Idaho

The Profile

Idaho is an American slowcore band from Los Angeles formed in 1992 by Jeff Martin and John K. Berry, led by Martin. Known for stark, melancholic songwriting and distinctive guitar textures.

Reviews note: Year After Year (Caroline, 1993) as a bleak, guitar-driven debut; The Lone Gunman as piano-led minimalism with few/no guitars; The Forbidden EP (1997) precedes Alas and shifts toward a brighter, catchier sound. Comparisons include Codeine, Red House Painters, Swans, and Pavement.

Reviews frame Idaho as a seminal slowcore act from Los Angeles, led by Jeff Martin since 1992. Year After Year (1993) is praised for bleak, guitar-led catharsis; The Lone Gunman centers on piano minimalism and tormented vocals; The Forbidden EP marks a sunnier, more melodic turn before Alas. Overall sentiment is positive and focused on mood, restraint, and evolution.