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 Reviews: Joshua James
Okay, I’ve got to say it. Joshua James is hot. Really hot. Maybe it’s those blue eyes (they’ll get you every time), or perhaps it’s his great jawline, but this is supposed to be an album review, so let me get to the point. … read more
Local Reviews: Kid Madusa
Enter the dark, raw, silky mysticism of the parallel universe that is Kid Madusa. This album, Kid Madusa’s first, begins with a haunting, harpsicord waterfall and rich doubled vocals that seem to hold the sorrow and wisdom of 200 years, not the 27 of Lindsay Heath, exdrummer of Phono and The Tremula and current drummer of Bronwyn Beecher and Twin Lull. Lindsay’s trademark heavy, unpredictable drumming serves the album well, especially in the trippy beats of “The Baderie Acid Recovery Project.” … read more
Local Reviews: Destructinator
The four energetic local youngsters that comprise the moronically- named Destructinator love to bend strings and serve up power metal solos, and, honestly, they’re quite good at it, but they need to banish their inner class clowns and freeze the irony pronto. … read more
Local Reviews: Vile Blue Shades
John Thursday California Adventure is the perfect record. It’s raunchy, fun and ridiculously danceable. A unique brand of sexuality oozes from every track. Songs like “Black Pussy,” “Purple Rain” and “Banana Hammock” are all instantly infectious and I couldn’t help but lose myself in the music. … read more
Local Reviews: RuRu
An open, starry night and a brilliant fire would do nicely while listening to Isaac Russell’s soothing voice. With powerful lyrics (similar to those of Joshua James) and strong vocals used in “Bark at Ghosts,” Russell seemed to have something new and grand to add to the growing folk scene. … read more
Local Reviews: Reveeler
Reeveler doesn’t play your dad’s prog rock or hard rock, although their influences may come from the sort. The sound on the Ogden band’s six-song demo is a curious audible entity—quite honestly, it’s like nothing I’ve really heard. Forget the usual plethora of bands that try to emulate their favorite classic bands. Reeveler change up their tempos constantly while the drumming and guitar work leave listeners catching every note and variance in the music. … read more
Local Reviews: ODS
The appealing aspects of that band ODS didn’t like the vaguely negative review I wrote about their EP a few months ago, so I’ll be a lot more blunt about this one: it sucks. Well, that might not be an entirely accurate reflection of my feelings. I sure as hell don’t like this album, but I also don’t hate it. In fact, it stirs no emotional response in me whatsoever. … read more
Local Reviews: Nine Worlds
Nine Worlds takes the pace of super slow doom/ambient metal and speed it up just enough too keep you connected. I get undeniably impatient with 12-minute-plus songs that fade into nowhere, but here I found a satisfying four-song EP with all tracks in perfect timing. … read more
Local Reviews: Nathan Spenser
Nathan Spenser has put together a nice little collection of folk/rock songs, and for the majority, it’s an acoustic album. While most albums like this tend to reek of the “it’s been done before and done better” curse, Spenser seems to understand he’s not here to reinvent the genre. … read more
Local Reviews: The Naked Eyes
There’s something undeniably cool and timeless about blues-influenced rock and roll. As long as whiskey, cigarettes and broken hearts are en vogue, bands like The Naked Eyes will be around to provide the soundtrack to perfectly hazy nights. … read more