Local CD Reviews
Issue 240 / December 2008 More from this Issue
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Destructinator
S/T
Self-Released
Street: 10.08
Destructinator = Helloween + (aretarded) Megadeth
The four energetic local youngstersthat comprise the moronically-named Destructinator love tobend strings and serve up powermetal solos, and, honestly, they’requite good at it, but they need tobanish their inner class clownsand freeze the irony pronto. Lyricslike "Destructinator, he’ll destructinateyour face," and songs abouttheir (I assume) teacher, "Mrs.Wadium," won’t make them anyfriends outside of study hall. I’mnot saying they should pokerfaceit like Manowar and slide theirskinny asses into fur loincloths, butc’mon, the irony is distancing andinsulting. Musically, these guyscould really accomplish somethingif they half tried, but the deliberatelyamateurish cover artworkand dopey lyrics smell like a wetpaper bag full of teenage farts tome. –Ben West
Kid Madusa
S/T
Self-Released
Street: 06.08
Kid Madusa = Ulver + Bat forLashes + Dresden Dolls
Enter the dark, raw, silky mysticism ofthe parallel universe that is Kid Madusa.This album, Kid Madusa’s first, beginswith a haunting, harpsicord waterfalland rich doubled vocals that seem tohold the sorrow and wisdom of 200years, not the 27 of Lindsay Heath, exdrummerof Phono and The Tremulaand current drummer of BronwynBeecher and Twin Lull. Lindsay’strademark heavy, unpredictable drummingserves the album well, especiallyin the trippy beats of "The BaderieAcid Recovery Project." Lindsay playsmost of the instruments on the album,with Cache Tolman (Rival Schools,Skullfuzz) on bass and James Miskalending trumpet. Lindsay’s distinctsongwriting is a cross between funeraldirges for dollhouse families and aDavid Lynch circus. "Marry Anette" isa deathly waltz on a tightrope 1,000 feetabove a craning, anonymous crowd,and the unusual drumbeat switch-upnear the end is precise and uniquelike a Black Forest clock. "VanishingTwins," "Twilight Antique" and "XisYtxis" are atmospheric, dreamy soundscapes."Weeping Cathedral" startswith a samba beat, minimal, floaty keysand hypnotic melodies until burstinginto a chorus that expands outward likethe sea at high tide. Kid Madusa tapsinto the despair that is inherent to thehuman condition, with a sensitivity thatoffers a beautiful respite. This is someof the best local songwriting you willever hear. –Rebecca Vernon
Joshua James
The Sun Is Always Brighter
Intelligent Noise Records LLC/Northplatte Records
Street: Re-released 06.06
Joshua James = Jason Mraz +Howie Day + Chaz Prymek
Okay, I’ve got to say it. Joshua Jamesis hot. Really hot. Maybe it’s those blueeyes (they’ll get you every time), orperhaps it’s his great jawline, but thisis supposed to be an album review, solet me get to the point. His swooningvoice and lulling acoustics have mademe fall head over heels in almost thesame way that I did for Nick Carterfrom the Backstreet Boys when I wasin the fourth grade. But seriously, hisalbum has got a good feel to it. In alltruthfulness, it’s a bit too precious formy taste, but even in all my cynicism,I can appreciate the earnestness thatoozes from the album. This guy wearshis heart on his sleeve, and not justwhen it comes to love. Brighter is fullof songs with dark undertones andserious topics like war and substanceabuse, and the way they’re performedwith such honesty makes them all themore meaningful. Joshua James willmake your heart melt. –Erin Kelleher
M. Sartain
TheCamelotSessions
Kilby Records
Street 09.20
M. Sartain = Starmy + Sebadoh +Elliot Smith
Nepotism can do strange things whenit comes to music. If it were not forfamous siblings, there would have beenno careers for Roger Clinton, TommyCash or Jermaine Jackson. But beforeyou believe that brotherly kindnessonly manifests itself in national acts,consider the local surname Sartain. Undernormal conditions, TheCamelotSessionswould never have seen the lightof day, but since local venue houndWill Sartain has recently ventured intorecord making, putting out his brother’sthrow-away material makes perfectsense. With this disc, Mike Sartainunloads a score of ambient, low-budgetcuts. Some of the songs seem morelike song sketches than completecompostitions, like the "Her Majesty"track on The Beatles’ Abbey Road.Overall, Camelot has the feel of earlySebadoh or one of the myriad otherEric Gaffney/Lou Barlow collaborations(Sentridoh, anyone?). The finalproduct is quite listenable and a littleaggressive, even if a tad bit derivative.Plus, there are photos of young Mike ina sleeveless shirt. Sassy! –WoodcockJohnson
S/T
Self-Released
Street: 10.08
