Local CD Reviews
Issue 218 / February 2007 More from this Issue
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Band of Annuals
Live Warehouse EP
Self Released
Street: 11.01
BOA = Neil Young + Emmylou Harris that dreaded country twang
It's rare these days that a record can actually exude warmth. Live Warehouse EP does exactly that. From the first song, "Thought I'd Have Learned," to the final "Blood on my Shirt," these seven live tracks tug at your heart strings and make you long for a time when communities lived and died by what was playing on their phonographs. Classic country and folk themes like alcohol, infidelity and regret are all present here. The songwriting and sheer musicianship represented on this disc will make you wonder why Band of Annuals is not the best-selling band in every music store in Utah. They should be-the record is that good. It is the best alt-country music to ever come out of Salt Lake City. It will inspire you to write poetry, to sleep in without guilt and to call an old friend and start planning that road trip through Kentucky that you've been putting off for far too long. James Bennett
COSM
Microphone Boutique
Pseudo Recordings
Street: 02.19
Recorded at Deep Red Records Studio by Alex Vazques
Well, for starters their website is broken. Maybe it's just under construction while they remove all of the haplessly outdated pictures of Wendy (the former COSM frontwoman). The reason I brought it up is because I don't think I have ever seen a full-length album produced by the likes of the local electronica-hop legends. I thought I could obtain the facts; no can do. Microphone Boutique is another five-track effort by Daniel Day (Drums) and Amuse (Decks and Electronics) featuring Ramases (rigorous raps) and Ms. Karter (sultry song). Every COSM album is a little different. However, as the chosen arrangement of songs played, I couldn't tell if I was listening to the same record or not. Microphone Boutique bounced from one vocalist to the other, changing the mood on every composition. But let it be known: COSM conveys a genuine harmony and approach to the music they make; maybe that's what makes a commendably cohesive EP. Who needs a full length anyway? Lance Saunders
Glacial
Self-titled
Exigent
Street: 2006
Glacial = Red Sparowes + Black Sabbath + Dixie Witch
The unmistakable finesse of Drew Smith, Glacial's late drummer, shines through the recordings on this album, bringing an intricate Pelican feel to Glacial's material. Andy Patterson's heavier-than-hell chunk-drumming, in recent live settings, points Glacial in an almost Goatsnake/Isis direction. Pick your poison; both are awesome. Glacial's epic chord progressions and slow Southern breakdowns sound like an interesting conglomeration of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Failure and any number of Neurot bands. One of the most underrated aspects of Glacial are their terse, political lyrics. Check it: "Her face is so serene up onscreen. It's unsettling. ...They're thick as thieves. Rotting together like the autumn leaves," ("Thick as Thieves") and "The bombs are falling outside. The bombs are falling inside. America beams with pride as we watch the fight from ringside." ("Testify"). "With These Eyes," one of my two favorite tracks of the album (the other's "Testify"), has an old, freeform-flow, Americana spiritual feel. Glacial is single-handedly ushering in the angel militia of the apocalypse. Rebecca Vernon
Her Candane
No Battle!
Tribunal Records
Street: 11.07
Her Candane = Himsa + Dillinger Escape Plan + Every Time I Die + noise
Salt Lake City homeboys, Her Candane, come out screaming and ready to fight on their Tribunal Records debut, No Battle! Blending metal, hardcore, all the bloody screaming and layering of screaming you can handle with just plain noise, Her Candane has created a blend of chaos and abrasiveness that is only comprehendible and appreciated if you follow the type of music they play. No Battle! comes enhanced for your computer with a music video for the track, "Everyone in My Band Puked on Me! Even Billy." The music video uses a shaky camera that zooms in and out really fast while Dreu Hudson walks around screaming as its greatest special effect, so really, you're better off not spending any time to watch it. The only downside to this release, besides the included music video is the lagging and dragging noise in between several of the songs. Other than that though, Her Candane have done well for themselves with No Battle! Jeremy C. Wilkins
Monsoon Season
The Last Commute
Narrl Recording Co.
