Issues: Issue 191 - November 2004
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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: Nothing For Now – The Veil
Nothing For Now The Veil NFN = Alkaline Trio + AFI + Dashboard Confessional The best way to become self-assured is to get an ego first and then force yourself to live up to it, but Nothing For Now considers themselves a bit too epic. These recent SLC immigrants should heed the age-old wisdom
Local Review: Nolens Volens – Faux EP
Nolens Volens Faux EP Nolens Volens = Bjork + Rope or Bullets + The Anniversary It is obvious that Nolens Volens has a wide range of musical tastes—it’s probably a good idea they didn’t try to mix them all together simultaneously. Instead, they line up synth-pop ranging from spastically blippy to catchy next to
Local Review: Nexis – Game Over
Nexis Game Over Nexis = Jay Z + Hieroglyphics Slick rhymes and inventive metaphors of Nexis do well to gloss over his one downfall—lack of original content. He spits the same shit that everybody else spits—typical G-rap “I’ll fuck you up while smoking blunts and get the big deal I deserve” shit. His lyrical abilities