Destructinator = Helloween + (aretarded) Megadeth
The four energetic local youngstersthat comprise the moronically-named Destructinator love tobend strings and serve up powermetal solos, and, honestly, they’requite good at it, but they need tobanish their inner class clownsand freeze the irony pronto. Lyricslike "Destructinator, he’ll destructinateyour face," and songs abouttheir (I assume) teacher, "Mrs.Wadium," won’t make them anyfriends outside of study hall. I’mnot saying they should pokerfaceit like Manowar and slide theirskinny asses into fur loincloths, butc’mon, the irony is distancing andinsulting. Musically, these guyscould really accomplish somethingif they half tried, but the deliberatelyamateurish cover artworkand dopey lyrics smell like a wetpaper bag full of teenage farts tome. –Ben West
Kid Madusa
S/T
Self-Released
Street: 06.08
Kid Madusa = Ulver + Bat forLashes + Dresden Dolls
Enter the dark, raw, silky mysticism ofthe parallel universe that is Kid Madusa.This album, Kid Madusa’s first, beginswith a haunting, harpsicord waterfalland rich doubled vocals that seem tohold the sorrow and wisdom of 200years, not the 27 of Lindsay Heath, exdrummerof Phono and The Tremulaand current drummer of BronwynBeecher and Twin Lull. Lindsay’strademark heavy, unpredictable drummingserves the album well, especiallyin the trippy beats of "The BaderieAcid Recovery Project." Lindsay playsmost of the instruments on the album,with Cache Tolman (Rival Schools,Skullfuzz) on bass and James Miskalending trumpet. Lindsay’s distinctsongwriting is a cross between funeraldirges for dollhouse families and aDavid Lynch circus. "Marry Anette" isa deathly waltz on a tightrope 1,000 feetabove a craning, anonymous crowd,and the unusual drumbeat switch-upnear the end is precise and uniquelike a Black Forest clock. "VanishingTwins," "Twilight Antique" and "XisYtxis" are atmospheric, dreamy soundscapes."Weeping Cathedral" startswith a samba beat, minimal, floaty keysand hypnotic melodies until burstinginto a chorus that expands outward likethe sea at high tide. Kid Madusa tapsinto the despair that is inherent to thehuman condition, with a sensitivity thatoffers a beautiful respite. This is someof the best local songwriting you willever hear. –Rebecca Vernon
Joshua James
The Sun Is Always Brighter
Intelligent Noise Records LLC/Northplatte Records
Street: Re-released 06.06
Joshua James = Jason Mraz +Howie Day + Chaz Prymek
Okay, I’ve got to say it. Joshua Jamesis hot. Really hot. Maybe it’s those blueeyes (they’ll get you every time), orperhaps it’s his great jawline, but thisis supposed to be an album review, solet me get to the point. His swooningvoice and lulling acoustics have mademe fall head over heels in almost thesame way that I did for Nick Carterfrom the Backstreet Boys when I wasin the fourth grade. But seriously, hisalbum has got a good feel to it. In alltruthfulness, it’s a bit too precious formy taste, but even in all my cynicism,I can appreciate the earnestness thatoozes from the album. This guy wearshis heart on his sleeve, and not justwhen it comes to love. Brighter is fullof songs with dark undertones andserious topics like war and substanceabuse, and the way they’re performedwith such honesty makes them all themore meaningful. Joshua James willmake your heart melt. –Erin Kelleher
M. Sartain
TheCamelotSessions
Kilby Records
Street 09.20
M. Sartain = Starmy + Sebadoh +Elliot Smith
Nepotism can do strange things whenit comes to music. If it were not forfamous siblings, there would have beenno careers for Roger Clinton, TommyCash or Jermaine Jackson. But beforeyou believe that brotherly kindnessonly manifests itself in national acts,consider the local surname Sartain. Undernormal conditions, TheCamelotSessionswould never have seen the lightof day, but since local venue houndWill Sartain has recently ventured intorecord making, putting out his brother’sthrow-away material makes perfectsense. With this disc, Mike Sartainunloads a score of ambient, low-budgetcuts. Some of the songs seem morelike song sketches than completecompostitions, like the "Her Majesty"track on The Beatles’ Abbey Road.Overall, Camelot has the feel of earlySebadoh or one of the myriad otherEric Gaffney/Lou Barlow collaborations(Sentridoh, anyone?). The finalproduct is quite listenable and a littleaggressive, even if a tad bit derivative.Plus, there are photos of young Mike ina sleeveless shirt. Sassy! –WoodcockJohnson
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Posted on December 5, 2008 by Destructinator Fan
Ben West, Seems like you have no sense of fun. You are full of teenage farts, and shit, if you ask me. Did you even listen to these guys?
Posted on December 5, 2008 by Destructinator Fan, again
Ben West, I have to add something to my above comment. If you feel these young, and they are young, musicians have talent, then give constructive feedback. You are insulting, rude and really a dick. These guys are just learning. There is no reason to be to be such an ass to them. If you are so great, why are you writing for this little local rag, I wonder. Why are you not out touring with your own band, or writing mega-hits? Please, on your next review, give constructive feedback. Don't stomp on young dreams - even if your dreams are shattered. Encourage, don't massacre.
Posted on December 10, 2008 by Jim
Well, gee all the members of destructinator are 17 or 18 aren't they? They grew up in SLC not compton and in middle to upper middle class families. I think that songs about a popular substitute teacher that many kids their age know, or a a giant robot or a fusion of norse mythology and cyborgs is better content then to try and fain some fatalistic dark NIN I'm so misunderstood, I'm so dark content. As instrumentalist I think they do well and obviously spend a lot of time in the woodshed practicing. They all seem to be improving everytime you hear them and expaning their content. They admit that vocals are not their forte on their site and that probably has something to do with the lyrical content too. Ben, I have been to a few local venues where these guys were playing. They have a following. When they finish their set sometimes half the crowd leaves. Part of their appeal is that they do not take themselves too seriously. Having been on the road myself and once upon a time far too serious about something that should have always been mostly fun I hope they don't take you too seriously and keep improving and keep having fun.
Posted on December 10, 2008 by Sam
Mr. Ben. I don't think you really understand what the word Irony means or what Destructinator is about. The name goes back to when the lead guitar player and the bassist were someting like 12 and just beginning to play. They never thought that they would still be using the name years later in a band with serious potential. But that is who they are and how they are recognized and they are popular. I guess they could change the name but why? Go up to the U of U and you will see more than a few of their Tee-Shirts walking around campus on some girls in their twenties. I don't see how there is a problem with irony in the lyrics. The lyrics are rather silly, but that is by design. Actually, lyrics are kind of infrequent with Destructinator. I think that this bunch of youngsters may actually have a better chance at large scale success then most. No they do not at all sound like what we are hearing on the radio at present nor do they sound like the stuff the "underground intellectuals" seem to like and suggest ought to be on the radio. Maybe that is what drives theiur popularity. They are unique. Many of their songs are catchy yet different, Mrs. Wadium included. I think Destructinator is refreshing.
Posted on December 10, 2008 by Chago Arroyo
After reading a few of the comments about Destructinator I thought I would throw in my two cents. Nonot one of the boys can really sing. Guess that would be nice, but do not miss them in concert. The metal screams are pretty good though. Yes they can play the shit out of their instruments for their ages and I love the wall of sound effect you get when you see them live. The leads are always really good and often exceptional. The bass player and drummer together are like getting caught in an epic metal stampede at a live concert. Damn this band can be fun. You have to see them live to appreciate the lyrics because they often do these tongue and cheek epic preambles to the song that explains the story, albeit usually stupid story behind the lyrics. The recordings on their Myspace page really dont live up to a live show in musical quality or energy and I bet the CD does not do them justice either. This is a really, really a fun show band! Unfortunately, you cant see these guys very often or in some of the better clubs because they are not old enough to get in let alone play there yet. Destructinator are kind of the metal equivalent to Seth Rogans movies like Super Bad and Pineapple Express. There is no deep underlying message in the music but is well put together, quite entertaining, non-stop, more fun than a big dog and leaves you smiling. Like Seth Rogan they are actually damned talented but maybe not going to win at Sundance. Hey maybe they should be part of Rogans next sound track? I agree with the critic that they are capable of more, a lot more but they are young and full of promise so lets wait and see what happens. Keep it up guys!
Posted on December 10, 2008 by gay for destructinator
well i want them to do me i live destructinator is awesome thsi ben guy sounds gay you wanna make out or something ben JEEZ!
Posted on December 10, 2008 by gay for destructinator 2 the correction
i meant i love destructinator sorry im bad at typing hey guess what penis penis penis yeah crude dumb comments are awesome oh yeah and by the way MANOWAR RICKS you just wish you were manly enough to wear a loin cloth in front of thousands of people and what do you mean retarded megadeth... dude megadeth is always retarded dave mustaine is a really cocky guy. yours truky -destructinatorlover
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