Shows This Week

Tonight (03/31), haughty white collared hipsters Vampire Weekend will be playing to a sold out crowd along side party rocker Yacht at In the Venue. For all the hype, this better be the equivalent to John Lennon being resurrected and reuniting with the Beatles for a reunion tour. Seriously.

Vampire Weekend - "Mansard Roof"


Yacht - "See A Penny (Pick It Up)"


Thursday (04/03), Cryptacize, AKA Chris Cohen (Curtains, Ex-Deerhoof), Nedelle (AKA Nedelle) and percussionist Michael Carreira will put their skewed, awkward pop on display along with locals Kid Madusa, Ol’ Blue and Gardensleeper. Quaint, charming indie pop for the whole family at Kilby Court!

Cryptacize - "Cosmic Sing-A-Long"


Thursday (04/03), the legend himself, Daniel Johnston, will be playing In The Venue along with local alt country heroes Band of Annuals. A rare appearance that should not be missed by anyone even vaguely familiar with the downtrodden genius. FG live pick of the week.

Daniel Johnston - "Silly Love"

The Fun Years - Life-Sized Psychoses

The Fun Years
Life-Sized Psychoses
(04.2007, Barge)
Verdict = A Personal Favourite

Good experimental sound artists are successful by being able to capture a mood with the sound they create. The music is often described as cinematic because the ambiance of the tracks evokes a certain emotion that seems to be kin to a hypothetical scene straight off of some lost movie reel. Great sound artists however move beyond creating just simple scenes; the best musicians turn their albums into imaginary films set in entirely new worlds that must be digested from the very first second to the very last. Recently, under some scrutiny and hours of ridiculous introspection I strived to create a list of my personal favourite albums of all time. For the most part it was far too difficult to arrange this top twenty-five into ranking, but there were some definitive favourites that if I would have forced myself to create rankings would most certainly have landed themselves into my top five. I think my number one and two spots would have to be awarded to The Kallikak Family’s May 23rd 2007 and Microphones Mount Eerie albums. Both albums create a world entirely their own and create a composition that when listened to as a whole becomes much more than the sum of its parts. The Fun Years’ Life-Sized Psychoses is one of these kind of albums and given a little bit of time beyond infinite plays I have already awarded it, I’m am sure it can go head-to-head and likely bump off the slightly embarrassing but necessary inclusion of Deftones’ White Pony album slipping in at number twenty five. So how about some description of the album (though when albums are this good words feel inane)? The Fun Years is an American duo of turntablist Isaac Sparks and guitarist Ben Recht. The sound of their debut, Life-Sized Psychoses, is something of a magical, crackly, all consuming particle ocean of sound. While that description could probably be applied to numerous, worthy recipients (apt comparisons to The Fun Life could probably be leveled at all the favourites: Philip Jeck, Jasper Tx, Fennesz, Eluvium, Tim Hecker, etcetera, etcetera), somehow Life-Sized Psychoses manages that rare feat of hitting every note and mood perfectly. I’m not sure why I didn’t hear more about this album last year. I mean I noticed it in a couple minute places but in my view this album has been terribly under looked. I think, in retrospect, this could have definitely topped my 2007 top 50. I guess in the personal audience that is my schizophrenic brain ,it will now have to battle it out for a spot on my top 25 of all time. I hope that is a suitable compliment for an incredible piece of music.

-Mr. Thistle

The Fun Years

Hanne Hukkelberg - RykestraBe 68

Hanne Hukkelberg
RykestraBe 68
(04.2007/03.2008, Nettwerk)
Verdict: Experimental sugar pop easy listening

Norwegian singer Hanne Hukkelberg has put out a sophomore release which really was released almost a year ago as an import, under a different cover and a two letter difference in the title, but as far as I can tell no difference in the tunes or track listing. Both albums or should I say, the album is full of odd little flourishes that set it apart from other syrupy voiced female singer/songwriters. In fact, RykestraBe 68 is quite undefinable, with traceable elements of about every genre. As I read other reviews to see what other critics classified it as I found ambient, chamberpop, experimental, jazz, electronic, and many more, but the fact is, RykestraBe 68 doesn't really fit into any of those genres. It has elements of them, but isn't them. Overall, Hukkelberg delivers a playfully soothing quirky album that is awfully easy to listen to. Maybe I'll label it as easy listening. "Fourteen" is a strange arrangement of found sounds, and cut up clips of Hukkelberg's singing played over a renaissance sounding little melody. It's a hauntingly strange track that is appealing, but gave my dog nightmares. Hukkelberg also covers Pixie's "Break My Body" and gives it a yearning and powerfully dramatic appeal, but it's somehow strange and unsettling to hear her innocent yet seductive voice sing "I'm a horny loser." RykestraBe 68's oddities both lyrically and musically make it an essential album for those easy listening moments.

