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Local Review: Pelpp and A. Vanvranken – Pedal
Pelpp and A. Vanvranken Pedal Pelpp and A. Vanvranken = Worm is Green + Bjork’s Vespertine – vocals Electro-ambiance flutters in the deepening twilight; machines have warmth too. Like the sophisticated, emotional electronic renderings of Iceland’s Worm is Green, Pelpp and A. Vanvranken is minimal but powerful—knows when adding just one more note would
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: Twelve State Killing Spree – Demo
Twelve State Killing Spree Demo TSKS = The Damned + _ Nelson + Teen Idols The underproduction and nasally vocals on this album make this sound like a recording my band I had in high school made—and that is not flattering. However, the early 90s (not over-) melodic tunes contrast the more-malevolent-than-your-typical-snotty/poppy-punk-band lyrics quite
Local Review: Various Artists – If You Do Clean People’s...
Various Artists If You Do Clean People’s Ears Out Vol. 3 Eden’s Watchtower Records Eden’s has trimmed down its trad comp from two songs per artist to one, which means less Eden’s music, but makes it more accessible. DulceSky’s midnight-lush, 80s shoegazer “Media-Luna” opens up Vol. 3, followed by The Child Who Was a
Local Review: Quant – Crossies Count
Quant Crossies Count Quant = (Modest Mouse + Jane’s Addiction)valium Quant set out to make the most subtly-smart album ever and almost succeeded—or maybe I’m just not smart (patient) enough. The songs are all well and good with intricate instrumentation and thoughtful lyrics but they just go on and on and on—listening to this
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: Various Artists – Sound vs. Silence Vol. 1
Various Artists Sound vs. Silence Vol. 1 S vs. S = Her Candane + Still Breaking Hearts + Goodbye Blue Monday + Joel Pack + Clarity Process + Still Life Projector + The Hifi Massacre + Danny Vesper Even if Sound vs. Silence doesn’t showcase the best bands in SLC, they have no lack of talent
Local Review: Victrola – 5-Song demo
Victrola 5-Song demo Victrola = Mission of Burma + Pinback SLUG got 5-Song Demo by Victrola for a Sabbathon demo in June but it’s so hot I took the liberty of reviewing it anyway. Down-home original indie rock like Dinosaur Jr. blends with a pinch of modern indie-rock jangle like Trail of the Dead, Pinback,
Local Review: Vomit – Self-titled
Vomit Self-titled Vomit = Pantera + Eyehategod + Napalm Death I hate Pantera. Ogden’s Vomit are repeatedly compared to Pantera—but Vomit BLOW them AWAY no contest!!! The music is very crunchy and heavy, and tuned down much lower so they’re more on par with Napalm Death or Eyehategod. This band is also fucking brutal
Local Review: DulceSky – Media-Luna/Half-Moon
DulceSky Media-Luna/Half-Moon Eden’s Watchtower DulceSky = The Cure + Violet Run – Nirvana worship Once again, DulceSky have delivered a glazed-honey concoction of dense, multi-layered goth-tinged shoegazer; a smooth, dark glide down a river with no reflection, like Ophelia’s ride to her final resting place. The female harmonies are especially potent on Media-Luna, and the