Standing Solo
Take This Night
Self-Released
Street: 11.01.08
Standing Solo = AFI + 30 Foot Fall
I immediately gravitated towards this album when I first played it. It had all the hallmarks of the music I liked in the late 90s: melodic “punk” with a bit of piss ‘n vinegar. I’ve changed and so has music and the demands I put on what makes an album truly great. All the bands I really admired from that pop-punk era, Strung Out, Propagandhi and Good Riddance ended up putting out more solid and adult themed albums while some groups that I really loved, like AFI, fell into an abyss of poppy shit. So this may hit somebody’s sweet spot in their teens, but older fans may want something more meaty (not directed at you, Russ Rankin).
The Sweater Friends
Everyone We Know
Self-Released
Street: 01.15
The Sweater Friends = Letters to Cleo + The Carpenters - Eating disorder (too squeaky for any disorder)
Your enjoyment of TSF depends on how much you like pop-acoustic duos, or enjoy feeling the pull on your heart strings this type of music elicits. I should say this is good for what it is, which is acoustic rock (such a thing still exists), and an improvement over the majority of bands like this in the region. Though such vulnerability-producing music should not be consumed by those males whose testicles have dropped for fear of a desire to begin watching movies like (insert generic crap sob story movie) on purpose. I don’t know if I’ve ever been too into this sort of over-earnest fluff, but I know I did listen to too much Carpenters music when I was young, so maybe that type of audio abuse makes me biased. I craved a little backbone during the listen and sometimes I think I’d do anything for a good rhythm section on this kind of music. Anything. A god damn tambourine even, for fuck’s sake.
Various Artists
SHR Spring 09 Sampler
Spy Hop Records
Street: 3.30
Spy Hop Artists = The Future of The World + Good ol’ fashioned SLC creativity
Spy Hop Artists = The Future of The World + Good ol’ fashioned SLC creativity
Spy Hop, the local non-profit enterprise known for mentoring youth in a wide swath of media disciplines, is back at it with a sampler of their latest artists. The quality is shockingly good and diverse. The intro track to the collaboration is Malevolent Emcee’s “Charm Quark” and it sets the stage for the rest of the eclectic and charming disc. This sampler is a future “who’s who” of the local music community, so pay attention artists, fans and labels. Fortunately, there is something for all local supporters of artists in the area, including selections from Christian Butler’s bluesy-rock to hip hop and folk-revivalism. This organization is a great asset to the community and should be supported. Go to spyhoprecords.com for the skinny. –JP
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