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: Secret Abilities
After seeing Secret Abilities live, I can at least say they are consistent with their music. Most bands excel in one setting or the other. Secret Abilities are the same talented blah live or recorded. From crazy dance riffs in “Can’t Stop” to a disgustingly sweet “Love and A Parking Lot.” … read more
Local Reviews: Rope or Bullets
Sometimes I think bands are making music for the sole purpose of driving people to stand closer to speakers, with the result of never hearing anything again. Sadly, my dinky computer speakers are not that powerful. … read more
Local Reviews: Revideolized
Sounds from the Canyon is Revideolized’s (a one man project) third album and one highly enlightening concept. The album was recorded in “The Canyon,” also known as Butterfield Canyon. The music, at first glance, could be described as easy listening, but it morphs from that genre’s simple, sterilized, happy, soothing sounds to a darker atmosphere, heightening senses, with ambient and haunting excursions. … read more
Local Reviews: Lee Madrid
As a solo artist, Madrid possesses what many lack. He’s got an ear for classics. It’s not always easy to entertain an audience with just a guitar, piano and buttery vocals. This album should be a lesson to other aspiring musical locals – it proves that simple can be beautiful. … read more
Local Reviews: Brandie Frampton
Oh. My. Gawd. Brandie Frampton is, like, such a superstar!! She sings about things that I just really, like, relate to! Things like, you know, butterfly tattoos, and boys! Ugh, boys are 2 lame!!! She’s 16 and from Lindon, so she totally relates to my problems, lol! I mean, when u r 16, u know so much about life!! … read more
Local Reviews: Wite Nite
Wite Nite’s self-titled EP starts off with a promising ambience of swirling sounds and soft guitars, but moves quickly from that beauty into an unrelenting, bad mushroom trip. The whole alblum is actually perfectly described as a mushroom trip – it starts off pretty and exciting, but time seems to stop about five minutes into it and you just want it to be over. … read more
Local Reviews: Trouble on the Prairie
Minimalist percussion and plaintively delivered vocals make this release one of the most haunting local pieces I’ve heard in a while. Band members Big Red and Little Fran create a lot of atmosphere with only some sparse acoustic guitar, a shaker, a tambourine on some songs and a small drum kit on others. … read more
Local Reviews: Shark That Got Her
I want to start off with stating that Shark That Got Her has the coolest band name in the whole state of Utah. I have always been a sucker for band names with shark in them, i.e. Sharks Keep Moving and Bear vs. Shark. Getting back on subject, STGH sound nothing like the two previous bands mentioned. … read more
Local Reviews: Shark Speed
Oh boy!! Another band with shark in the name. I am starting to think that the whole shark thing in the band name might be getting a bit over used. One thing that is comforting: this band is really good. Their sound is basically Franz Ferdinand mixed with The Appleseed Cast, who they opened up for at Kilby Court back on Feb. 20. These guys are dope-fresh. … read more
Local Reviews: Paper Cranes & The Doom Machine DVD
Is Provo the next hotbed for noise music? The stark conservatism mixed with a large number of youth should make for a loud and subversive subculture. Where are the artists? Are they afraid to take off their headphones? Luckily for Provo, the folks at A. Star brought a little chaos down south to test the waters. … read more