Year: 2014
Local Review: Visitors – Blueshift
Visitors Blueshift Self-Released Street: 06.20 Visitors = Deftones + Rush Rarely does an EP sound so much like a full-fledged album. Musical offerings of such satisfying integrity do not hatch, fully formed, by sheer happenstance. Blueshift combines fist-sized chunks of aboriginal talent with months of coffee-addicted, all-night hunkering sessions, to yield prog metal that feels
Local Review: Various Artists – Sounds of Sodium
I have to admit, my local punk rock experiences have been tainted. Unfortunately, my friends and I went to many bad, local pop punk shows in the ‘90s and missed out on the good stuff. Thankfully, Sounds of Sodium, a local punk/rock/hardcore compilation, made it my way. … read more
Local Review: WE – WE-E.T.’s VOL. II
WE = Joey Bada$$ + 1995 Raekwon … read more
Local Review: Twilight Transmissions – Shadowland
Beyond the visual aesthetics, this album fares quite well. It’s a well-textured series of electronic soundscapes and beats that would not sound out of place accompanying a modern horror film, game, or a walk through a haunted hospital.
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Local Review: Untytled – Winter
I’ve got my wine, I’ve got my Untytled album and now all I need is a fat spliff. In all seriousness though, this album is superb to chill out to (or can easily be used to wallow in a cesspool of seasonal self-deprecation, I quickly found). … read more
Local Review: Tom Bennett – The Man Who Shook the...
From start to finish, the most powerful word I’ve found to describe Devil’s Hounds is “honest.” The beginning of this album focuses specifically on one man’s experience of, possibly, his favorite place on earth: Salt Lake City. … read more
Local Review: Tiger Fang – Endangered
This album is what it sounds like to pound a 12-pack of Pabst by yourself, jump around on your bed shredding on air guitar until you get sick and puke into a pile of week-old laundry, and knock over your foot-tall bong because you were too busy headbanging to pay attention to anything but the music. … read more
Local Review: Tupelo Moan – Cocaine and Chicken Grease
Fuck yeah! No, seriously, I said, “Fuck yeah,” every 20 seconds the first time through this album. I tried to find both of the items listed in the album title to get the full effect. … read more
Local Review: Twilight Transmissions – Temple Of Abandonment
Local musician Christopher Alvarado is on a creative binge lately and just keeps pumping out quality ambient pieces, this time alongside Jeff Duke. This is not as calming as what we are used to hearing from him, as it is a haunting release that has you envisioning the conflicts of an insane mind. … read more
Local Review: The Pillar – Songs From The Hollow
Packed full of moody, bluesy, folksy rock n’ roll, The Pillar’s debut album, Songs From the Hollow, has its roots firmly planted in American music tradition. … read more
Local Review: The National Parks – Young
I listen to an album like this and think, “How in the hell is this band not on every single person’s iPod on the planet?” This three-piece Provo band has it all in Young. It’s heartbreaking, reaffirming, energetic and fun—all while being thoughtful. … read more
Local Review: The North Valley – Patterns In Retrospect
The North Valley are not afraid to leave it all on the table. They aren’t afraid to wear their influences on their sleeves, either. That becomes obvious some 10 seconds into the first track, “Stones To Change,” which does its best “Tears of Rage” impression. … read more