-Sassigrass

Navigator - Loop Dreams

LOCAL REVIEW

Navigator
Loop Dreams
(02.2008, Magic Goat)
Verdict = Reverby, Loop Based Navigator

The second release on the downloadable-for-free-quasi-web-label, Magic Goat, comes from the Magic Goat mastermind himself, Navigator. In the short 6 song foray on Loop Dreams, Navigator moves away from the humble, lo-fi acoustics that appeared on his wonderful debut LP, Throwing Tongues, and into more experimental (but no less satisfying) territory. With his loop pedal in tow, Navigator somehow pulls out a bag of short, engaging sonic messes that translate something like Times New Viking via Mt. Eerie/Microphones . The Mt. Eerie/Microphones reference is apt seeing as how the closing track is a major chord translation of Phil Elverum's "Headless Horseman." Navigator also cover's local blues troubadour, Aye Aye's, "Change" for his opener. Both covers are tasteful, inventive recreations that manage to accomplish what the best covers were always meant to accomplish: to become a completely new song as filtered through the ideas of the artist covering them. As a whole Loop Dreams is a successful (free, AKA you should be downloading this right now) outing and a wonderful display of chameleon depth from Navigator. Here is hoping that the energy of this translates into another wonderful full length album in 2008.

-Mr. Thistle

Download on Magic Goat Music

Show In Review

The Alligators, David Williams, Headlights and Evangelicals at Kilby Court 3/26/08

The Alligators
Local Utah openers, The Alligators caught me off guard. They looked like old LoFi Cafe fans, complete with the hippest apparel and ultra styled hair cuts, attracting high school scenesters from all corners of the state. Then they played, and somehow I had heard their opening song from somewhere. I am still trying to figure out where that could have been. Anyways, what we heard was sugar coated upbeat pop that had infectious beats and forced an honest smile from my critically hardened lips. It wasn't amazing music, but it was enjoyable, and really sometimes that is all a band needs to put on a fantastic show.

David Williams
David Williams has surprisingly decided to go electric! His little folk tunes have taken on new life as of late in his live performances and have rocked the house down. It's the same great songwriting you have come to accept from Williams but with an little more pizazz.


Headlights
Recorded Headlights are all right, but have failed to keep my interest long enough for me to want to make it through a full album. The forced hazy male vocals just kill me. Most the crowd was there to see Headlights and seemed to be enjoying their simplicity. I thought they would be fun enough live, but I was ultimately bored and couldn't wait for them to get off stage after about 3 pleasant syrup songs so that I could hear the real reason I came to the show.

Evangelicals!
After about three fourths of the crowd left, a lengthy set up, a broken monitor and an exploding light bulb, Evangelicals raped the Kilby stage and left the remaining fourth of the audience unable to do anything but rock out in live music satisfaction to the fullest. If anyone deserves to act like rock stars it's these fellas, but they only brought the swagger on stage and left it on stage once they were done playing. They were very humble, very nice, and soooo glam! Just imagine eyeliner, glitter, strobe lights, fog machines, capes, nail paint, walking on the drum set, hanging on the rafters, wailing on the guitar so hard it brought them to their knees rock and roll! The Evening Descends is one of the most amazing albums, if not the most amazing album of 2008 thus far and was given complete justice and then some performed live. Everyone who left - What were you thinking!?

