Year: 2005
Local Review: The Body – Call Off the Search
The Body Call Off the Search Self-Released The Body = Aesop Rock + Atmosphere + the Roots Funky sometimes slipping into raga full-instrumental backtracks flow behind flows laid by emcees LoKaL and MiMiC rounding out over an hour of recorded sweet hip-hop smoothness. The first half of tracks find the lyrics a bit lazy, crutching
Local Review: The Horns – Yellow T EP
The Horns Yellow T EP The Horns = Girls Against Boys + fast Melvins At least, mine came with a section of yellow T-shirt with hand-drawn flowers on it courtesy of Dave Styer, one-half of The Horns’ double-pronged axe-destroying machine. The Horns, my favorite new local band, put the “I” back in “merciless.” Self-gratifying crunchy,
Local Review: The Invisible Rays – Self-Titled
The Invisible Rays Self-Titled Feroz Records IR = the Damned + Graves + the Corleones The Invisible Rays play often-slow, almost dirge-ish creep punk filled with plodding buzzsaw bass riffs, mournful or shouted vocals and sometimes-droning-sometimes-rocking synths. Their upbeat songs are much more tolerable than the slow ones, and I’m actually in favor of axing
Local Review: The Awesome Possum Band – Blendn’ In
The Awesome Possum Band Blendn’ In The Awesome Possum Band = Willie Nelson + Tenacious D + The Frogs Quirky alt-country with deep redneck roots sounds like it came straight from the heart of Alabama moonshine country. Songs are about Blue, the hound dog, corndogs, crawdads, prison and the office. Covers include the Southern-accented “Wish
Local Review: Swedish Music in Utah – Lucia Celebration
Swedish Music in Utah Lucia Celebration Utah Arts Council Lucia Celebration = cute times + food, folks & fun This CD is just sickeningly cute. It’s a bunch of Swedish young people singing trad Swedish music. It’s a recording of the Lucia Day Celebration, put on by Utah’s Swedish Heritage Society. Sweden happens to be
Local Review: Subterranean Masquerade – Suspended Animation Dreams
Subterranean Masquerade Suspended Animation Dreams The End Records SM = Pink Floyd + Polyphonic Spree + Katatonia + Paradise Lost + Tommy Subterranean Masquerade’s much-anticipated first full-length album picks up where two-song EP Temporary Psychotic State left off, giving us Pink Floyd psychedelia, Porcupine Tree/Devin Townsend prog rock and 60s Tommy concept-rock-opera insanity, but blended
Local Review: Spit – Self-Titled Demo
Spit Self-Titled Demo Spit = Godsmack + Taproot + Disturbed Spit aren’t bad for what they do, even though the first track blows monkey chunks and they could have used better production … or just production, period. Fat, harshly separated riffs churn more viciously than a jilted milkmaid. Aggressive drumming with plentiful amounts of
Local Review: Sound Lab – Eat Your Pets
Sound Lab Eat Your Pets Sound Lab = NIN + The Bad Plus + Cat Stevens They experimental ambience was passable in the first three tracks, but really picks up in “Toy Box,” where toy percussion, discordant, creepy guitar, maggot-moulting clicking sounds and beautiful cello blend together—a perfect soundtrack to falling asleep clutching your dead mother’s
Local Review: State & Stereo – The Reservoir
State & Stereo The Reservoir Gloworm Records S & S = The Strokes + Modest Mouse + Julian Tulip’s Licorice I just found out about this charmingly mopey band called Julian Tulip’s Licorice, and there are moments when State & Stereo remind me of the better parts of them, even though I’m confident State &
Local Review: Ryan Boud – Falling Stars
Ryan Bound Falling Stars Ryan Boud = Jade Tree + acoustic guitar + Gathering Osiris Ryan Boud probably wants to be signed, but he already sounds like he’s on a label—the packaging, production and delivery of his music is pretty much Pollyanna perfect. Bitterness against perfect-aspiring people aside, Ryan Boud’s songwriting is quite impressive