Sell Out Records - A Music Review Blog

I admit, I have been through the wringer lately. Traveling across the country, my car breaking down, and missing my sister’s wedding all happened in the last few days. I felt terrible, and another thing I forgot was to review Arjun’s latest release sooner. I’m kicking myself hard right now because this is an album that should’ve been up and reviewed a lot sooner. All that aside, Arjun’s latest record “Core” blew me away within 30 seconds. The first song “Rocks” is perhaps one of the most solid instrumental songs I’ve heard in a long time. I love instrumental rock music, but this is on par with some of the best ever played. It’s well conceptualized it’s perfectly played, and brings together a certain jazz quality through every change of sound design. It rocks hard, but it does so with such a precise and exclusively unique manner. It goes from rock, metal, jazz, and even a bit of reggae bass, all without leaving you hanging, and it’s a perfect start to what I call a perfect record. Y...

Storytelling and music go hand in hand, especially when dealing with country music. Billy Roberts and The Rough Riders take that to a whole new level on their latest release, “The Last of the Originals”. From the opening lines and singing on this record, through some stand out tracks, you are going to be floored by the way things open up to tell you about a new world of ideas. This is not your grandfather’s country music, and it’s not what you hear on the radio, this is true storytelling and it’s done with such a flair, that you’re going to be kicking yourself for not listening to this sooner. The record starts out with a great rocking feel on “Mrs Jones” and it doesn’t let up. There’s a slight twang here and there, but for the most part, this is a rock record with country roots throughout. The storytelling really changes everything here and it’s something that you’re going to absolutely love when you listen up. The lyrics really compliment the song’s structures and gives you a goo...

Daniel Angelus, one half of Surrender Hearts, has unleashed one of the most atmospheric records I’ve heard in a long time. The EP is called “Dream Pop” and it takes notes from a lot of bands, and artists, but it’s truly its own. It’s a complex electronic debut that takes layers upon layers to work within. You’ll listen to it and pick up on a lot. You will not be able to take this straight through, you will need to rewind and listen to the tracks again and again to pick up on all the little things that are being pushed in your ears. It’s like a cloud of music comes through and blinds you, only to play on your ears and create something grand. It’s with the track “Touched By The Death” that the EP really starts to shine, even though the opening track is a good one as well. However, it’s within the scope of the second track that I’m brought back to different times. You play this and close your eyes, thinking about your past and you start to see a cinemascope play forward. I for one saw...

If you turn on alternative radio, you’re going to get hit with a lot of electronic music and dance hits. What happened to rock? Gliceryn pushes out the trends and instead, brings forth a rock sound that is well placed in the alternative scenes that made Seattle’s sound of the 90s takeover what glam rock was destroying. The band has put together an initial showing that is all over the map, and they cut their teeth on a rock sound that is not being played often on radio, and should. What you first get from Gliceryn when you hear them is the strong backing of the band’s hard, dirty rock sound. No, this isn’t just fuzz and noise for the sake of it, it’s tight, it’s well produced and it brings through that rock and roll sound that you’ve been missing. They work well together to form a unifying front of noise that comes through as high quality. Their initial offering “Deadbeat” is one that should punch you hard, and flow through the rest of their tracks right now. Through “Pure”, “Colo...

Roxanna is an artist I caught up with through the release of “Exotica” and I’m flabbergasted. How did I not hear about her before? She has released one of the infest records here, and her vocals are second to none. They are sultry, they fill the room with emotion, and they focus on so many layers that I had to stop writing for a moment to just get lost in the words. Love, passion, loss, dreams, art, and so much more cycle through with the songs that you hear on this recording. You will not find a dull moment here, or a wasted note. There’s just so much passion that comes through with the songs, and it’s really something operatic at times. I loved the flow of the tracks, and the starting point “Only You” got me hooked. I love female vocalists, but there was something that Roxanna does on this record that really shines beyond my favorites. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but she figures out a way to connect with me on a visceral level. That connection is what makes music so worthwhil...

Blood Sugar Summer unleashes one of the most opulent tracks with the release of the “The Most Photographed Woman On The Planet”, and it’s completely awe inspiring. This epic track is going to completely floor you. You’re going to find that the lyrics are compelling, and draw you in. They paint you a picture of beauty, vanity, and loss. The song structure is very much synth, pop, and somewhat gothic in feel, and it just focuses on movement forward. It’s orchestral in a way, and it blends together in such a manner that is just absolutely intriguing. You will definitely find yourself listening to this song over and over again, trying to capture the essence of what is there. Blood Sugar Summer creates such a spectacular movement here that it’s hard to really categorize them in one area. They found a way to blend synth and goth rock into a very eclectic manner that you will have a hard time not liking. It’s a track that has many layers and builds into something absolutely stunning to sa...

