Local CD Reviews with your host Spencer Jenkins
Issue 214 / October 2006 More from this Issue
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Blackhole
Name of album?
Record label?
Street: ?
Blackhole = Enemymine + Melvins + Flipper
Sour punk punch plays downright dirty thumb-war with Melvins heavy and No Means No simple-jagged, bass-laden sensibilities. Morphine peeks out via ominous, chromatic-scale sax in "Livin’ Life" and "No Entiendo" with additional furious guitar add-ins. Iggy Pop & Lemmy had a love child named Chopper—dinchya hear? His full-bodied chain-smoker’s cough in "Praise From Caesar"’ is realer than your little toe, realer than your dripping STD. Same with the policeman’s whistle in "Catch Phrase of the Latter Days" (arrest me). Two basses separate out in the mix with different distortions and by prowlin’ around in different octaves. The rest of Blackhole is songwriter and bass player Paul Butterfield (Red Bennies, Ether, Purr bats, etc.), Dave Boogert on drums (Erosion, and nice to see him back), and Dave Styer on second bass (The Horns, Tarn, etc.). Additional players on the album: Mike Sasich, Eli Morrisson, Dave Chisholm and Steven Chai engineered by none other than Andy Patterson. Best songs are "Praise from Caesar" and the slow, gnarly, swaggering hairball "Rosa"—the kind you wanna lick, digest and throw up, relishing the taste of rancid vomit on your lips. –Rebecca VernonDie Panda Die!
Banned in China
Self Released
Street: 10.01
Die Panda Die = pop + synths + punk
This Orem based power pop band builds songs up from speedy synths with warm distorted guitars and a punk affect. The 80s dance beats recall new wave bands like Devo but a more accurate description may be Elvis Costello crashing into Brian Eno. "Moog," one of my favorites on this five song EP has a quick rhythm that is driven by, yes, a moog synthesizer. I’ve had a soft spot for the analog moog sound ever since listening to my dad’s Tomita records when I was a kid. But this is pop music with enough edge to keep it cool; they are able to have a sense of humor and remain agitating. They also have a good band name. But these guys played their last show this June, so you’re only chance to hear them is this album or on their myspace page that has four of the five tracks.
Form of Rocket
Men
Sick Room Records
Street: 10.23
Form of Rocket = City of Caterpillar + The Jesus Lizard + Shellac
In the three years since their last release, Form of Rocket have improved every aspect of their music. The drumming, bass, guitars, vocals, lyrics and production all make your jaw drop. Just put on the first track, "This is Occupation," and you’ll get an immediate idea of what I’m talking about. The songs are more uniform while remaining complex; technical without becoming too cluttered. From the starting line it’s right in your face. Men is more concise and focused with more weight put on the singing. Curtis Jensen’s inimitable vocals are more up front beside the tough guitars and drums. A lot of the lyrics are taken from Curtis’ last book of poetry, Watch Me Dig A Hole. I could have spent the entire review just quoting some of the incredible lyrics. If you don’t listen to this, you’re missing out on some of the best music SLC has to offer. I can’t help but picture Steve Albini nodding his head in approval.
Joaquin McCloud
Shannon Sossamon
A Star Recordings
Street: 05.26
Joaquin McCloud = Guided By Voices + Sonic Youth + movie stars
Like a musical take on Andy Warhol, Joaquin McCloud play songs with a pop structure but with what sound like alternate tunings and a freer range of experimentation. There are songs named after Paul Giamatti from American Spendor and Sideways, William H. Macy, from Fargo and Magnolia, Nicole Kidman, Steve Buscemi, Phillip Hoffman and of course, Shannon Sossamon. There isn’t an obvious connection between the actors and their respective songs beside the title track that has a recording of Shannon talking about a party with strippers in a confessional voice. Joaquin McCloud is the project of Garrick from The Paper Cranes and like everything else on their label this band is innovative and individual from anything out there, even from the other acts on the label. Most of the songs have two guitars (electric and acoustic) that deliberately keep left of center and a broken-down drum kit. The vocals can be compared to Thurston Moore – slightly atonal, nasal and appealing. It’s pop art with emphasis on the art.
