Sell Out Records - A Music Review Blog

When it comes to reggae and ska, I’ve listened to it all. I’ve heard good and I’ve heard terrible, and whenever a band claims they are playing this style of music, I get a bit nervous. Sono Vero, however, completely floored me. They are solid, well produced, and know how to fuse the best parts of rock, ska, and reggae to follow through on the traditional but put their own unique spin on it. This is exactly the kind of power that Sublime was able to call upon, and the same kind of influence that Dirty Heads are doing on KROQ. However, Sono Vero is doing it differently, they have a certain intangible quality that makes this release shine among the others on the market today. “Roses are Reckless” represents the finest fusion of modern rock, reggae, and melody I’ve heard in a LONG time. The band has been getting serious airplay, and has been getting requested on radio today. The hip hop portion of this band is clean, amidst the island sound, which is definitely a highlight of the recor...

Queen City Heist is a band that you will immediately fall in love with. From the vocal style of the singer to the music mix, you will find that they bring about passion in every step of their musical saturation. They mix genres from rock to blues and even a bit of soul. But just because they are in the arena of all those genres, doesn’t mean that they have forgotten what makes them all work so well, and it shines through their tracks. I was amazed at how the production works within their sound, and trumps a great deal of demos that I’ve recently had to trudge through and haven’t updated on the site yet. I try to focus on the good, but some of the recent offerings to come across my desk have been far beyond repair. By the time I heard Queen City Heist’s music, I was ready for something grand and they truly deliver. They’ve released an official EP and so far it’s a solid break through. The song “Let Me Love You” is my favorite of the EP so far and I love the highs and the lows. The m...

This week Dicky Barrett turned 50 years old and everyone in Boston must have been proud of the Bosstones singer. I know I read about a lot of different things that were done in celebration, including Jimmy Kimmel flying out to throw him a bash. For those of you that love ska, then you know how much the musical influence has come through each decade to bring noise and quality sounds to stereo systems the world over. With the celebration of the singer, I have decided to throw down the 10 best Mighty Mighty Bosstones’ songs ever! That’s right, the best songs from the guys out of Boston and one of the best ska artsists of all time! Even though Dicky may never read this, congrats on 50 years! Here we go, 10 of the best from the Bosstones. “Don’t Worry Desmond Dekker” from “Medium Rare” (2007) Desmond Dekker is the king of ska, and this song appeared on the 2007 release of B-sides and more from the Boston ska group. This song is classic tones, and it presents a horn heavy song with m...

Mark Morrison’s latest single pushes the boundaries of hip and R and B with one of the best singles I’ve heard in a long time. Morrison’s vocals are as bold as ever, and are paired with Erene, Devlin, and Crooked I. He brings about an inspirational push here, and it’s something that is going to be an anthem for those that need a push in esteem and confidence because the lyrical content is uplifting and unique. From the opening beats through the midsection of this track, you are treated to a myriad of styles with a flair for the beauty and grace that comes through on the lyrical vision that is given to the listener. Around the two minute point this track truly gets incredible and brings about a fusion of hip hop and R and B that works on a lot of levels. The rapped verse brings an incredible point, and you truly get roped into the whole thing. Another verse comes in at around the three minute mark and you seriously start to bounce. The lyrical balance here becomes a mainstay and it ...

The Hiding is a band I recently caught wind of and was blown away by the layers of their music. They are an indie rock band that has a great sense of melody and rock enthusiasm, but it’s done with a soft touch, like a true artist. Their latest offering “Run City Run” is a song that certainly captures the emotional connections of the independent music scene, and the alternative world all in one. You get that emo vibe a bit, but it’s on par with bands like Lakes, Delta Spirit, Ocean Is Theory, Statistics, or even a bit of Mute Math to boot. There are layers here and that’s what matters to me as a music fan, you don’t just have one thing going on, you have several. Listen closely and you get the sounds of guitars, drums, bass, and perfectly timed and themed vocals. It’s a song that really catches you off guard as it moves through lyrical connections that you are going to find compelling overall. There are so many bands trying to do this type of music and failing to capture the element...

