Authors: Rebecca Vernon
Local Review: The New Transit Direction – Wonderful Defense Mechanisms
The New Transit Direction Wonderful Defense Mechanisms Some Records Even though Some Records’ press release for The New Transit Direction mistakenly says that “Salt Lake City is known more for its religious zeal than its quality independent music. The town’s isolation and small indie community gave the guys little else to depend on but their
Local Review: Theta Naught – Abacus
Theta Naught Abacus Eden’s Watchtower Theta Naught = Pink Floyd + Utah Symphony The opening track of the instrumental Abacus, “Ignition Switch,” reminds me of Pink Floyd’s “Careful With That Axe, Eugene” mixed with a bit of NIN discordance on the wavery, single guitar notes. The thick, layered strings weld perfectly with the guitar
Local Review: The Wolfs – Lights Out +4
The Wolfs Lights Out +4 PseudoRecordings The Wolfs = Iggy & the Stooges + The Germs The Wolfs remind you of all the tough, grimy reasons you fell in love with rock n’ roll and/or punk—and it didn’t have anything to do with romance, money, status or fashion. “The Baroness” is my favorite track on
Local Review: The Second Opinion – Flesh Except Dust
I think with a name like the Second Opinion, I was expecting West Valley nü-metal crap trying to redeem itself with second-rate female vocals. … read more
Local Review: The happies – Meet the happies
THE HAPPIES MEET THE HAPPIES The Happies = Nick Drake + Brian Jonestown Massacre The questions you should ask yourself right now are: Why haven’t I heard of this band before, how has my life been incomplete without them, are they still around, and why did this stupid reviewer wait several months to write them up?
Local Review: The Jukejoint 45’s – Self-Titled EP
The Jukejoint 45’s Self-titled EP The Jukejoint 45’s = The Cramps + Elvis + Robert Johnson Grammar, children! If I see another Salt City CD’s or Go-Go’s emblem again, I’ll maul. Plurals don’t have apostrophes! Anyway, The Jukejoint 45’s make some really kick-ass rockabilly that’s not different from a dozen other rockabilly bands you’ve
Local Review: The Body – Call Off the Search
The Body Call Off the Search Self-Released The Body = Aesop Rock + Atmosphere + the Roots Funky sometimes slipping into raga full-instrumental backtracks flow behind flows laid by emcees LoKaL and MiMiC rounding out over an hour of recorded sweet hip-hop smoothness. The first half of tracks find the lyrics a bit lazy, crutching
Local Review: The Horns – Yellow T
At least, mine came with a section of T-shirt with hand-drawn flowers on it courtesy of Dave Styer, one-half of The Horns’ double-pronged axe-destroying machine. … read more
Local Review: The Awesome Possum Band – Blendn’ In
Covers include the Southern-accented “Wish You Was Here” and “Under the Milky Way.” The Awesome Possum Band is funny but not in an annoying way. … read more
Local Review: Summerhead – Liberation
Summerhead Liberation Eden’s Watchtower Summerhead = German EBM + A Different Drum Records Mostly instrumental Summerhead ranges from new-age electronica to synthpop to hip-hop to DJ dub trance to reggae, Enya to Natalie Merchant to Massive Attack. The coherency lies in the smooth production, the peaceful, slow beat structures that are one web holding
Local Review: Swedish Music in Utah – Lucia Celebration
This CD is just sickeningly cute. It’s a bunch of Swedish young people singing trad Swedish music. It’s a recording of the Lucia Day Celebration. … read more
Local Review: Subterranean Masquerade – Suspended Animation Dreams
Subterranean Masquerade’s much-anticipated first full-length album picks up where two-song EP Temporary Psychotic State left off, giving Pink Floyd psychedelia. … read more
