((Salem)) Band Profile and Upcoming Chicago Concerts - Oh My Rockness

Bea Fremderman
Michigan/Chicago band Salem creates a musical vibe that's definitely creepy (their name is Salem, after all). And the creepiness is coupled with these big-time scattered break beats which add to this overall feeling of skittishness.

But just to mix things up, there's this really full, lush shoegaze situation going on in these songs too, which makes things sometimes sound kind of almost pretty and epic. But alas, that prettiness quickly fades when the slo-mo distorted and slightly deranged Southern-style rapping comes into play. I don't know what that is, but pretty it's not.

So yeah, I'm not sure I totally get Salem. But I keep listening to them to find out why I don't really get them. And that's usually a good sign that a band is at least onto something interesting. I'll keep listening and let you know if I come to any great revelations, but I'll be honest with you, Salem still creeps me out.
Published August 25, 2010
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