Year: 2013
Local Reviews: The Trappers
Chances are that had I not come across this album for review, many of you wouldn’t have ever known it existed. This five-piece ensemble aimed for Americana with a twist of country, and they got it… in the blandest fucking possible manifestation they could have created. … read more
Local Reviews: Birthquake!
Birthquake! is a local band of brothers, the Whittaker brothers to be exact, who managed to capture the bliss of life on this exuberant little slice of pure joy known as the Be Excellent To Each Other EP. This release is what smiles sound like. … read more
Local Reviews: Charles Ellsworth
Charles Ellsworth is a storyteller. If his music doesn’t keep you listening (and it should), his vivid lyrics will stop your hand from skipping anything on this EP. Ellsworth’s vocals remind me of Matt Berninger, laced with the blues and 1960s country. … read more
Local Reviews: Handicapitalist
Leave it to a true punk band to record a cheap EP in a small unfiltered space. The fast-paced trio threw this five-track album together in a day, all performed and recorded in the Raunch Records back room. … read more
Local Reviews: Kiliona
In an effort to strike out on his own, Kiliona Palauni broke away from his popular and well-established group A Cassandra Utterance and immediately hit the studio in mid-2010 to craft this pop/soul tour de force. Not at all afraid to experiment, Kiliona touches base with early ‘80s synth and early ‘90s hip hop beats while guests drop rhymes. … read more
Local Reviews: Never Say Never
Salt Lake City’s bullet-belted loudmouths claim to be the dirty rotten bastard offspring of spike-studded punk rock and rollicking thrash metal. The effort is earnest (and generally enjoyable) and their cheeky disdain of all things “PC” elicits a laugh or two (who isn’t up for the occasional dick joke?), but they don’t always straddle the line seamlessly. … read more
Local Reviews: The Hang Ups
The Hung Ups are back with their sophomore full-length, and they’re as catchy as ever! DotDB is tight and the guitars cinch each song together with intricate leads such as in “Donkey Lips.” … read more
Local Reviews: Burning Olympus
With hazy guitar sounds and strong percussion, Burning Olympus encompasses the energy of White Rabbits and the low grit of The Black Keys in their first full-length album, Going Nowhere. … read more
Local Reviews: Discourse
Rich and elegant, this album really does go down just like a mug of delicious hot chocolate. The music is beautiful, the instrumentals are neat and specific and the production is excellent. Joining the likes of John Mayer with seductive vocalizations, the whole album was a straight through easy-listen. … read more
Local Reviews: Dusk One
Produced by Fisch Loops, this half pack is a testament to the creativity and reach of Dusk One. Made from sounds of the Brady Bunch, these often mellow, feel good beats are teamed up nicely with the lyrical lambasting from Dusk One. … read more