Best of March 2023

April 1, 2023
by Eugenie Jaffe
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Some of our favorite releases from March, and luckily we'll get to see some of these artists play live in Salt Lake City soon!

boygenius / the record
Boygenius started as a book club between Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker after the two met at a shared gig in 2016. Dacus later recommended having Phoebe Bridgers join the book club and the trio became fast friends. In 2018 all three were booked for a shared bill together and had the idea to record a single, a one-off featuring the trio, that they could sell at shows, but when they got into the studio they ended up recording 6-songs together instead of just the one planned tune. They decided to call this new project Boygenius. The tour and EP were a huge success. Now the trio have officially released their debut album together, and their connection, friendship, and care for one another shines through on this new record, titled "The Record." Where the EP felt at times like solo songs, written in each artists unique styles, with the group sharing vocal duties and harmonies together, this record sounds more like a collaboration. They started working on it during the pandemic, with the trio trading song ideas and lyrics through a shared google drive, followed by in-person writing sessions together. While you can still hear the different songwriting styles, it's also clear that there was much more feedback from each member, and a focus on these being recorded together as a proper band. The album is full of strong song-writing and memorable one-liners like $20's opening line: "it's a bad idea and I'm all about it"
Check out: Not Strong Enough, $20, and True Blue

Boygenius are bringing their tour to Library Square in downtown Salt Lake City on Aug 3rd. There's also a new short film from the band, directed by Kristen Stewart, called "The Film." Watch it below.

Unknown Mortal Orchestra / V
Recorded in Palm Springs and Hawaii during the pandemic, the fifth studio album by Unknown Mortal Orchestra is a bit of a family project. Ruban Nielson, the multi-instrumentalist behind UMO had some help from his brother Kody Nielson on drums, piano, and some synths, and dad, saxophonist and flutist Chris Nielson, on this new double-album. AM Soft Rock, Yacht Rock and Psychedelic DIY Grooves make up this latest offering that sounds like long night drives on a breezy island somewhere.
Try: That Life, Weekend Run, Meshuggah, and The Garden

Yazmin Lacey / Voice Notes
Community radio DJs in the U.S. first heard Yazmin Lacey five years ago on the Future Bubblers compilation from legendary UK label Brownswood. The British press took note of how she blended sultry vocals with fresh instrumentation to create dramatic tension. Just before the COVID shutdown she declared her self-determination on the single Not Today Mate, singing, “I’ll never be a puppet on your strings.” Now that she’s self-released Voice Notes, a proper debut full length, we finally have sufficient material to declare her the Next Big Thing of soulful jazz.
Try “Bad Company” “Fool’s Gold” and “From A Lover”

Adi Oasis / Lotus Glow
Four of the 14 tracks on Lotus Glow, the fourth album from Adi Oasis, contain lyrics KRCL is not allowed by the Federal Communications Commission to play during daylight hours. But you have nothing to fear from the features by strong women guest vocalists like Jamila Woods or KIRBY. In fact, this record from the French-Caribbean singer and bass player, now based in New York, contains many hidden gems. Her U.S. tour doesn’t include Salt Lake but she’s playing World Cafe Live in Philly on April 21st.
Try “Serena” “FourSixty (feat. Aaron Taylor)” or “Dumpalltheguns”

Daniel Rodriguez / Vast Nothing
One of the most likely performers in the mountain time zone to make you weak in the knees is Daniel Rodriguez, co-founder and former frontman of Elephant Revival. How are music fans supposed to grapple with a kind, charming, and damn-good-looking artist like Daniel Rodriguez when he tucks lovely lyrics into his flawlessly produced second solo album? Just give in and let him demonstrate why The Lumineers invited him to open for them last summer, playing to sold out arenas and stadiums across North America, before returning home to Denver to play in front of 40,000 people. If you’re free, do not miss him live at the State Room with Shook Twins at The State Room on April 7.
Try “Through the Static” “I’m Yours” and “Wheels Fell off the World”

Other albums worth checking out from March:
The New Pornographers / Continue As A Guest
Nickel Creek / Celebrants
Altin Gun / Ask
The War and Treaty / Lover's Game * The War and Treaty play The State Room on Wed, April 5
Masego / Masego (s/t)
Manic Focus / Never Not Blue

Watch: boygenius - the film, Directed by Kristin Stewart: