Classic Local CD Reviews

Bob Moss
Folknik
Soundco Records
Yes, it’s another release by the Davis County human folk music encyclopedia. This time, it’s a collection of almost all cover material, from well known classics like “When You Wish Upon a Star,” “Greensleeves,” Lennon & McCartney’s “I Want to Hold Your Hand” and “Hide Your Love Away” to Daniel Johnston’s “True Love Will Find You in the End” to the more obscure “Don’t Forget Me Love” from a folk anthology that might well be forgotten if it weren’t for Moss. His devotion comes out in everything from his selection of material to the heartfelt delivery of his trademark falsetto and virtuoso picking on both guitar and banjo. The latter can be heard on his dazzling rendition of his lone original composition here, “Heartbreak Breakdown.” It should be noted that this collection was occasioned by Moss’ discovery by LA scenester Charles Schneider, who enlisted Dan Clowes of Ghost World fame to do the cover art. And only a few months ago, Moss wowed them at none other than CBGB’s in New York. Comparisons to Johnston suggest that if there’s any justice, Moss will someday achieve similar recognition. Enhanced CD contains videos of several songs, see Soundcorecords.com. (Issue 162) –Stakerized!

The Corleones
Inferno Mafia
Sickboy Records
You could automatically try to pigeonhole The Corleones under punk rock, and you’d be halfway right––they are punk rock, harking back to the Ramones. But they deliver their brand of punk with such a sexy, authoritative darkness that’s at once mysterious and ironically cheerful, that it kind of screws up any preconceptions you had about punk rock to begin with. They definitely have a more mature sound than most local bands. There are token Salt Lake references embedded in the songs, such as “South Salt Lake will bring you down, West Valley will bring you down” in “Slippin’ Away (Ode to ReMorse)” and I must say, The Corleones seem to be the master of 80s-sounding butt-metal-riff openers, such as the one to “Norris Buys a Shotgun” complete with a “Welcome to the Jungle” primal scream. They pull it off somehow, as they do singing a song with their name in it: “C-O-R-L-E-O-N-E-S, we’re the best.” Oh well, the Causey Way did it too, so it must be cool. (Issue 158) –Nicolas Fox

Corleones
Soundtrack to Suicide
Sickboy Records
If you end up killing yourself, don’t worry about leaving a mess. Say the Corleones, “Hello our fans, we are the Corleones. Kill yourselves and leave us your bones.” Tidy. Just one example of the Corleones’ tongue-in-cheek observations of a strange, unfamiliar world, and smart, surly, ironic and subtle innovative style. More examples: Track five’s discordant, Sonic Youth-like guitar picking, track ten’s weird breaks, static, and lonesome bells, track twelve’s rhythm guitar, full of tension, like birds balancing on a telephone wire ready to drop at any moment with a din of full-on rock caterwauling at the end. Track nine boasts an unusual guitar riff with low, fast bass that is a perfect example of all the many arms of the octopus that is the Corleones––they won’t fit into any box, they won’t behave. You’ve been warned. (Issue 167) –Nicolas Fox

Die Monster Die
Only the Dead Will Survive
Dr. Cyclops Records
It’s another Die Monster Die release, and nothing is different from previous releases, but it’s still good. For those not aware of DMD, they are heavily Misfits-influenced with a straight-ahead rock sound and an obsession with zombies, death, B-horror movies, masks, blood and Satan. Song titles from Only the Dead are: “Rock N Roll Super Monster,” “Bleeding Wrists of Destiny” and “Feast of the Living Dead.” Actually, there is only one song title that refers to zombies, but there are seven that are directly or indirectly related to suicide. What could this mean? Zoloft refills aren’t that expensive, guys. And hey, suicide isn’t the answer. Killing yourself is. (Issue 201) –James Orme

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