Local Reviews: Michael Gross and The Statuettes

Local Reviews: Michael Gross and The Statuettes
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Immediately upon listening to Dust and Daylight, I feel like I have been sucked into an old creepy bordello, drunk on some gnarly booze and cavorting around with ol’ busted-ass skeezers trying to get me to spend my time and money on them. … read more

Local Reviews: Lord Mandrake

Local Reviews: Lord Mandrake
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The Best of All Possible Worlds proves that Lord Mandrake is both talented and interesting, but the album’s overall execution leaves something to be desired. Spooky delayed guitars and reverb vocals lazily flow over each song and each track blends nicely into the next, but the songs all sound too similar and nothing really grabs your attention.  … read more

Local Reviews: Jahnre

Local Reviews: Jahnre
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Oh, the smooth, sultry sounds of Jahnre. They soothe the soul and make one think of far-off tropical landscapes and nothing but BTM (big-titty mermaid)s for miles. As much as I feel like the whole no-worries, punk-reggae beach music has run its course, it’s still hard to deny the laid-back attitude of the music.  … read more

Local Reviews: Fictionist

Local Reviews: Fictionist
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Fictionist, formerly under the guise Good Morning Maxfield, is a jazzy little throwback to the 60s, complete with candy-pop keyboards and glockenspiel. With so many pop bands churning out albums that sound like everything else you’ll hear being played on every other station, this group is really a breath of fresh air.  … read more

Local Reviews: Eagle Twin

Local Reviews: Eagle Twin
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Salt Lake City’s own Eagle Twin have (finally) released an album that is sure to wind up on many top 10 lists at the end of this year. The band’s debut full length, recorded in Seattle by Southen Lord’s “go-to guy” Randall Dunn, simply oozes heaviness.  … read more

Local Reviews: The Wilderness

Local Reviews: The Wilderness
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The Wilderness is definitely solid. The band is tight and the compositions are on point. There is enough variety among the songs to not get too annoyed or bored. However, it’s nothing that is gonna change the world.  … read more

Local Reviews: SubRosa

Local Reviews: SubRosa
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The ever-changing lineup of SubRosa has yielded some musical surprises over their brief recording history, and they continue to surprise with Swans Trapped in Ice, their latest three-song EP.  … read more

Local Reviews: Rob Alvord

Local Reviews: Rob Alvord
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Alvord’s debut album makes it obvious he has some guitar playing skills. Too bad his voice is like an awkward accessory—it’s nasally and reaches some highly uncomfortable pitches at times.  … read more

Local Reviews: Malevolent MC

Local Reviews: Malevolent MC
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SpyHop is known locally as an organization for teens,  and their record label is teen-run, but the debut from Malevolent MC doesn’t sound immature. There’s not, however, much malevolence to be found here.  … read more

Local Reviews: Herban Empire

Local Reviews: Herban Empire
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This is the kind of music that brightens my day. Comparing things to Sublime is shitty, I know, but here I can’t help it–the down to earth, feel-good vibe and even Andrew Cole’s vocals smack of Bradley and the crew.  … read more