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Local Reviews: American Hitmen
Listening to American Hitmen is like jumping into a Hot Tub Time Machine. Instead of going all the way back to the ’80s, this time travel adventure sends you back to the early ’90s when rock bands still had all the flash and machismo of spandex-rocking ’80s metal bands, but were also starting to embrace a little bit of a dark, moody, creative side. … read more
Local Reviews: Albino Father
This Futurists side project is, unsurprisingly, one of the better sounding, current local projects. With bluesy folk-guitar riffs, the whole EP tends to ramble on in the least boring way possible. … read more
Local Reviews: 004
The Utah ska scene of the ’90s is fondly remembered (well… by some people), and the likes of Stretch Armstrong and My Man Friday have remained in the collective consciousness of local ska nerds over the years, but 004—quite possibly Utah’s first ska band—seems to have been forgotten. Hopefully, this great collection of 004’s music will rectify that injustice. … read more
Local Reviews: Zero To Ballistic
Logan-based Zero To Ballistic describe themselves as “modern Paul Reveres with guns at their hips, bullhorns at their lips and instruments at the ready,” and their album reflects this passion for the state of the Union in its revolution-stoking lyrics. … read more
Local Reviews: Veggie Stew
Nü-metal meets butt rock on this thankfully short EP from Veggie Stew. Crunchy power chords and standard drums play under juvenile raps about partying and ego. The clichés abound here, so don’t be surprised when you hear the rhyming of “Bacardi” with “party” or lines like “I’m a terror when I flow” from the lead singer. … read more
Local Reviews: Various Artists
This compilation is the first release from Bass Machine Music, a Salt Lake-based record label run by local DJ and producer Jon Rappaport. What it lacks in length it makes up for in pure power—the songs are heavy, in-your-face innovations of the bass/house realm. The compilation kicks off with a collaboration between SLC local Nate Holland and French producer Heblank: a bass-driven, R&B powerhouse track that continues to delight me after hundreds of plays. … read more
Local Reviews: The Summer Storm
The Summer Storm is the kind of outfit that possibly would’ve thrived quite decently in the late ’80s and might’ve even gotten a listen by Steve Albini, but repetitious guitar tones with spoken word in lieu of sung melodies has never been common. … read more
Local Reviews: S.L.F.M.
Utah musician S.L.F.M. (A.K.A. Jessica Davis) has something unique. The music of a girl who sings with a distorted mic and plays with a distorted ukulele The Kissing Game may be an acquired taste. … read more
Local Reviews: The Plastic Furs
With a sly and energetic style, The Plastic Furs display a musical repertoire that spans the distance between dark, sexy psychedelia and supercharged rock tunes. The band’s punchy drone sensibility meshes well with Brian Mink’s hazy guitar reverberating through their washed-out tone. … read more
Local Reviews: Pat Briggs and the T-Birds
This album reminds me of the best band you heard at a college party in the late ’90s and could never remember the name of—but I mean that in the best way. The instrumentation is softer rock, all shining guitars and thoughtful and adept rhythm-section backups. … read more