Guitar.com

2000

record review: 8

Idaho

People Like Us Should Be Stopped ~ Live Volume One (Idaho Music)

This Los Angeles band’s music reflects the torture and pain the group has been through over eight years. Though pegged by critics as progenitors of “slowcore” (along with Codeine and Red House Painters), Idaho is actually more closely aligned with Sonic Youth and Th’ Faith Healers, employing different unorthodox guitar and bass tunings on each song. Songs typically begin with forlorn guitar god/vocalist Jeff Martin (the only constant member of the band) moaning before the quartet erupts in an oceanic roar of feedback and counterpoint. Having been through a bevy of indie labels, this is Idaho’s fifth full-length and the first release on its own label. A bootleg-quality assortment of performances featuring founding members Martin and bassist John Berry, the stormy set includes songs from the band’s hard-to-find first two albums, including the stark “Creep” and Berry’s cathartic “Gone”, as well as a rousing low-speed-crash and slow-burn version of “Star”.

- Buzz Morison