PINE = Tool – Dream Theater … read more
Local Review: PINE – Nibiru
Local Review: Notion – Life’s Hard, Death’s Easy
Notion = Atmosphere + MGK + Sage Francis … read more
Local Review: November Tide – Jargon Sunset
November Tide Jargon Sunset Nova One Productions November Tide = Ron L. Hubbard + Roses & Exile It’s amazing the variety of projects Chris Alvarado takes on, from the black industrial of 23 Extacy to Twilight Transmissions to Roses & Exile to now, the delicate, mellow tracings of November Tide. Lying underneath the multiple layers
Local Review: NSPS – Timeless Towns and Haunted Places
NSPS Timeless Towns and Haunted Places Nutra Stick NSPS = They Might be Giants + Barenaked Ladies NSPS might not be too bad of a band, if it weren’t for the vocals. They’re gruff, tongue-in-cheek and strained, not unlike Van Morrisson’s, but unlike Van Morrisson’s, they’re painfully out of tune, making portions of this
Local Review: Pagan Dead – Mors Janua Vit Æ Et Vita Janua Mortis
Pagan Dead Mors Janua Vit Æ Et Vita Janua Mortis Self-released Pagan Dead = Misfits + Accused When I first received a copy of Pagan Dead’s debut album, I was a little leery, thinking, “Rockabilly? Next!” But after giving it a chance, I was instantly hooked! Relentless drumming by Jodie Hecate, demonic guitars by
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: Phono – The Changeover
Phono The Changeover 10 Degree Productions Street: 2006 Phono = NIN + VNV Nation Joe Ashton terrorizes electronic music with a focus bent on rhythm. Were you to spread the parts out, name checking the various influences that are prevalent on The Changeover you’d find just about every industrial/EBM clich, minus Skinny Puppy’s vocoder. Violence,
Local Review: Nolens Volens – Fuck Imogen Heap
Nolens Volens Fuck Imogen Heap Billygoat Database Street: 08.03 Nolens Volens = VCR Quintet + Tigerbeat6 + nonnon In my last review I made intimations of Andrew being the love child of disco and kid606. In this latest release Andrew has grown up and produced a tighter but not altogether better record than previous releases.
Local Review: Omeed the Nag – Status
Omeed has a nice Aesop Rock sort of gritty feel to his voice, but he does this half-rap-half-sing-song thing that sounds silly. Status isn’t a bad album, but it sounds no different and no better than the same cookie-cutter hip hop that we’re all so tired of. … read more
Local Review: Officer Jenny – The Gods Must Be Giddy, a Gaggle of Unexceptional Songs Written for Unexceptional People
Officer Jenny The Gods Must Be Giddy, a Gaggle of Unexceptional Songs Written for Unexceptional People Self-Released Street: 05.31 Officer Jenny = Sufjan Stevens + The Shins Provo’s Stephen Cope, who performs under the Pokémon-inspired moniker, Officer Jenny, offers up an understated, personal and, at times, campy album in his debut. Gods starts off
