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: Desert Empire – Like Home
After seven interminable years of anticipation and a recent name change (originally Velvet City), Desert Empire have released a heavily progressive first album that veritably blew me away. Intricate, rolling drum patterns, matched with a mix of soft and sonorous upper–register piano riffs create an aquatic theme like a deep–ocean odyssey. … read more
Local Review: Contaminated Intelligence – Tracks
While I was listening to the album, I was delighted to hear the scratchy bath salt zombie sound that I so love to grind to, except there was only one problem—I had to wait for what seemed like eternity for the next track to start. … read more
Local Review: Cavedoll – Late Nights/Bad Decisions
The truth is these guys make some very scrappy dance tunes—half of the songs pulsate with darkness and a little bit of raw romance, but in each case, dark or not, the song is dominated by lead singer Ransom Wydner’s vocals. … read more
Local Review: Gothen – Self-Titled
What can you say about a local album that measures closely to established contemporary acts like Grizzly Bear? It’s clear who Gothen’s influences are, but it’s also clear they understand how to develop fine music rather than mimic it. … read more
Local Review: The Beehive Compilation – Volume 1
The collection includes some local favorites that I am familiar with, like King Niko, and surprised me with quite a few that I was not. It’s a great selection of indie and alternative styles, including pop rock, pop punk, folk, electronic, a bit of rap/hip hop and even a dash of female mojo (via The Blue Aces, Kitfox, Ashlee Woo, Summer Lasts Forever). … read more
Local Review: AODL – Arsenblotz 63
Before I go any further, let it be known that I am in no way the world’s foremost expert on noise/power electronics/industrial. Quite the opposite, in fact. However, good music (noise?) is good music, and I like what I like … and I like this release from AODL. … read more
Local Review: Abiogene – Self-Titled
Add this group to the growing roster of prog-djent outfits who are really making the subgenre something to behold. … read more
November 2013 Local Music Reviews
November 2013 Local Music Reviews … read more
Local Review: Vincent Draper and the Dirty Thirty – SAM
I’d like to propose that the Vincent Draper sound become the official sound of Utah. It’s deeply rooted in folk traditions, but somehow manages to be fresh and original—it’s definitely earthy in its tone, and while you can hear influences from all over, it stands on its own. … read more
Local Review: Starbass – Self-Titled
Steve Comeau, a community-involved Canadian transplant, launches us to Starbass with a great collection of futuristic, danceable dubstep tracks. … read more