Year: 2013
Local Reviews: Uncle Scam
Despite parting ways with their rhythm section in late 2011, the remaining members of Uncle Scam pressed on as a duo, working with session musicians to put together this full-length album one track at a time. Compared to the rest of their catalogue, Fly Free actually takes some risks on the lyrical front, showing frontwoman Ischa B’s talent in hitting the vein of emotional wreckage. … read more
Salt Lake Till I Die
“Olé, olé olé olé, ReAL, Salt Lake!” repeats, increasing in volume on the south end of the Rio Tinto Stadium on a Saturday night. The stands are full—red, gold and blue are the colors of choice—except in Section 9 at ground level behind the south goal, where a menacing row of black-clad hooligans wave flags and lead chants over a banner printed “Salt Lake’s Finest.” … read more
Product Reviews
Product reviews for Brewer’s Zeal Optics, I-MEGO’s Throne Gold Headphones, …Lost’s Mini-Uber Plank, PowerA’s Moga Pro Controller and the Rock Out 2 Speaker from Goal Zero. … read more
Local Review: Allred
Allred’s latest release is quite subdued. You won’t find any reverb on the lead guitar, and the vocals at a lower tone are more effective. Past and present considered, I do like this band’s guitar work. … read more
Local Review: Danger Hailstorm
A two-fer slab of bouncy proto-punk (or izzit pop metal?) from this local quartet, You Got It ups the the band’s incessant ear for melody (ex members of The Stench and Bad Yodellers can’t hurt) and ballsy chutzpah by driving itself over simple, thundering drums and keeping the vocals front and center in the mix. … read more
Local Review: Dine Krew
Salt Lake seems to be spouting out a steady stream of promising, uprising hip hop artists lately—Dine Krew included. We-E.T.’s presents unassuming, mellow beats and slow, satisfying flow, with short tracks that place emphasis on transitions. … read more
Local Reviews: Hot Club of Zion
Hot Club of Zion is one of the best jazz trios around. They play a gypsy style of jazz, and even though the mention of the genre brings to mind the great Django Reinhardt, they still maintain their own identity while paying proper homage. … read more
Local Review: Lady & Gent
This debut album from the five-piece Provo group features a plethora of pure folk music—lots of singing along with acoustic instruments. Made up of brothers Garrett and Ben Williams, Jeff Adams, Dana Sorensen and Chris White, Lady & Gent demonstrate how the Americana genre is done. … read more
Local Review: Irun Toh
Where Reality Sleeps is a smorgasbord of heady guitar licks compiled haphazardly into an enigmatic debut compilation. The entire project is reminiscent of late-’60s/early-’70s heavy blues (with a modern twist). … read more
Local Review: Little Sap Dungeon
Six years since their previous album, Kevin Cazier (Perception Cleanse Perception) and Christopher Alvarado (Twilight Transmissions, Roses and Exile, Harsh Reality) are back with seven (no, eight! There’s a hidden one!) tracks, marrying their dismal dystopian visions to harsh yet beautiful, heavy post-punk industrial noise. … read more