Sell Out Records - A Music Review Blog

A lot of people talk about genres of music as a singular thing, one genre that defines an artist and that’s a rough thing to do. You are going to find that with the release of “Sin’s Disciple” Zurich based concept artist and musician Marty McKay creates a lavish example of what you can do with creativity on a whole new level. At first glance, you are going to be hard-pressed to call this rap rock or hip hop metal or something that fits McKay in a box. That’s not what you get here, instead, you get a kaleidoscope of genres that mix so well, you’ll swear you’ve heard this before. I can reassure you, you haven’t. McKay has found a way to tap into creativity in a way that most musicians can’t. He’s blended visualizations, literature, hip hop, rock, and pop into a portrait of what he’s thinking. A new world concept with bouncing moments, hard hitting rock tones, and a lot to explore on this release. From the start of “Emptiness Returns” through “Sunder City” and across the board of the ...

Zawles really pushes the limits on this one, rhyming through a ton of different points, themes, on “BattleMode” , and right when you think this song seems to be going in a linear path, it completely changes as the beat complete breaks apart into a new world of creativity. It bounces, it squeaks, it drops, it rises, and Zawles creates lavish lyricism alongside it. The best part about this song is the way Zawles doesn’t lose his timing at all, he doesn’t cut words to try and rhyme them, everything feels organic. It feels as though he’s telling you a story in a very rhythmic way, and doesn’t seem to be taking a breath, but not in a bad way. The flow is so smooth that you’ll completely be impressed with the delivery system found here. I was completely blown away by how he develops thoughts, places them on top of the beats, and flows through natural and unnatural rhythms. Often times rappers that aren’t that good will try to cut in and out and flow with the music, bouncing on octaves th...

Jason Mark yates is a singer and songwriter that does both things in a very eclectic way. He does so through the union of poetry and music, unlike what you would expect. Mixing elements from the 1980s and fusing emotional connections through lyricism and steady melody, Yates introduces the listener to a cycle of different moments that truly are captivating. When you listen to some of his songs, you truly get different layers of sound, and style, mixed into his vocal style and musical steps. This is most evident in his UK Songwriting Contest Finalist song, “Reachin Out” which blends the power of David Bowie and adds U2 flavor to a steadier and heart felt song that is neither one of the two but rather something altogether unique. It’s this incredible attention to both sound and lyrical design that compels me and every other music fan to listen to music in the first place. On other tracks like, “The Answer is You”, and “Curse The Moon” represent a much more soft side, and differentiat...

There are a lot of bands in the independent world that are trying to make a name for themselves, and few are doing it as well as The Striped Bananas. At least when it comes to fusing genres, and art all into one easy to swallow capsule. On their second full length, you get a sense for something grand, and it starts to stick to your ears within a few minutes of hearing their mix of sounds of discord, and subsequent unity. I want to compare some of their work to Sonic Youth, but The Striped Bananas do something beyond the framework of the iconic alt-rockers. They stick to the psychedelic symbolism like the furs, but they do it with a little bit more flair for the surreal. The stand out tracks include “Dark Peace”, “Wednesday Morning”, and “Oasis of Time”, at least on the first listen. As you listen more, you start to fill in the pieces, and get a distinguished sound that is equal part noisy, and yet harmonic at the same time. The pacing is nice, flowing through 12 tracks doesn’t ta...

My cat snuck a peak of what I was doing from the window sill, and it was all because Midnight Red’s song “Take Me Home” came on. She chirped a bit before she went back to her business. It’s a contrast in styles from what usually blares through the Sell out Records music player, but there’s something to this song. The single, which is getting a lot of media attention is actually quite good, and catchy. It’s a pop song that has everything you’d want in it, and the tune will forever be engraved you in your head. I’ll admit, I’m sometimes hard on pop music, but if you put things into context and you understand the bigger picture, than you know what is good and what isn’t. Midnight Red does something quite well, and there’s no denying that they are talented. I’m not a big fan of the genre, but when credit is due, credit is most certainly going to be given. These guys are talented, and the song is by far one of the catchiest songs you’ll hear in a long time. Skeptics will be quick to agr...

I like a lot of music, you can see that through the posts on this site, and one thing that I’m always surprised to see is the amount of creativity it takes to do electronic music. I can’t do it, I’m a traditionalist and can play bass guitar, and read music. I couldn’t layer my way out of a paper bag, even though I took classes in pro tools when I was in college. That being said, Dropkick takes on their moniker with the release of their “Trapdoor” EP. It is a punch of cool to a genre that is very much hit or miss. Not only that, I love a well-placed Dropkick in pro-wrestling so they get my vote just by putting out a cool name. The music on “Trapdoor” is rhythmic, it’s dance heavy, but it’s much more than just an electronic release. There is a good sense of rhythm, bass tones, percussion and so much more. It’s layered and works well on a lot of levels. I liked the first tune’s use of the band name and the progression definitely cycles through a lot of different elements that I couldn...

There’s something familiar about Hollywood Drunks, and yet I can’t figure it out. With their album “Swell” they go through a spinning wheel of genres and remind me of so many bands, and yet they are all alone on their platform of cool. At first you want to try and compare them to The Red Hot Chili Peppers, but they shake that vibe by the second track, and then take you on a course of catchy, rock infused tunes right before they drop you into a world that sounds all too much like television. That’s not a bad thing, it’s comforting, like a warm blanket on a cold day, it’s refreshing music and it’s got a lot to offer. The first track that struck me greatly was “That Age” as it has such a classic sound to it, modern rock, adult contemporary, jingle ready, commercial appealing, and full of melody, guitars, bass, and just “good” music. It took me back a little to the first time I heard The Roots on a skateboard video, because their sound plays so well with so many other talents, and it’s...

