Year: 2013
Local Reviews: Charles Ellsworth
Charles Ellsworth is a storyteller. If his music doesn’t keep you listening (and it should), his vivid lyrics will stop your hand from skipping anything on this EP. Ellsworth’s vocals remind me of Matt Berninger, laced with the blues and 1960s country. … read more
Local Reviews: Handicapitalist
Leave it to a true punk band to record a cheap EP in a small unfiltered space. The fast-paced trio threw this five-track album together in a day, all performed and recorded in the Raunch Records back room. … read more
Local Reviews: Kiliona
In an effort to strike out on his own, Kiliona Palauni broke away from his popular and well-established group A Cassandra Utterance and immediately hit the studio in mid-2010 to craft this pop/soul tour de force. Not at all afraid to experiment, Kiliona touches base with early ‘80s synth and early ‘90s hip hop beats while guests drop rhymes. … read more
Local Reviews: Never Say Never
Salt Lake City’s bullet-belted loudmouths claim to be the dirty rotten bastard offspring of spike-studded punk rock and rollicking thrash metal. The effort is earnest (and generally enjoyable) and their cheeky disdain of all things “PC” elicits a laugh or two (who isn’t up for the occasional dick joke?), but they don’t always straddle the line seamlessly. … read more
Local Reviews: The Hang Ups
The Hung Ups are back with their sophomore full-length, and they’re as catchy as ever! DotDB is tight and the guitars cinch each song together with intricate leads such as in “Donkey Lips.” … read more
Local Reviews: Burning Olympus
With hazy guitar sounds and strong percussion, Burning Olympus encompasses the energy of White Rabbits and the low grit of The Black Keys in their first full-length album, Going Nowhere. … read more
Local Reviews: Discourse
Rich and elegant, this album really does go down just like a mug of delicious hot chocolate. The music is beautiful, the instrumentals are neat and specific and the production is excellent. Joining the likes of John Mayer with seductive vocalizations, the whole album was a straight through easy-listen. … read more
Local Reviews: Dusk One
Produced by Fisch Loops, this half pack is a testament to the creativity and reach of Dusk One. Made from sounds of the Brady Bunch, these often mellow, feel good beats are teamed up nicely with the lyrical lambasting from Dusk One. … read more
Local Reviews: Fisch Loops
This funky little EP was pieced together entirely out of samples taken from that educational show from the ‘70s, “The Electric Company.” The unlikely source material yields some downright classic-sounding grooves, bringing to mind Lifesavas’ Gutterfly or some Curtis Mayfield in its homage to the decade of funk with a capital “F.” … read more
Local Reviews: Jesus or Genome
Jesus or Genome is the new project from Mike Cundick, guitarist and occasional screamer of local rockers Loom. Those expecting the same sharp guitar licks and chaotic energy of Cundick’s other band are in for a surprise, as Jesus or Genome is a much more mellow affair, featuring only Cundick’s voice over an acoustic guitar. … read more
Local Reviews: One Strike One Rise
Bring it Back in Me is meandering, rote dirge rock. The band, at its most successful, recalls the gothic country of Songs: Ohia. At its least successful points, the vocals sound one take away from being finished, and there’s a flute needlessly warbling all over the track. … read more
Local Reviews: Jon Bentley
On the surface, Coyote seems to have been thrown together in a home studio with little thought or organization behind it, but in reality that impression serves as perfect camouflage for a very eclectic album. Bentley’s light voice and equally lighthearted stage presence have made this singer/songwriter a secret favorite around Ogden. … read more
