Year: 2013
Local Reviews: The Velvet Knuckles
DJ Velvet and DJ Knuckles mash together a myriad of source artist samples to bring you a 23-track glimpse into what these masterminds are playing at. They take any sound from anywhere from 50 Cent, Biggy and J5 to Zepplin, CCR and Will Farrell voice clips in Old School and cram them together in any number of combinations to make fresh groove tunes, some of which appear on this record. … read more
Local Reviews: Form of Rocket
In the three years since their last release, Form of Rocket have improved every aspect of their music. The drumming, bass, guitars, vocals, lyrics and production all make your jaw drop. Just put on the first track, “This is Occupation,” and you’ll get an immediate idea of what I’m talking about. The songs are more uniform while remaining complex; technical without becoming too cluttered. … read more
Local Reviews: City Weekly Compilation
If the indiscreet wordplay hasn’t already tipped you off, the 2007 Slammys are City Weekly’s equivalent of the local Grammy Awards, selecting winners in every genre the city has to offer. Although the compilation boasts a wide array of artists, labeling gets a little blurred from time to time (example: Best Rock/Pop, Best Acoustic/Folk, etc.), leaving artists who could have filled the counter-genres unaccounted for. … read more
Local Reviews: Some Beasts
A nostalgic tinkering oxf an orchestral kind, this album is bursting with delectable sounds. From tambourines to pots and pans to castanets to delayed acoustic guitars, the music is extremely varied and colorful. The energy that is channeled throughout the album is of such a marvelous kind that it’s almost hard to believe. … read more
Local Reviews: The Tenants of Balthazar’s Castle
Michael Biggs’ (aka The Tenants of Balthazar’s Castle) music requires patience, but that patience is rewarded with intrigue. Divided into three movements, Biggs starts the set with “Room (Dream),” a fairly grumbling, sometimes explosive, sub-frequency driven mix of oscillated gestures and reedy snippets. … read more
SLUG at Obama’s Inauguration
Millions of people, like myself, made their pilgrimage to Washington D.C. to bear witness to the historic Inauguration of Barack Obama on January 20th, 2009. It was a surprising event: no deceit, no violent protest, no nuke going off in the nations capital –– just a smooth passing of the torch. … read more
Local Reviews: The Archer’s Apple
Many a local band in Salt Lake City is starting to sound like they’re from Oklahoma. For the record: I once lived in the Midwest and it’s a shitty part of the country. … read more
Local Reviews: Bears on Parade/Everywhere
Although I don’t find the music incredibly interesting, I love this split on principle. Insert a Plug into a Socket is a DIY, hand-dubbed, tape-only release with typewritten j-cards and a rattlecan colored cassette shell. Now don’t get me wrong—these bands are excellent at what they do, but there’s only so much of this drifty, ambien(t) music I can take before I nod off into a content slumber. … read more
Local Reviews: Ryan Schoeck
Production on this album ends in a place where I wish more music would. Time went into making and producing this record, yes, but it hasn’t been polished to the point that it’s a work of aesthetics. … read more
Local Reviews: The Awful Truth – March 2010
Newcomer to the Salt Lake folk and indie scene, Brent Colbert (and friends) will fit in nicely. … read more