Music
SLUG Magazine’s collection of reviews covering the latest and greatest of Utah-based music, covering all varieties of genre, style and type.
Local Review: Joshua James – Well, Then, I’ll Go To...
I listened to this album six or seven times before I realized it—30 seconds into the second track, “Broke”—these are all Modest Mouse covers. Jesus, I am slow. But doesn’t that speak to how great Joshua James is?
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Local Review: Insufferable Noise Machine – 7OTX (Part 1 and...
This two-disc release is full of so many different styles, it falls into a category of its own. It’s a mixture of soothing, psychedelic surf guitar, sudden bursts of white noise and death metal with growling “Cookie Monster” lyrics. … read more
Local Review: The Hollering Pines – Long Nights, Short Lives...
It is characterized by upbeat and bluesy tracks like “Cadillac” and more old-country and modern folk songs like “Something on My Mind.” It may be the haunting poetic lyrics, or the cool, collective twang, but either way, these country folk are sure to keep your foot bouncing and your head swaying from start to finish.
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Local Review: The Fission Breakers – Interaction
Just a turn right of psychedelic and a throwback to the crotch rock of the ’60s and ’70s, Interaction has swagger to spare, even if it is sometimes derailed by a harmful devotion to The Doors.
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Local Review: Chris Bjornn – …But My Friends Call Me...
In a classic folk kind of way, Chris Bjornn addresses the metanarratives of life: The purpose of life, love, religion, even suicide. … read more
Local Review: Christopher Alvarado & Ari Porki – Menagerie Of...
Like-minded New Age/dark ambient artists Christopher Alvarado and Finland’s Ari Porki have combined their crystal-gazing, third eyes to create a record marinating in New Age clichés and sweat from a thousand soccer moms during hot yoga. … read more
Local Review: Christopher Alvarado – Ancient Doors
There are three optimal environments for Christopher Alvarado’s newest album, Ancient Doors: the reception area of a yoga studio, a crystal shop, and exploring the rich digital worlds of MYST. … read more
Local Review: Charles Ellsworth & Vincent Draper – Salt Lake...
These two like-minded folk singer/songwriters have been helping each other with music projects for a while now, so a split record seems quite in order. … read more
Local Review: Ben Best & Karl Jørgensen – 2
Coming on the heels of a well-received 2012 collaboration, Utah County’s finest sonic pioneers and purveyors of structural, minimal, experimental music regain that same magic in their aptly titled album, 2. … read more
Local Review: Bellrave – No Heart To Cross
During my first listen, I wrote it off as another over-synthesized pop album and wasn’t looking forward to hearing it again. However, the more I listened to the album and was able to focus on the beats of each instrument, I realized it was actually very creative and well done. … read more