-Sassigrass

Samamidon - All Is Well

Samamidon
All Is Well
(02.2008, Bedroom Community)
Verdict = Simple Atmospheric Folk

Samamidon is known by his parents as Sam Amidon but I doubt you could judge the audible difference judging by Amidon’s slurry vocal delivery on his third release, All Is Well. Pitched with an atmospheric Americana, All Is Well flows like a tiny backwoods river floating lazily under cover of forest tangle. The ride is lethargic and seems to be an audible muscle relaxer. There is a warmth of production on All Is Well reminiscent of Vetiver or Hem. With its immaculate production, All Is Well doesn’t contain even the slightest crackling distraction from the lush instrumentation which carries the mood of the album. It is as if each copy of the album comes with its' own personal chamber orchestra to play along. It is with this lonely personalized touch that Amidon’s minor key ballads sink in like a knife, cutting your heart strings clear. From start to finish an air of waterlogged, Midwestern hopelessness floods your heart. Amidon’s numb vocals add to that backwater feel and can take a bit of time to warm up to. It is beautiful though and there are a couple songs like “Fall On My Knees” and “Little Satchel” after the midway mark that ease the dreariness. Overall, All Is Well is a charmingly elegant album that is worth a spin.

-Mr. Thistle

Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-la-la Band - 13 Blues for Thirteen Moons

Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La-Band
13 Blues for Thirteen Moons
(03.2008, Constellation)
Verdict: Mt. Zion's best album yet.

I have a slight suspicion that the Silver Mt. Zion crew hates Steve Jobs. I mean take a look at your IPod artist listings. We got like six slightly different names for the same group. Geez! Anywho, despite all the name switch ups, these guys have held a special place in my musical heart for some time now. And with 13 Blues for Thirteen Moons, Mt. Zion find themselves at the peak (pun intended) of their game. Their last LP Horses in the Sky found the group opting for more vocal driven songs over their usual unusual brand of chamber music. 13 Blues continues the vocal driven theme but ups the rock factor to the max. After almost four minutes of subdued vocals and light plucking, the opening song (starting at track 13) "1,000,000 Died To Make This Sound" bursts into a repetitive distorted guitar riff backed by equally rocking strings and percussion. The album maintains this level of rock for the majority of the album and finds some more chaotic moments during "Black Waters Blowed/Engine Broke Blues." Mt. Zion take time to relax for a bit on the closer "Blindblindblind" which I find to be one of the prettier tunes the group has graced us with to date. It slowly builds up to epic rock out proportions leaving us with an a cappella chant of "Some hearts are true". Despite being more lyric based and more "band" sounding 13 Blues is still distinctly Mt. Zion and I'd be surprised if it brings any new fans into the camp. But ya, if you're already in the camp you'll be glad you stuck around.

-Wooly Mammal

Silver Mt. Zion on Myspace

High Places - 03/07-09/07

High Places
03/07-09/07
(2008, eMusic)
Verdict = Pleasant Experimental Pop

In preparation for their highly anticipated debut, eMusic has exclusively released a compilation of already staggering highlights from the Pitchfork approved High Places. Usually I would try and act all high and mighty with a reference to “the devil’s website,” but I honestly would have had no clue who these guys were without that review, and yes I read Pitchfork daily (pause for gossipy whispers). Anywho, this isn’t a forum for arguing about ridiculous hipster posturing or anything like unto it, this is however a place to talk about note worthy music and High Places is definitely note worthy. Filled with bouncy, left field electronics and cutesy vocals, High Places is simple and satisfying. There is something about the bands music that is reminiscent of preschool, fruit, candy, crayons and cake. I don’t know exactly how to equate that except to say that there is absolutely no pretense here. High Places seem genuinely innocent and simply excited to make minimalistic booty-shakers topped with ethereal, childlike vocals. Think Black Dice meets Sesame Street. Just the thought makes me laugh. That would be a funny dance party. 03/07-09/07 is all of that and a bag of greasy Lays brand potato chips. With a promise of good things to come, High Places eMusic exclusive is already one of the most enjoyable releases so far this year.

-Mr. Thstle

High Places on Myspace

Shows This Week

Monday (today), Explosions In the Sky are bringing their Texas bred, cinematic post rock to In the Venue accompanied by TV On the Radio/90 Day Men conspirator Lichens. Explosions In the Sky have lost a few points due to involvement with Friday Night Lights, however, I am sure we can forgive the slip up by now because these guys are epic live and then there is the awe inspiring Lichens = this is a must see.

EITS Live


Lichens Live


Wednesday (03.26), Evangelicals will be co-headlining with Headlights with support from The Alligators and David Williams all at Kilby Court. This is undoubtedly FG’s pick of the week seeing as how Evangelicals have dropped one of the most rulingest albums of 2008 with Evening Descends. The thing begs to be transformed live. And hey add Headlights and you have an instant party!

