Month: March 2013
Local Review: Brisk1er
Brisk1er’s second compilation album coalesces meaty funk beats with a wide variety of local rap artists. If he continues to pump out substantial mix tapes, the crossroads of the West will soon be a heavy contender in the national underground rap scene. … read more
![Local Review: The Direction](https://www.slugmag.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/the-direction-deal-with-the-devil.jpg)
Local Review: The Direction
Even though you might not think “gypsy anything” based on the equation of music I used above to describe The Direction’s sound, use your imagination when I say that they create a unique brand of gypsy-blues-rock that incorporates sounds from all of the above. … read more
![Local Review: The Hang Ups](https://www.slugmag.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/the-hung-ups-six-songs.jpg)
Local Review: The Hang Ups
I love everything about punk rock—the anger, the energy, all of it. I hope that three-piece bands like The Hung Ups are always around. The songs on this EP are so immediate and easy to get into. … read more
![Local Review: Uniphi](https://www.slugmag.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/uniphi-walk-your-road-album-artwork.jpg)
Local Review: Uniphi
Walk your Road is a straight-up feel-good jam-a-licious love-fest. The music is country-reggae, the vocals are executed with an island twist, and the lyrics are a non-stop celebration of life, full of self-exploration, appreciation and love. … read more
![Local Review: Zombie Book Club](https://www.slugmag.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/zombie-book-club-self-titled-artwork.jpg)
Local Review: Zombie Book Club
This local duo still has a ways to go to catch up with Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney, but nonetheless, this debut album features some decent zombie tunes, if that’s your kind of thing. … read more
![Local Review: The Arcadians](https://www.slugmag.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/the-arcadians-no-more-nightmares-album-artwork.jpg)
Local Review: The Arcadians
The Arcadians has a pretty sound overall, with a lot of the focus on the vocals, but there is not a lot of substance to latch on to. My biggest complaint about this debut album from this Provo group is that it lacks originality. … read more
![Local Review: Wildcat Strike](https://www.slugmag.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/wildcat-strike-self-titled-artwork.jpg)
Local Review: Wildcat Strike
The word that best describes this album is “raw.” It’s safe to say that Wildcat Strike’s debut release is nothing short of original. Psychedelic and folk influences are present. There’s even a tinge of blues, but with raw talent, this band has melded their own form of rock. … read more
![Local Reviews: Advent Horizon](https://www.slugmag.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/advent-horizon-immured-artwork-crop.jpg)
Local Reviews: Advent Horizon
These guys are extraordinarily talented young musicians, and I had the great pleasure of witnessing them firsthand at a live show this past year. Musically, they are dedicated to beautiful, progressive rock songs, and they jam till they’re done—all the songs on the album are over four minutes long, and about half are over six. … read more
![Local Review: Caladan Brood](https://www.slugmag.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/caladan-brood-echoes-of-battle.jpg)
Local Review: Caladan Brood
Evoking a bitter age of strife in a war-torn fantasy realm, Echoes of Battle shows an impressive amount of maturity for a debut release. With a tasteful mix of thoughtful orchestral arrangements and dynamic black metal sorcery, members Mortal Sword and Shield Anvil pay lyrical and musical tribute to Steven Erikson’s dark fantasy series, The Malazan Book of the Fallen. … read more
![Local Review: Color Animal](https://www.slugmag.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/color-animal-vision-lies-album-artwork.jpg)
Local Review: Color Animal
After covering Color Animal for July’s edition of Localized, at which point in time they had not recorded anything yet, I was eager to hear their debut album. Despite having to wait a few extra months, this seven-song mini-LP with a great blend of psychedelic and garage/surf rock was worth it. … read more