Local Reviews: Secret Abilities

Local Reviews: Secret Abilities
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The feminine sound of Tink Safeer’s backing vocals gives the already danceable “You’re Alive” a dash of ’60s pop.  Decapitated slows to an end with a narrative sung from the perspective of a deceased lover accompanied only by acoustic guitar: “I Stopped Loving You Tonight” could be Deadbolt on open mic night. … read more

Local Reviews: The Young Electric

Local Reviews: The Young Electric
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It takes about 150 seconds for this album to establish itself as one of the tightest, most well produced local efforts this year. It’s a seamless transition between the opener, “Patterns & Processes,” which subtly incorporates elements of its successor on the album, “Machines,” that sets the feeling for the remainder of The Young Electric’s debut effort as more of a complete package rather than an assortment of randomly distributed tracks.  … read more

Local Reviews: Totem and Taboo

Local Reviews: Totem and Taboo
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From the ashes of The Suicycles, we are given Totem and Taboo. Former frontman of the “dirty electronica-rock”-branded Suicycles, Camden Chamberlain, along with others in the band, have teamed up with some newcomers to deliver a new sound that is certainly dark and proggy.   … read more

Local Review: Allred

Local Review: Allred
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Allred’s latest release is quite subdued. You won’t find any reverb on the lead guitar, and the vocals at a lower tone are more effective. Past and present considered, I do like this band’s guitar work.  … read more

 
 
Local Review: Danger Hailstorm

Local Review: Danger Hailstorm
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A two-fer slab of bouncy proto-punk (or izzit pop metal?) from this local quartet, You Got It ups the the band’s incessant ear for melody (ex members of The Stench and Bad Yodellers can’t hurt) and ballsy chutzpah by driving itself over simple, thundering drums and keeping the vocals front and center in the mix.  … read more

Local Review: Dine Krew

Local Review: Dine Krew
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Salt Lake seems to be spouting out a steady stream of promising, uprising hip hop artists lately—Dine Krew included. We-E.T.’s presents unassuming, mellow beats and slow, satisfying flow, with short tracks that place emphasis on transitions.  … read more

Local Reviews: Hot Club of Zion

Local Reviews: Hot Club of Zion
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Hot Club of Zion is one of the best jazz trios around. They play a gypsy style of jazz, and even though the mention of the genre brings to mind the great Django Reinhardt, they still maintain their own identity while paying proper homage. … read more

Local Review: Lady & Gent

Local Review: Lady & Gent
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This debut album from the five-piece Provo group features a plethora of pure folk music—lots of singing along with acoustic instruments. Made up of brothers Garrett and Ben Williams, Jeff Adams, Dana Sorensen and Chris White, Lady & Gent demonstrate how the Americana genre is done. … read more

Local Review: Irun Toh

Local Review: Irun Toh
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Where Reality Sleeps is a smorgasbord of heady guitar licks compiled haphazardly into an enigmatic debut compilation. The entire project is reminiscent of late-’60s/early-’70s heavy blues (with a modern twist).  … read more

Local Review: Little Sap Dungeon

Local Review: Little Sap Dungeon
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Six years since their previous album, Kevin Cazier (Perception Cleanse Perception) and Christopher Alvarado (Twilight Transmissions, Roses and Exile, Harsh Reality) are back with seven (no, eight! There’s a hidden one!) tracks, marrying their dismal dystopian visions to harsh yet beautiful, heavy post-punk industrial noise. … read more