Year: 2013
Local Reviews: Genre Zero – Self-Titled
Genre Zero usher a style of power alt-rock that I wish was more common in today’s local scene. With their recently released EP, vocalist Joshua Isbell wails in a John Darnielle–esque fashion to an upbeat, percussive tempo and rolling violin textures.
Local Review: Youth Choir – Demo 2013
The real story is that Youth Choir is making tight, succinct, raging hardcore that retains no shortage of ’80s hardcore and attitude. … read more
Local Review: Θ – æ ω
I especially like the bottom-scraping low end, the way it just draaags its claws against the bottom of my listening periphery. I also really like the extreme high frequencies in the second track, when sequels of noise streak through the sky like some kind of evil Aurora Borealis. … read more
Local Review: Young Yet Brilliant Sleuths/Guides & Braves – Self-Titled...
Young Yet Brilliant Sleuths/Guides & Braves Self-Titled Split Self-Released Street: 06.04 YYBS/Guides & Braves = Imbroco + Real Estate + Track Star It is weird that this split record sounds vintage to me. As vintage as, say, the early aughts, when emo fractured into two very disparate camps. Both YYBS and Guides & Braves follow
Local Review: Vour- Self-Titled
Growing up in a ski town meant going to a lot of free, outdoor concerts in the summer, which pretty much always involved a lot of beer and a lot of jazzy jam bands. Vour would fit well on a bill for that kind of family-friendly mountain jam, with swanky beats and a plethora of instrumentation. … read more
Local Review: Vincent Draper and the Dirty Thirty – SAM
I’d like to propose that the Vincent Draper sound become the official sound of Utah. It’s deeply rooted in folk traditions, but somehow manages to be fresh and original—it’s definitely earthy in its tone, and while you can hear influences from all over, it stands on its own. … read more
Local Review: Vile Blue Shades – Live! in Salt Lake -or-...
Red state, blue state, now that both the Red Bennies and Vile Blue Shades allegedly are no more, Utah is much less a punk rock state. … read more
Local Review: Tri-Polar Bear – The Hibernation EP
The EP’s got me looking forward to their future endeavors, so give it a listen, and see if it tickles your fancy, too. … read more
Local Review: Turned to Stone – The Memory I’ve Become
This is a beautiful EP by one of the valley’s most exciting melodic death metal acts, in the opinion of this humble critic. … read more
Local Review: Ulteriors – Self-Titled
With subjects ranging from politics, religion, war and corporate control, Ulteriors have taken heed to the classic punk rock sound, both lyrically and musically as they so proclaim. … read more
Local Review: The Tuxedo Tramps – Self-Titled
As a longtime psychobilly fan, I wanted more stand-up bass, but even that ridiculous complaint faded away in favor of appreciation for the fact that they don’t sound like every other psychobilly band. … read more
Local Review: The Red Light Commandos – Self-Titled
The Red Light Commandos Self-Titled Self-Released Street: 06.02 The Red Light Commandos = Incubus + The Mars Volta I am incredibly torn on how to represent this album. With heavy, blues-influenced progressive rock, soft and soothing vocal stylings sound both forced and discordant. For moments in every song, you can hear the vocalist singing in
