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Local Reviews: Jimmy Hack Up
100% Illegal is the new sound collage project by local art-faux leader, Xkot Toxsix, AKA Jimmy Hack Up. The most recognizable selections sampled: The Cure’s “10:15 Saturday Night,” Depeche Mode’s “Dreaming Of Me,” Angry Samoans’ “Lights Out” and Nitzer Ebb’s “Murderous.” The skill of layering these samples, and mixing and mashing them together is spot-on. … read more
Local Reviews: Handicapitalist
Handicapitalist thwacks out an irreverent, blatant style of old-school crust. “Smart Girls” epitomizes the band’s straightforward temperament as vocalist Jake Gatenby scratchily wails, “I only fuck smart girls!” … read more
Local Reviews: Dark Seas
Dark Seas are great live performers, with their genuine charisma and drunken stage antics. The music itself is nothing extraordinary, consisting mainly of minimal, easygoing guitar strumming through a haze of feedback and reverb, with Rhett Hansen pounding out energetic mid-tempo drum beats. … read more
Local Reviews: Cannons/Maraloka
With members having done some time in Parallax, God’s Revolver and a host of others, local boys Maraloka play down-tuned, sludgy heavy metal that’s as kaleidoscopic as it is leaden (which dorky bloggers will probably call “mathy”). Think ’90s ‘core after straight edge and the vegan apocalypse, or maybe Coalesce and early Converge, heavy on groove and light on shrieking. … read more
Local Reviews: The Beginning At Last
The Beginning At Last are a quartet who combine the basic musical styles of metal and hip hop. The resulting sound on No Music No Life is pretty much what one would expect: scratching vinyl over trilling distortion and synth lead over bellowing shouts. … read more
Local Reviews: Albino Father
Earlier this year, Albino Father released Blanket, and they returned six months later with a far more mature album. The opening track’s intro sounds like it was stolen from a White Stripes album, but the vocal melodies are more reminiscent of the British Invasion. … read more
Local Review: Visions of Decay
Visions of Decay = old Norma Jean + Chariot vocals + sludge and groove … read more
Local Reviews: Summerteeth
Summerteeth’s recent release is a conglomeration of swirling hooks and high-neck diddles played through synthpop keyboard. The EP has an early ’00s indie rock influence that plays out well with its lo-fi guitars, discordant vocals and simple chord progressions. … read more
Local Reviews: Roses and Exile
Yet another project by local Christopher Alvarado (Twilight Transmissions, Little Sap Dungeon, Harsh Reality), Roses and Exile is on its way out with this bang of a final album. … read more
Local Reviews: Max Pain and the Groovies
Tortilla Gold, the latest release from the Groovies, is seven tracks of jangling, bluesy rock n’ roll. This band plays a great live show, always getting the crowd thrashing around. Fast rockers such as “Electro Cosmic Chronic Jam” and “Doin Time” capture that energy, while the slow groove of “Piano” and “Good Olds Blues” show a more melodic, tightened-up side of the band. … read more