Month: December 2013
Local Review: The Wasatch Fault – Self-Titled
The band from Logan and Salt Lake City, Utah veers between something like a jam-band groove and indie rock angst. Vocalist Tyler Gilvarry, in his existential meanderings, resembles a much less tortured Isaac Brock of Modest Mouse. … read more
Local Review: The Circulars – Self-Titled EP
The Circulars’ sound, while comparable to several bands from a bygone era of earnest and dark, jangley pop music, could be properly suited to nearly any time—simply based on the fact that the songs are good, the musicians are talented and there’s no air of pretense to deflate the mood. … read more
Local Review: The Dog – Slow and Sweet
Slow and Sweet is a mix of everything from a little grunge to some bubblegum pop and vocals that sound like a gritty Marc Bolan. … read more
Local Review: The Glass Gentlemen – Self-Titled
In some ways, The Glass Gentlemen share a lot in common with the psychodrama of early Cursive recordings. … read more
Local Review: Robert & The Carrolls – Everybody’s Famous EP
The first time I pressed play on Everybody’s Famous, with its opener “Vintage,” I was transported to the PCH, driving fast no doubt, but still taking it all in around me—the smells, the sounds, the sun soaking into my skin. … read more
Local Review: Riksha – Dream Drops Red
Riksha plays heavy, hard, shiny metal, and their new release, Dream Drops Red, is a neatly executed album of exactly that. The music is loud, mean and beautiful. … read more
Local Review: Nostalgia – Self-Titled
It’s not often that a baritone voice sticking to a few sustained notes hooks me. It’s more rare when the band comes from Utah County.
… read more
Local Review: No Sleep – Self-Titled
Happy Valley pop rock is alive and well with the Provo band No Sleep’s self-titled full-length. Guitarist Matthias Hammon’s shimmering, fingerpicked arpeggios dominate the somewhat spare production with the sweet-without-saccharine vocals of Shelby Crawley, who shares vocal duties with Hammon. … read more
Local Review: Ok Ikumi – 10/13
Karl Jørgensen, you rat bastard, what have you done with my brain? I have fallen in love with this album and refuse to take it off repeat. … read more
Local Review: Michael Biggs – Gold
Salt Lake’s dark side is finally coming out of the woodwork. … read more
Local Review: La Verkin – Judge The Judger
La Verkin’s freshman album is something to admire. Meaty chunks of Form of Rocket, cubed and diced bits of Accidente boiled in a mild Ian MacKaye–based stock—this album is a stewy mess that gets better the following day. … read more
Local Review: Intra-Venus & the Cosmonauts – Launch
Intra-Venus & the Cosmonauts play raw, psychedelic punk rock. Their EP Launch, recorded and engineered by the band DIY-style, reflects their experimental punk mentality. … read more
