Record Reviews: November 1989

Faith No More
The Real Thing

Slash/Reprise

Forget everything else you’ve heard, Faith No More is indeed, The Real Thing. “From Out of Nowhere,” they grab you and take you to the “Edge of the World.” Once they have done that, everything else in your collection doesn’t even come close. And for those of you who booed them at the Metallica concert, wake up, shitheads. If you would have listened instead of worrying about what all the other shitheads thought (or didn’t think, in this case) you would see why Metallica picked this band to go on with them.

Sure it’s not speed metal—and I guess that’s what it comes down to. You fuckers aren’t into music; you’re into whatever is happening at the time. You probably booed Metallica when they came with Ozzy Osbourne in 1986–and many did–and Guns n’ Roses, now that they are too popular. (I wonder who bought all those tapes?) Are you going to hate Metallica next year? Who cares. You’ll be listening to country music when you grow up anyway. And for those of you who appreciate good music and haven’t got The Real Thing, get it. –Kevin Kirk

Boxcar Kids
Leggo my Ego

I suppose it would be rather stupid to deny that the Boxcar Kids are the most popular local band in Salt Lake. In fact, they are almost legends. Imagine that, Salt Lake City legends! Jamming at last spring’s Mayfest (probably the only band to have played twice at the same fest), featured at the Salt Lake Arts Festival, their picture seen in an actual magazine, glossy pages and all, they even managed to play at more than two different locations in a single month.

A lot of other bands seem to hate the Boxcar Kids, stemming from the fact that they are a little bit confident and, tragedy of tragedies, because they are popular! I have been asked to resolve the question most plaguing Salt Lake City (sadly enough): Is it all hype and a few good connections, or are Boxcar Kids really a talented young band? While I am in the position of risking loss of respect no matter whom I answer, I am going to opt out for the only correct position. The Boxcar Kids are undoubtedly a very talented group of musicians who are a blessing to the Salt Lake music scene.

Personalities aside, the Boxcar Kids have put together an impressive album, ironically enough called Leggo my Ego. It’s sad that such an ugly issue as the title suggests had to surface on the album as a slap in the face to non-believers because when you strip it all down, it’s the music that matters. What we have here is a band that apparently knows what it wants and is doing it rather well. They are not the most unique band around, having many influences from fusion jazz to country and Red Hot Chili Peppers to fIREHOSE. Fortunately, they combine it all into a sound that is their own but never get stuck in the same groove. The tape makes it apparent that the band members are all very adept musicians.

Very few local bands have the ability to make an impact not only on stage but on tape as well. Things tend to sound different depending on how many beers one’s had, so vinyl is obviously the more challenging medium. To this end, the Boxcar Kids have really outdone themselves. There was always the one song in their set that turned me on, really packed with emotion. Incredibly enough, that song, “I’m Not Waiting,” turns up on the album and is as infectious as ever. There are other standouts as well, such as the jazz/rap song “What” which breaks into psycho frenzy and elegantly back again; the slower paced “Watertower” with beautiful sax lines that just creep up on you, and then back to the jam with “To The Zoo”. The album achieves a cohesiveness unknown to most bands, brought about mostly by the vocals of Jon Schuman who sings almost like a somber Tom Petty, with inflections that just melt together.

The biggest problem with the Boxcar Kids is that they sound almost ‘bar oriented’ (If that makes any sense). I think this is the reason they are put down by other musicians. Theirs is not really an underground sound, so many people deny the fact that they are good. Those with Boxcar Kids are playing music that is fun yet serious and doing it with unmatched ability. Their contribution to the local music scene would serve as incentive to those bands who “dare to be different.” –Ivar

Paninari
The Love Trials

Not many electronic or modern bands have approached SLUG to be reviewed, but we recently received a tape from Glenn Joel of Paninari, and I was impressed by it. This tape reminded me a lot of “Architecture and Morality” by OMD. The songs are good, and the production quality on the tape was very impressive. The tape took seven months to complete, and the long hard work paid off.

Paninari consists of Chris Wood on keyboards, electronic drums and backing vocals. He also does most of the musical writing and arranging. Glenn Joel, the vocalist, writes all of the lyrics and some electronic drums. Robb Enger appears on a few tracks playing saxophone, giving the tape just the right acoustic input. Of the ten songs on the tape, I liked “Turnstile Memoirs” and “Rising Voices” the best. The tape is definitely worth picking up. It is easy to find at SoundOff, Mad Platter, The Record Shop and Imagine Music. 

Read some more Record Reviews here:
Record Reviews: August 1989
Local Tape Review – June 1989