J.P. Kallio’s latest record “Read Between The Lines” takes a powerful approach to music. It’s a classic gem of acoustic and folk, done with a sincere voice that you’re not going to find with other releases. I found this one to be eclectic, and quite melodic in nature. From the first track “Apple” I knew I was in for an emotional ride. Take the power of Frank Turner, and mix in a little Chuck Ragan with the honesty of Pedro The Lion and you’ll start to see what J.P. Kallio has to offer on this recording. It’s not a sappy acoustic record, it’s more of a grown up, sensible record on par with even Johnny Cash’s early work. Although, this one is not about killing a man in Reno or having a few minutes left to go before they’re hung. The point is you get an eclectic mix of songs on this, and all of them seem to paint a portrait of any man’s life, but more importantly, J.P. Kallio’s poetic writing style. There’s a bit of a country tone at times, as you get a twang here and there, although ...

In the 1990s, soundtracks meant the world to me. Heck, they still mean the world to me, and you can usually find me listening to a lot of soundtracks to movies. As a former video store clerk, I live in the movies at times, and go through my life picturing the nuances that I go through in comparison to the glory that comes with the images on screen. Sometimes the soundtracks sell the movie, and in the case of Tamela D’Amico’s “Love and the Gun”, I’m once again enthralled with the music and must see the movie now. Tamela’s vocals amidst an orchestral backdrop lends credence to the fact that you can fall in love with a singer’s voice. That’s what happens when you listen to the song, as you are whisked away into dream land with Tamela D’Amico singing of love and more. This song is part of the “Rob The Mob” soundtrack, and the official music video showcases scenes from the film with Tamela’s vocals moving you through a variety of moments of the movie. It’s truly a visceral experience, o...

When Stan G’s song “Little India – Oola” remixed track my whole world turned dark for a moment. Not in a bad way, it was because I could see this fitting in an iconic cinematic manner. The sounds that come through at first are incredible, harmonic, eclectic, beautiful, and utilizes the best aspects of electronic music in a manner that completely stunned me. I feel that this is definitely one of the strongest electronic tracks that I’ve heard in a long time. Then comes in the vocals and this is better than the first time I heard The Postal Service or Kavinsky. I was completely impressed with the way the song moves from iconic rhythms to softness, vocals that are strong, melancholy lyrics, and an area of thoughtful perception towards the end. It is a track that flows through several different aural states and puts you at ease throughout. Regardless of what genre of music you like, this will draw you in with a sense of spiritual design. There’s an eclectic nature to this, one that can...

Matthew James Allen is going to be a name that you want to remember. Write it down, as you are going to be hearing great things from him. This singer/songwriter is from Texas and has brought together a sense of poetry and melody in his latest single “Don’t Let Go” that sends a true shock to the heart. It’s an introspective track that is on par with what you would expect from the likes of Pedro The Lion, Damien Rice, and Sufjan Stevens. Even though you can feel similar vibes coming from those artists, this is all new, and something that has the creative spark that you don’t always get from acoustic music. There’s a good mix of emotional complexity with the musical notes that comes across as sincere. In some ways it reminds me of Coolfield, Copeland, or even Brandtson, as the melody moves through the emotional connection of the lyrics to create a very nuanced approach. It’s this type of song writing that made the emo genre so tangible for me in college, but not to the parody level th...

I’m floored. I hated when Relient K put out “Collapsible Lung” . It sounded awful to my ears, and I was running through a lot of heavy music. New releases from Trivium, Avenged Sevenfold, Korn, and so much more filtered through my playlist and I just didn’t like this record. Then on a hot afternoon, I gave it another try, and realized something incredible, this is by far the best Relient K record to date. I know, bold statement from me, but I really do feel it’s their best record and more people should be listening to it on a regular basis. I’ve seen Relient K in concert a lot. I saw them as a teenager, and I saw them a couple years ago as an old man. They’ve managed to create a good overall following and an incredible live show full of energy. Even though they have roots in the Christian market, they have completely eclipsed that label and are just all around great in terms of performance and song writing. With the release of this record, they turn on the pop sensibilities and cr...

I’m a fan of acoustic music, and Saul Behan-Dunne brings out one amazing single on “You Keep Me Warm”, his latest work of magic. The song utilizes a very unique style, relying on finger picking on the guitar, which comes out clean and poignant as the vocals come in. The lyrics are what you’d expect, but the way they are performed and mixed in with the guitar work is just amazing. The song carries you through several emotions, and delivers a solid mix of folk and rock melodies with a stripped down feel. You could easily see yourself enjoying a hot cup of coffee while listening to this in the background of your morning routine. Whether you’re at a coffee shop, or you’re on your porch, you’ll enjoy the song. It feels so much larger than an independent release, giving off a sense of professionalism that is sometimes missing from independent releases. The attention to details with the song structure and vocals makes this a good song from Saul Behan-Dunne, and it’s definitely going to st...