Happy Valley pop rock is alive and well with the Provo band No Sleep’s self-titled full-length. Guitarist Matthias Hammon’s shimmering, fingerpicked arpeggios dominate the somewhat spare production with the sweet-without-saccharine vocals of Shelby Crawley, who shares vocal duties with Hammon. … read more
Karl Jørgensen, you rat bastard, what have you done with my brain? I have fallen in love with this album and refuse to take it off repeat. … read more
This stuff was groan-inducing the first time I heard it, strolling through Zuccotti Park a few years back. (I think I have a hand signal to show how much I like it, too.) … read more
This getup is a strong example of some good alt-thrash-rock in a well-produced and beautifully packaged full length. They write some sweet guitar solos on tracks like “Awaken the Fire” and “Twenty Seven,” but the strongest song on this album, hands down, is “Farewell.” … read more
It’s a shame that Night Sweats disbanded as early as they did because the music left behind is just so fucking good. … read more
Songs to Forget Me By is rife with songs ripped from the romantic, early ‘00s atmospheric alt-pop camp, which is fine, but I must say I was bored for most of this album. … read more
OK Ikumi Outside Hel Audio Street: 04.30 OK Ikumi = Corduroi + Ethernet Once again, Karl Jørgensen has won over my heart with the ambient sounds of his latest synthesized magnum opus. This time, Outside translated into a more themed, cohesive work than its predecessor 10/13. The collection of sounds weaves an intricate tapestry of
Oxcross Tree and Stone Self-released Street: 04.15 Oxcross = USX + Clutch + Karma To Burn Heavy and extremely loud rockers Oxcross bring forth the riffs. Those riffs flow like the springs and streams of the Wasatch Front, starting as trickles and turning into massive rivers. There’s a familiarity in the styles Oxcross throw down,
Local (Vernal, Utah) singer/songwriter Paul Kellett, of P.K. Workman, is a longtime-coming solo artist: always seeking band-life, but finding his widest wingspan on a solo flight. … read more
Pillow Dragon are a local duo that have taken the purest elements of industrial and combined them with a modern-day feel. The best example I can give of this combination is “Repulse,” a catchy beat layered on top of subtle synth and laced with smooth, controlled vocals. … read more
Lightz Out is a seven-track sampler of rap, hip-hop and R&B material, with different guest vocalists to break up the musical compositions. It begins with “Grounded,” a rap song featuring B Still, and moves right into a pretty, little R&B ditty on the second song, “Cry for Help.” … read more
Night Wings = Owen Pallett + Emily Wells … read more