Street: 01.01
Monsoon Season = Sting + Late night NPR Jazz any shred of relevance
Nothing strikes fear into the heart of a SLUG reviewer faster than when a band compares itself to someone as musically worthless as John Mayer. What's even sadder is listening to the album and realizing that it is far worse. "Wonderland" it is not. If 21st-century jazz rock is your thing, then grab your fretless bass, loosen your tie, and sing along to The Last Commute with all of your balding, middle-aged friends. On the other hand, if you require your music to actually rock, then skip this watered-down Steely Dan record with its weak vocals and tired hooks and listen to something better-like almost anything else. Jack Sauteurs
Live Warehouse EP
Self Released
Street: 11.01
BOA = Neil Young + Emmylou Harris that dreaded country twang
It's rare these days that a record can actually exude warmth. Live Warehouse EP does exactly that. From the first song, "Thought I'd Have Learned," to the final "Blood on my Shirt," these seven live tracks tug at your heart strings and make you long for a time when communities lived and died by what was playing on their phonographs. Classic country and folk themes like alcohol, infidelity and regret are all present here. The songwriting and sheer musicianship represented on this disc will make you wonder why Band of Annuals is not the best-selling band in every music store in Utah. They should be-the record is that good. It is the best alt-country music to ever come out of Salt Lake City. It will inspire you to write poetry, to sleep in without guilt and to call an old friend and start planning that road trip through Kentucky that you've been putting off for far too long. James Bennett
COSM
Microphone Boutique
Pseudo Recordings
Street: 02.19
Recorded at Deep Red Records Studio by Alex Vazques
Well, for starters their website is broken. Maybe it's just under construction while they remove all of the haplessly outdated pictures of Wendy (the former COSM frontwoman). The reason I brought it up is because I don't think I have ever seen a full-length album produced by the likes of the local electronica-hop legends. I thought I could obtain the facts; no can do. Microphone Boutique is another five-track effort by Daniel Day (Drums) and Amuse (Decks and Electronics) featuring Ramases (rigorous raps) and Ms. Karter (sultry song). Every COSM album is a little different. However, as the chosen arrangement of songs played, I couldn't tell if I was listening to the same record or not. Microphone Boutique bounced from one vocalist to the other, changing the mood on every composition. But let it be known: COSM conveys a genuine harmony and approach to the music they make; maybe that's what makes a commendably cohesive EP. Who needs a full length anyway? Lance Saunders
Glacial
Self-titled
Exigent
Street: 2006
Glacial = Red Sparowes + Black Sabbath + Dixie Witch
The unmistakable finesse of Drew Smith, Glacial's late drummer, shines through the recordings on this album, bringing an intricate Pelican feel to Glacial's material. Andy Patterson's heavier-than-hell chunk-drumming, in recent live settings, points Glacial in an almost Goatsnake/Isis direction. Pick your poison; both are awesome. Glacial's epic chord progressions and slow Southern breakdowns sound like an interesting conglomeration of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Failure and any number of Neurot bands. One of the most underrated aspects of Glacial are their terse, political lyrics. Check it: "Her face is so serene up onscreen. It's unsettling. ...They're thick as thieves. Rotting together like the autumn leaves," ("Thick as Thieves") and "The bombs are falling outside. The bombs are falling inside. America beams with pride as we watch the fight from ringside." ("Testify"). "With These Eyes," one of my two favorite tracks of the album (the other's "Testify"), has an old, freeform-flow, Americana spiritual feel. Glacial is single-handedly ushering in the angel militia of the apocalypse. Rebecca Vernon
Her Candane
No Battle!
Tribunal Records
Street: 11.07
Her Candane = Himsa + Dillinger Escape Plan + Every Time I Die + noise
Salt Lake City homeboys, Her Candane, come out screaming and ready to fight on their Tribunal Records debut, No Battle! Blending metal, hardcore, all the bloody screaming and layering of screaming you can handle with just plain noise, Her Candane has created a blend of chaos and abrasiveness that is only comprehendible and appreciated if you follow the type of music they play. No Battle! comes enhanced for your computer with a music video for the track, "Everyone in My Band Puked on Me! Even Billy." The music video uses a shaky camera that zooms in and out really fast while Dreu Hudson walks around screaming as its greatest special effect, so really, you're better off not spending any time to watch it. The only downside to this release, besides the included music video is the lagging and dragging noise in between several of the songs. Other than that though, Her Candane have done well for themselves with No Battle! Jeremy C. Wilkins
Monsoon Season
The Last Commute
Narrl Recording Co.
Street: 01.01
Monsoon Season = Sting + Late night NPR Jazz any shred of relevance
Nothing strikes fear into the heart of a SLUG reviewer faster than when a band compares itself to someone as musically worthless as John Mayer. What's even sadder is listening to the album and realizing that it is far worse. "Wonderland" it is not. If 21st-century jazz rock is your thing, then grab your fretless bass, loosen your tie, and sing along to The Last Commute with all of your balding, middle-aged friends. On the other hand, if you require your music to actually rock, then skip this watered-down Steely Dan record with its weak vocals and tired hooks and listen to something better-like almost anything else. Jack Sauteurs
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Posted on October 18, 2007 by Aaron Evans
Maybe if you knew two shits about mucic you would realize that calling this talented band emo is a horrible insult. but wait, you do reviews for this shitty magazine, so of course you don't know anything about music. go fuck yourself.
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