For The Lionelle, the album cover art-a seemingly random cacophany of glitter, watercolor and ink-is the perfect introduction to the group. Like a darker Modest Mouse, The Lionelle starts out of the gate with eerie chords that seem Danny Elfman inspired. … read more
Local Reviews: Melodramus
I confess, it took more than once through the album, but the Melodramus have officially won me over. Born from the school of ‘melodic metal,’ the group opts for singing over screaming and wins every time. … read more
Local Reviews: Mesa Drive
Mesa Drive could easily be Maroon 5’s long lost brother; their bigger, older brother in college who is and forever will be infinitely cooler. The band’s premiere album, Take What You Want, combines catchy melodies with jazzy bass riffs. … read more
Local Reviews: Mindstate
This record’s best attribute is Dusk’s organic chorus crafting. He has a proclivity for writing a great hook. A noticeable trend is that he connects most closely with songs he builds entirely himself, tracks like “Lead Life” and “Drat.” The former is a deftly sampled classical beat and has the best chorus on the album, a rap/sung Brother Ali cadence that sounds easy and natural–like it was grafted from the beat. … read more
Local Reviews: Nolens Volens
This is, like, the second or third album Nolens Volens has released this year and it doesn’t look like he is going to stop, unfortunately. All joking aside, if you have been following Andrew Glassett’s musical journey, you will have invariably noticed that this CD is a departure from his earlier, pounding club hits. … read more
Local Reviews: Pink Lightnin’
Anybody who was at September’s Localized knows that these guys fuckin’ rock harder than a rocking chair on crack. They managed to capture this on CD somehow and made it possible to listen to it over and over and over. … read more
Local Reviews: Saint Sebastian’s School for Wicked Girls
Who is this band? Where are they from? What wickedness could they have possibly committed sending four dudes to an all girls’ school? … read more
Local Reviews: Spitsofrantic
Perhaps because my expectations were so low, this album was sort of enjoyable. Spitzo has a solid, balanced, if simple flow. His doubles are well timed-he knows his verses. The record’s frenetic trip-hop-acid-gangsta production fits surprisingly well with it’s dystopian theme. … read more
Local Reviews: The Upstarts
Finally, a band that proves that Utah ska doesn’t need to be the realm of high school band nerds with a Reel Big Fish fetish! The Upstarts deliver some seriously awesome ska, chock full of soul and a whole heap of energy. … read more
Local Reviews: Various Artists
Giving SLUG’s Death By Salt recordings a run for the money as “Best Local Compilation”, Slowtrain presents a well produced record of previously unreleased tunes by some of Utah’s favorite alt-country or acoustic soloists. … read more
Local Reviews: The VCR Quintet
The freshest and most exciting stuff to come out of Salt Lake is the local noise scene. 2006 saw the amazing album by The Tenets of Balthazar’s Castle (a top five of Andrew Glassett) and 2007 is set with a new release by The VCR Quintet. … read more
Local Reviews: I Hate Girls with Bruises
The Salt Lake City noise scene is blowing up and it is no small part to the concerted and concentrated efforts of one Aaron Zillionaire. On this release, Zillionaire and collaborator Tia Martinez, haven’t gone the usual route of penetrating noise and obtuse shocking visuals that subordinate the sound, but have taken this one track opus and made it sound as if you were in an industrial warehouse full of machines moving blending and echoing in harmonious unison. … read more