Evangelicals


Headlights


Saturday (03.29), theatrical folk weirdoes Faun Fables will run amuck at The Urban Lounge with their near legendary SLC shows. Hit this show up, you will not fail to be entertained…

FF

Earth - The Bees Made Honey In The Lion's Skull

Earth
The Bees Made Honey In The Lion’s Skull
(02.2008, Southern Lord)
Verdict = Dusty, Doomy, Sluggish Instrumentals

Time to delve into the hype. Earth has been around almost as long as I have been alive scorching the way for the recently peaking doom metal scene. It seems that with their pedigree it is high time for some the band to be in the spotlight. Following suit with Wooly Mammal’s recent review of last year’s Hibernaculum, I decided to take on the newest beast from the burgeoning psych doom juggernauts. I don’t think it will be surprising to those who have already heard the record, but my initial reaction was confusing. After a 9-minute-plus opening track of recycling instrumental desert rock that moved at the pace of drugged brontosaurus (which I am going to assume is very slow) I was starting to feel a little slow myself. First of all, this is not doom metal. Obviously through 20 years of evolution the band is a bit beyond that. It still is kind of doomy though. There is a kick of dustiness that is at work in the cogs here. The album is essentially the crackle of said dust rotating infinitely to the repetitive riffs and aimless fills that accompany them ad infinitum. These are long, plodding songs that drift into the horizon with little evolution and no climax. As I’m sure the description will assert the tracks are not for everyone, but there is something in these ostensibly senseless Americana exorcisms that begins surface like bubbling oil; something almost transcendent. It is hard to put a finger on and it is even harder to convince anyone else of but it’s there. The question you will have to ask yourself is whether it is worth the journey.

-Mr. Thistle

Earth on Myspace

Thao Nguyen - We Brave Bee Stings and All

Thao Nguyen and the Get Down Stay Down
We Brave Bee Stings and All
1.2008 Kill Rock Stars
Verdict: Super charming western infused pop.

Halloween, it's pretty cool. You dress up like Donatello, arm yourself with a pillowcase and get hoards of candy from strangers. That night you eat about three fourths of your candy, get sick and forget about the rest of it till you find the stash under your bed around Easter. And so it is with loads of sugary sweet pop music. It's so delightful that you overplay it than end up hating it and or forgetting about it. Thao Nguyen and the Get Down Stay Down play this type of sugary sweet pop music with a western flair. So it is to my surprise that I've been popping' this album down like a bag of peanut butter M&M's for a month now and there's not a tummy ache in site. Thao's sophomore album is full of catchy hooks, folk strums, banjo runs, and the occasional horn ensemble. Her song writing brings to mind an early Laura Veirs. However, to my ears Thao is far more consistent and far more rewarding. Lyrically, Thao tackles the feelings of becoming an adult while hanging on to the wonder of bright eyed youth. Crooning the lines "We brave bee stings and all, and we don't dive we cannonball, and we splash our eyes full of chemicals, just so there's none left for little girls." Occasionally these types of lyrics can seem a bit cheesy, but her voice is so captivating that it doesn't really matter. We Brave Bee Stings and All is the most pleasant surprise of the year thus far and the album is sure to find a secure spot on my year end list. It's super cute.

-Wooly Mammal

Thao Nguyen and the Get Down Stay Down - "Swimming Pools"

Valet - Naked Acid

Valet
Naked Acid
(03.2008, Kranky)
Verdict = Druggy, Gritty, Catty Psych

Back with a quick follow up to last years wonderful Blood Is Clean, Portland Oregon’s Honey Owens follow the same line of reason that produced her debut: stark, moody experimentalism waffling between druggy, drifty psych and gritty, drony no wave. Having been involved in several different experimental projects before starting her solo recording project as Valet, Owens has developed depth in a field of artists who often retread the same idea endlessly like they were chained to a treadmill. Naked Acid on the other hand (along with Blood Is Clean) is a dynamic, impressively multifaceted record that is always moving forward into new, murky waters creating a wonderfully cohesive ride. Consistency aside, Naked Acid never seems to reach quite as high as its predecessor. There is something indefinable that leaves portions of the album flat and ineffective as a whole. Perhaps a tint or three darker than her debut, Naked Acid’s morose, alienating grit seems to kind of grind a bit too deep. For some that may be preferable, but I found it a bit tiring. Regardless, Valet has given us a fair sophomore effort that demands that we keep an eye on Miss Owens.

-Mr. Thistle

Valet - "Kehaar"