Music
▼ Local Reviews
Local Reviews: MAD MAX
A hip hop record that uses all-live instrumentals usually falls to one end of the spectrum: either really awesome or really bad. Combinations of rock music and hip hop are even less reliable—certain elements of live rock seem to clash with some of the other components of hip hop, like clear vocal delivery and danceable rhythm. … read more
Local Reviews: The Jingoes
I remember seeing the Jingoes open for Mike Watt a few years back at Bar Deluxe. What I liked about them continues to make me nod my head as I listen today. This is a seriously great band. … read more
Local Reviews: Jazzsequence
Local musician, Jazzsequence, aka Chris Reynolds, recently released a remix entitled WaspRemix. This CD is a follow up to his Spring 2011 release Wasp: music inspired by the Stieg Larrson novel The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. … read more
Local Reviews: I’m Designer
I’ve never been a fan of singers who draw heavily upon reverb and delay, but the way Robert George uses them over his Dredg-style guitar work beckons me to give this band the benefit of the doubt. … read more
Local Reviews: The Rose Phantom
The latest release by Salt Lake’s own Ted Newsom, Abandon represents a new direction as Newsom turned his back on his other projects to focus two years’ time on the Rose Phantom persona and work. Marrying lush dramatics and intricate electronica, the album’s 10 tracks of careful and succinct industrial-tinged darkwave would not be out of place in a goth club or in an alternative radio station’s rotation. … read more
Local Reviews: Night Sweats
Usually, an EP will comprise a few songs representing a short body of work by a band. In the case of Night Sweats’ Red EP, four songs make up over 30 minutes of dark yet poppy electronic indie music. I keep seeing references to them on my Facebook feed. Red makes it quickly obvious why they’re on every tongue and fingertip. … read more
Local Reviews: Matthew Quen Nanes
Right in that new folk/punk singer-songwriter niche with a country touch, Nanes can put a tune together. This three-song EP shows a lot of potential. It’s different from a lot of the material I would compare it to, which is a very good thing. … read more
Local Reviews: Les Sages
The idea of Les Sages’ third album sounds better than the outcome. It’s a baroque form of rock with a slight mariachi influence. The music itself sounds great, but there’s a sense of freedom lacking in the songs. The storytelling lyrics are intense, but the percussion-driven arrangements seem to inhibit the energy created by Joe Larson’s vocals. … read more
Local Reviews: Late Night Alumni
In the fast-paced world of electronica, it isn’t surprising that this is LNA’s fourth album since their 2005 debut, but rather, it is pleasantly shocking to hear how sleek it sounds, especially for an SLC-based outfit. Arguably, this is because well-known DJ and local-adopted son Ryan Raddon (aka Kaskade) is the mastermind behind the sound, but vocalist Becky Jean Williams—whose little-girl cooing is perfect for this genre—more than holds her own. … read more
Local Reviews: Dustin Christensen
Christensen, the former lead singer of Provo-based indie group Jerrytown, finally put together his much anticipated solo album Highway Lines, with hopes of capturing the audience of old and new indie fans. … read more