina
Self Titled
Self-Released
Street: 10.28
Ex Machina = Muse + Radiohead +Taking Back Sunday + Pixies
I honestly have to say that Ex Machinais probably one of the best localbands. They may be slightly inconsistent,but who isn't. The first songon the album, "Syphoned" is by farthe best track, but also seems to besort of the bastard child. "Syphoned"comes out blaring and with seriousintensity. The first half of the songreminds me something Far wouldhave written back in the day. Thenthe sequencing does some progaction with 30 seconds of silenceseparating the beginning of the songfrom the second half of the song. It'svery original. The rest of the album isa little bit mellow, but the vocals aresolid and the compositions creative.Big up, Ex Machina. Maybe theseguys will play at my birthday party?Jon Robertson
I Am The
H.M.S.
Self-Released
Street: 10.12
I Am The = Tool + Chevelle
After having reviewed the EP, Ithought I was prepared for whateverI Am The was going to throw at menext, but nothing could have preparedme for this full-length LP. Everythingthese guys did right the firsttime around has just been added toand amplified. The album is heavy,dark and almost experimental inthe way it moves. Their unique approachto the style is refreshing, andit's clear they want to be taken seriously.The production quality on thealbum is amazing, and the best partabout it is that you're not paying forthe tracks you already got on the EP:everything on this one is completelynew. An incredible first release fromthese fellows, it should be picked upimmediately. Kat Kellermeyer
Johan the Angel
The General's Son EP
Canoe Music
Street: 11.28
Johan the Angel = Mew + SufjanStevens
This fun little four-track goes somethinglike "The General's Son" Pt.II, I, III, and IV and in that order. Oris it one track that just lasts elevenminutes? I think they are trying totrick us. Where is Ashton Kutcher?If I'm not being punk'd, then whatwas Johan the Angel thinking whenthey wasted however much moneyto put out an EP with four slightly,and I mean slightly, different tracks?Why not just wait until you've got avariety of things to put out, and doit all at once? Otherwise, it's just likea really bad trailer. Fortunately, "TheGeneral's Son" is a catchy tune thatmakes me feel almost as good aswhen I watch Disney movies. I hopewhen the actual album comes outI'm not disappointed. (Velour: 11.14)Lyuba Basin
Scab Vodka Melt
Rive
Street: Summer 2008
AODL = Twodeadslutsonegoodfuck+ Bastard Noise
Punishingly thick noise, AODL'sScab Vodka Melt has a distinctprotonoise flavora single layer offrequencies wildly fluctuating anddistorted beyond all reason. Occasionally,the sounds will layer to createa bit of a dynamic building effect,but overall the album leans towardshammering consistency and repetition.The excellence of this albumis highlighted solely by the secondtrack on the album, "Second Child".The rapid in-and-out cuts of the tracklend a rhythm to a noise that leadme to believe I was listening to theloudest sound ever produced. Whileoccasionally touching on interestingsounds, (especially on "SecondChild") overall the album lacks thedynamics that accentuate the bestnoise albums. Ryan Powers
The Bad Apples
How Ya Like Dem Apples?Part I
Penalty Box Records
Street: 10.08
The Bad Apples= Beastie Boys +Sage Francis
Salt Lake locals, The Bad Apples areback by popular demand from fans.Penalty Box Records founder, MC/producer Mike Booth, and MC SirLouis Wildamiss bring some cognizantvocals to this LP with many localartists popping up in guest spotstoo. Beat styles vary from interesting70s-era sample-inspired to more"urban" friendly thumps and beatsin between. Sample lovers will enjoy,"Xtraish" featuring local cat, Verse1.I catch my buddies dipping theirheads methodically when they hearthis: always a good sign. Unfortunately,local, homegrown hip hopmay very well go unnoticed or, at theworst, go the way of the polar bear'siced tea, unless more people pickup stuff like this and give it a seriousturn in their rotation. JP
Ex Machina
Self Titled
Self-Released
Street: 10.28
Ex Machina = Muse + Radiohead +Taking Back Sunday + Pixies
I honestly have to say that Ex Machinais probably one of the best localbands. They may be slightly inconsistent,but who isn't. The first songon the album, "Syphoned" is by farthe best track, but also seems to besort of the bastard child. "Syphoned"comes out blaring and with seriousintensity. The first half of the songreminds me something Far wouldhave written back in the day. Thenthe sequencing does some progaction with 30 seconds of silenceseparating the beginning of the songfrom the second half of the song. It'svery original. The rest of the album isa little bit mellow, but the vocals aresolid and the compositions creative.Big up, Ex Machina. Maybe theseguys will play at my birthday party?Jon Robertson
I Am The
H.M.S.
Self-Released
Street: 10.12
I Am The = Tool + Chevelle
After having reviewed the EP, Ithought I was prepared for whateverI Am The was going to throw at menext, but nothing could have preparedme for this full-length LP. Everythingthese guys did right the firsttime around has just been added toand amplified. The album is heavy,dark and almost experimental inthe way it moves. Their unique approachto the style is refreshing, andit's clear they want to be taken seriously.The production quality on thealbum is amazing, and the best partabout it is that you're not paying forthe tracks you already got on the EP:everything on this one is completelynew. An incredible first release fromthese fellows, it should be picked upimmediately. Kat Kellermeyer
Johan the Angel
The General's Son EP
Canoe Music
Street: 11.28
Johan the Angel = Mew + SufjanStevens
This fun little four-track goes somethinglike "The General's Son" Pt.II, I, III, and IV and in that order. Oris it one track that just lasts elevenminutes? I think they are trying totrick us. Where is Ashton Kutcher?If I'm not being punk'd, then whatwas Johan the Angel thinking whenthey wasted however much moneyto put out an EP with four slightly,and I mean slightly, different tracks?Why not just wait until you've got avariety of things to put out, and doit all at once? Otherwise, it's just likea really bad trailer. Fortunately, "TheGeneral's Son" is a catchy tune thatmakes me feel almost as good aswhen I watch Disney movies. I hopewhen the actual album comes outI'm not disappointed. (Velour: 11.14)Lyuba Basin
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