Month: April 2013
Local Reviews: Glade Sowards
I was at SLUG Mags’s July LOCALIZED which doubled as David Williams’ CD release show at The Urban Lounge, when it turned into “Glade’s Surprise Record Release Party.” I have to say, it plucked my heart-strings. … read more
Local Reviews: Herban Empire
This is the kind of music that brightens my day. Comparing things to Sublime is shitty, I know, but here I can’t help it–the down to earth, feel-good vibe and even Andrew Cole’s vocals smack of Bradley and the crew. … read more
Local Reviews: Malevolent MC
SpyHop is known locally as an organization for teens, and their record label is teen-run, but the debut from Malevolent MC doesn’t sound immature. There’s not, however, much malevolence to be found here. … read more
Local Reviews: Rob Alvord
Alvord’s debut album makes it obvious he has some guitar playing skills. Too bad his voice is like an awkward accessory—it’s nasally and reaches some highly uncomfortable pitches at times. … read more
Local Reviews: SubRosa
The ever-changing lineup of SubRosa has yielded some musical surprises over their brief recording history, and they continue to surprise with Swans Trapped in Ice, their latest three-song EP. … read more
Local Reviews: The Wilderness
The Wilderness is definitely solid. The band is tight and the compositions are on point. There is enough variety among the songs to not get too annoyed or bored. However, it’s nothing that is gonna change the world. … read more
Local Reviews: Eagle Twin
Salt Lake City’s own Eagle Twin have (finally) released an album that is sure to wind up on many top 10 lists at the end of this year. The band’s debut full length, recorded in Seattle by Southen Lord’s “go-to guy” Randall Dunn, simply oozes heaviness. … read more
Local Reviews: Fictionist
Fictionist, formerly under the guise Good Morning Maxfield, is a jazzy little throwback to the 60s, complete with candy-pop keyboards and glockenspiel. With so many pop bands churning out albums that sound like everything else you’ll hear being played on every other station, this group is really a breath of fresh air. … read more
Local Reviews: Jahnre
Oh, the smooth, sultry sounds of Jahnre. They soothe the soul and make one think of far-off tropical landscapes and nothing but BTM (big-titty mermaid)s for miles. As much as I feel like the whole no-worries, punk-reggae beach music has run its course, it’s still hard to deny the laid-back attitude of the music. … read more
Local Reviews: Lord Mandrake
The Best of All Possible Worlds proves that Lord Mandrake is both talented and interesting, but the album’s overall execution leaves something to be desired. Spooky delayed guitars and reverb vocals lazily flow over each song and each track blends nicely into the next, but the songs all sound too similar and nothing really grabs your attention. … read more
Local Reviews: Michael Gross and The Statuettes
Immediately upon listening to Dust and Daylight, I feel like I have been sucked into an old creepy bordello, drunk on some gnarly booze and cavorting around with ol’ busted-ass skeezers trying to get me to spend my time and money on them. … read more
Local Reviews: Monarch
Salt Lake City’s Monarch have offered up a fairly somber modern post-grunge EP with five tracks running a little over a half an hour. That’s a good number of new tunes for an EP. There are moments on the EP when vocalist Aaron Pulsipher sounds like a dead ringer for the singer of Disturbed. Fortunately for him they’re just moments, and Pulsipher showcases a broader vocal range that is a great vehicle for darkened mid-tempo tracks. … read more
