Year: 2013
Local Reviews: Paper Cranes & The Doom Machine DVD
Is Provo the next hotbed for noise music? The stark conservatism mixed with a large number of youth should make for a loud and subversive subculture. Where are the artists? Are they afraid to take off their headphones? Luckily for Provo, the folks at A. Star brought a little chaos down south to test the waters. … read more
Local Reviews: Shark Speed
Oh boy!! Another band with shark in the name. I am starting to think that the whole shark thing in the band name might be getting a bit over used. One thing that is comforting: this band is really good. Their sound is basically Franz Ferdinand mixed with The Appleseed Cast, who they opened up for at Kilby Court back on Feb. 20. These guys are dope-fresh. … read more
Local Reviews: Shark That Got Her
I want to start off with stating that Shark That Got Her has the coolest band name in the whole state of Utah. I have always been a sucker for band names with shark in them, i.e. Sharks Keep Moving and Bear vs. Shark. Getting back on subject, STGH sound nothing like the two previous bands mentioned. … read more
Local Reviews: The Black Arrows
My immediate thoughts on listening to this were, “Why?” and then the follow up, “Why does the world need more chick pop?” I believe the answer is money. At least we got to see the lead singer of Paramore’s boobs Tweeted, but I don’t think local broad Ashley Rae will be doing that anytime soon to make her music more exciting. … read more
Local Reviews: Killbot
Killbot’s back with insatiable metal hunger in The Horror E.P. Deavy Metal eases us into the mayhem with a gorgeous classical guitar intro in “Beware the Moon,” which is riddled with howls from a werewolf and the whimpers of victims-to-be. … read more
Local Reviews: Laserfang
Laserfang opens their album the way that most bands would close a set after a multi-song encore. The first track on the album, “Master Control Program” starts with a minute-long musical instrument orgy before diving into a funky, electro-infused dance party. … read more
Local Reviews: Problem Daughter
I’m a little disappointed that it took me this long to find out about this band. Problem Daughter delivers catchy-as-hell punk rock atop major-key chord progressions with fun upbeat instrumental work. What’s interesting is that the actual words that singer Regan Ashton belts out in songs like “Good Friends” aren’t what initially seize our attention, but, rather, his timbre and comfort with his melodies—he demonstrates his vocal skills with a balance of scratchy and melodic singing. … read more
Local Reviews: Stumphead
When I first looked at the album art (done in MS Paint by the looks of it) and subsequently popped in the CD, I just assumed that the band was made up of a bunch of lazy, masturbating high school sophomores. Imagine my surprise when minimal web-based research revealed that these dudes are old enough to grow facial hair and drink in bars. … read more
Local Reviews: Theta Naught
It’s Naught Christmas-time! If there is one thing to avoid like the plague this Holiday season it is overproduced, pandering Christmas albums. Luckily, for Theta Naught, Naught Christmas is none of those things. … read more
Local Reviews: Uncle Scam
There is only word I can really use to describe Uncle Scam: “Sexxxcellent.” The band, no matter how good they are, has contributed to the English language in a way where it will never be the same. “Sexxxcellent” is the title of the second track on the band’s genre-smashing, provactive full length, and I’m pretty sure the song is about singer Ischa’s sexual encounter with some unnamed grappling partner. … read more
Local Reviews: Apache, The
Apache, The, is not Drew Danburry. Seriously. Stop calling them that. Although Danburry may be on vocals here and his characteristically verbose songwriting is all over this introductory eight song EP, this is a hairy beast of a record that is hardly the positivist, restrained acoustic music Danburry is known for playing. … read more
Local Reviews: Arsenic Addiction
Salt Lake’s Arsenic Addiction have returned from their well-received debut EP Requiem of the Fallen to offer a follow-up of a more expansive, more lavishly produced and finer tuned full-length with An Undertaker’s Lament. … read more