For those that know me, you may recall my fist in the air punk rock record label. Had I known of this type of electronic music, I may have added a few artists to the roster that can put together such incredible pop sounds. Vortex Ascent’s latest release “Shine A Light” mixes what you would expect form “The Postal Service” in a whole new manner. It’s dreamy, but not to the annoying point that “Owl City” can end up having. It’s like playing the Sega Saturn game “Panzer Dragoon” or an iconic RPG like “Final Fantasy” because the flow of sounds is very much beyond the scope of just one genre. For those that like electronic music, this will sit well. It’s not dance, it’s kind of poppy, but it’s beyond that. Vortex Ascent creates a tapestry of rich music, singing, and delightful tuning that is better than most of the independent artists in this genre. At first listen you’ll assume that this is another Radiohead clone, but it’s not. It has deeper layers than “The Bends” and it has some int...

For me, pop music has been done a million times before and there’s nothing new under the sun. Then comes along new artists that shatter my perception, and this is another release that has done that to me. Put your preconceived notions aside and listen to this incredible record by Dreamgrl. The EP release is called “Heavy Sin” and it’s my favorite since Kavinsky put out “Outrun” last year. Friends and readers will remember how much I talked about “Outrun” last year, and this is definitely my favorite pop record so far this year. This independent release goes through various stages of sound, blending together smooth transitions, electronic music and vocals that are very interesting, to say the least. At times you feel like you’re playing a video game, and at others you feel that you’re flowing through a trip of sorts. This dreamy collaborative art piece puts together so many layers that you will definitely find yourself wondering what’s going on. From the intro through “Dawn of the Int...

Fender Jazz bass One of the biggest pet peeves from experience musicians is simple. It happens all the time, a newbie receives an expensive bass guitar . It happened to me, and I got ridiculed a lot, even though my electric bass was not the most expensive in the store. When I was a teenager, I received a Fender Precision/Jazz Combo. It was a Mexican bass, and the experienced players around me were all laughing at the fact. One friend even took the neck and tried to break it, or adjust it. He then railed against the spotty craftsmanship that Fender started to be known for. I was devastated. However, as I learned to play better and look back on the experience, I can understand the sentiments of many experienced bass guitar players. It’s with that in mind that I’m crafting this quick note about the reasons you may want to consider for skipping out on the expensive bass purchase. Reasons #1: You Don’t Know How To Play Well If you don’t know how to play the instrument, then don’t ...

Feedback may seem like an intro or ending for songs and concerts. For some bands it’s a way to produce a good deal of noise and for others it’s a way to experiment with creativity. Modern bands like Sonic Youth, Refused, and even Drawn Close have played with this notion, but they are not the first to attempt it. Figures of Light pulled out the electronic music vibe back on January 24, 1971 when the original members of the band Wheeler Winston Dixon, Michael Downey, and Phil Cohen presented a concert of feedback music at Brecht West Theater in New Brunswick, NJ, pushing the limits of what was thought to be music, and perhaps embarking on one of the first pieces of controlled chaos in live music history. Figures of Light takes the sound of feedback and shoves it through a kaleidoscope recreating the 50 minute opus on their disc “Feedback Music”. Punkers seem to miss the fact that the absence of rules is what drives the moniker, even though a lot of music writers and fans will grimace...

Figures of Light are ready to unleash some more music on the masses, and they’ve been kind enough to provide us with a sneak peek of the upcoming record with “Buy Before You Die”. That classic punch of punk rock ethos and solid rock rhythms are once again present here, and it’s a cool tune that you’re going to definitely start singing along with in a matter of seconds. It had my feet tapping and repeating the lyrics within a minute and it will definitely have you doing the same.It's steady, straightforward, and has a sensibility of pop to it without losing that iconic Figures of Light sound. It's a good preview of what is to come for sure. From a basement in New York comes the ultimate example of punk rock ethos in song. This title track from their upcoming CD entitled “Buy Before You Die” was recorded at Barrel House Studios in Nyack, NY, and with guest Andrew Nicodema on drums and bass, Alex Berserker on lead guitar, Wheeler Winston Dixon's vocals, and Michael Downey...

FUSE had me second guessing this one at first glance. I wasn’t sure what to expect, and then I watched and listened. I am in complete awe of the whole thing, this music video is the single from FUSE entitled “Ignite The Fuse” and it presents a sonic boom of cool. In the description of the video you get an incredible view of the 50,000 crystal violins, which are incredible. You haven’t seen or heard anything like this, and it’s incredible. Electric violinists Linzi Stoppard & Ben Lee perform and blow away the audience with incredible sound. The single is a mix of dubstep and electric violin and leaves you completely floored. I didn’t expect it, and you probably won’t expect it either. Just listen and pay attention to what’s going on, it’s a passionate performance piece that is just impressive. I don’t know how else to describe it. Check out the video and listen to this incredible single. For more information on FUSE and this single, check out the official FUSE page .

I admit, I’m new to the country world, but not as new as some of my compatriots in the alternative music world. I guess I started my journey into that market from the beginnings, and if you track it along music history you’ll find that out of jazz and blues, comes rock and country. Or rather folk, or something along those lines. To me the genres are somewhat uncharted territories, but not to say that I don’t have my favorite country albums. Mixing the two is hit or miss for me, but when it works, it really works. Mike Z Band on “Talk To Myself” does what most can’t, makes a compelling mix of genres that is rooted in blues, has country feel, and still rocks. In fact, it’s a surprise how interesting the Ep actually flows as a whole. I immediately thought Bryan Adams, but that’s because I always try to compare and contrast vocal and music styling, and that’s kind of what you get on this release. The songs are well structured and offer something for everyone. Opening up with “Wrong W...