Name of album?
Record label?
Street: ?
Blackhole = Enemymine + Melvins + Flipper
Sour punk punch plays downright dirty thumb-war with Melvins heavy and No Means No simple-jagged, bass-laden sensibilities. Morphine peeks out via ominous, chromatic-scale sax in "Livin’ Life" and "No Entiendo" with additional furious guitar add-ins. Iggy Pop & Lemmy had a love child named Chopper—dinchya hear? His full-bodied chain-smoker’s cough in "Praise From Caesar"’ is realer than your little toe, realer than your dripping STD. Same with the policeman’s whistle in "Catch Phrase of the Latter Days" (arrest me). Two basses separate out in the mix with different distortions and by prowlin’ around in different octaves. The rest of Blackhole is songwriter and bass player Paul Butterfield (Red Bennies, Ether, Purr bats, etc.), Dave Boogert on drums (Erosion, and nice to see him back), and Dave Styer on second bass (The Horns, Tarn, etc.). Additional players on the album: Mike Sasich, Eli Morrisson, Dave Chisholm and Steven Chai engineered by none other than Andy Patterson. Best songs are "Praise from Caesar" and the slow, gnarly, swaggering hairball "Rosa"—the kind you wanna lick, digest and throw up, relishing the taste of rancid vomit on your lips. –Rebecca VernonDie Panda Die!
Banned in China
Self Released
Street: 10.01
Die Panda Die = pop + synths + punk
This Orem based power pop band builds songs up from speedy synths with warm distorted guitars and a punk affect. The 80s dance beats recall new wave bands like Devo but a more accurate description may be Elvis Costello crashing into Brian Eno. "Moog," one of my favorites on this five song EP has a quick rhythm that is driven by, yes, a moog synthesizer. I’ve had a soft spot for the analog moog sound ever since listening to my dad’s Tomita records when I was a kid. But this is pop music with enough edge to keep it cool; they are able to have a sense of humor and remain agitating. They also have a good band name. But these guys played their last show this June, so you’re only chance to hear them is this album or on their myspace page that has four of the five tracks.
Form of Rocket
Men
Sick Room Records
Street: 10.23
Form of Rocket = City of Caterpillar + The Jesus Lizard + Shellac
In the three years since their last release, Form of Rocket have improved every aspect of their music. The drumming, bass, guitars, vocals, lyrics and production all make your jaw drop. Just put on the first track, "This is Occupation," and you’ll get an immediate idea of what I’m talking about. The songs are more uniform while remaining complex; technical without becoming too cluttered. From the starting line it’s right in your face. Men is more concise and focused with more weight put on the singing. Curtis Jensen’s inimitable vocals are more up front beside the tough guitars and drums. A lot of the lyrics are taken from Curtis’ last book of poetry, Watch Me Dig A Hole. I could have spent the entire review just quoting some of the incredible lyrics. If you don’t listen to this, you’re missing out on some of the best music SLC has to offer. I can’t help but picture Steve Albini nodding his head in approval.
Joaquin McCloud
Shannon Sossamon
A Star Recordings
Street: 05.26
Joaquin McCloud = Guided By Voices + Sonic Youth + movie stars
Like a musical take on Andy Warhol, Joaquin McCloud play songs with a pop structure but with what sound like alternate tunings and a freer range of experimentation. There are songs named after Paul Giamatti from American Spendor and Sideways, William H. Macy, from Fargo and Magnolia, Nicole Kidman, Steve Buscemi, Phillip Hoffman and of course, Shannon Sossamon. There isn’t an obvious connection between the actors and their respective songs beside the title track that has a recording of Shannon talking about a party with strippers in a confessional voice. Joaquin McCloud is the project of Garrick from The Paper Cranes and like everything else on their label this band is innovative and individual from anything out there, even from the other acts on the label. Most of the songs have two guitars (electric and acoustic) that deliberately keep left of center and a broken-down drum kit. The vocals can be compared to Thurston Moore – slightly atonal, nasal and appealing. It’s pop art with emphasis on the art.
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