The minute I heard trumpet, I was sold. I love trumpets, it’s one of my weaknesses as a music lover. Good trumpet and melodies are great, and what you get with the track “Ruins” from Marques Robinson is beautiful. You are given a glimpse into the mind of an artist that knows how to put together something outstanding. You are treated to over a minute of nice melodious tuning, and layers, and then something moves ahead, presenting you with even more to the soul of the song. This powerful instrumental completely floors you by the second minute as it starts to unravel a story that will definitely be presented in your mind. The way the trumpet flows with the rest of the elements is exquisite and will definitely give you a rush of adrenaline. I love the combination of guitar sounds and trumpet elements mixed with the overall band sound that you get on the track. It’s really a highlight of a track, featuring a lot of well-timed moments. If you’re looking for something new to listen to, ...

Figures of Light is definitely more prolific than your favorite band. I suggest you make the switch because the guys in Figures of Light are going to give you an incredible amount of energy with each release, and creativity that is unparalleled in the music world right now. With the release of their latest record “Leave Her Alone”, the single gives you 2 tracks of guitar riffing and stellar creativity that will get you pumped. It’s the type of single that you would expect from one of those 7” records that your big brother probably has in his room. “Leave Her Alone” comes through with a good guitar track that is definitely heavy on the surf. It’s a heavier surf sound that makes the song really shine. The second track “Dreams of the Past” also works well, pushing heavy on the riffing and eclectic, dynamic surf vibe. It’s not just surf alone, it’s really rocking with solo work that is second to none. It really is a heavy, dynamic track that stands as one of the coolest tracks that Fig...

Phillip Presswood creates music that is absolutely different than what you may expect from artists today. It’s pop, but not in a traditional sense. There’s an orchestral sound that comes through the music, and when the vocals come in, you get a sense of a greater genre, one that is transcendent. It’s easy to peg this as one thing, but there’s so much complexity here, it’s quite fascinating. You’ll find that the prolific artist has created a number of records, and songs that all capture the emotion and raw power of music at the core, and then unleash an artistic spin that is missing from a lot of today’s music. It’s with “At The Water’s Edge” that you first get a glimpse of the power of Phillip Presswood’s production quality. The track comes from “Beauty For Ashes”, his latest record coming soon. It’s a viscerally charged track that will absolutely floor you with a sense of musical integrity and composition that is just vital to your ears. I found it had moments of great power, pres...

Who said music is expensive? Figures of Light unleashes 20 tracks of pure gold on their greatest hits record. I for one am impressed that they are letting this all go for so cheap, as it is definitely worth a lot more. What you get is 52 minutes of non-stop protopunk glory. You get a taste of all the best tracks from the band and you’ll find that it is a perfect gift for those that haven’t heard of the band’s work yet. They dig through some of the highlights of their records to bring out a glorious edition in one release. From the opening track of “Buy Before You Die”, through the iconic hits of “Killers From Space”, “Too Many Bills, Not Enough Thrills”, “I give Up”, and their electronic stuff, you’re going to have a lot to listen to here. If you have an hour of time, put this on and boogie. This is definitely a good track listing of songs, with something for everyone to enjoy. You even get some of the mixes from their newer records. At the end of the day, when you order the Figu...

The song “Get Me A Drink” recently came on my radar and it’s one great track. The duo here put together an excellent song that really puts you in a party mood. The vocal style hits you hard and the rock guitars and drumming really elevate this to all new levels. You’ll find that production is solid, the song is rocking, and there’s plenty to love for everyone that loves music. The hard working duo is definitely poignant here as you get the full scope of the song. By the time the song goes into a guitar solo, you’re pumped and ready to get to a bar or club and get some dancing on. The duo here is made up of Anthony Casuccio and Lana Marie, both of which are veterans of the music scene. You’ll find that the combined experience here gives you a rocking song with a lot of great things to appreciate. There’s a rock progression here but also a simplicity to the melodies that work well. The hard rock tone mixes well with a modern country, blue collar, work load that is presented through t...

Figures of Light always surprises me. They continually transcend genres, and don’t want to be put into a box. Every release they unleash on the masses has something new to say, and features a different style. Instead of just being a punk band, garage rockers, or any other formulaic artist, they take the rule book and shove it in a meat grinder. What comes out is genius, and the electronic music they have released with “The Open Door” is going to punch you in the mouth if you’re not paying attention. The starting track leads you through a simplistic opening, and then drops you into an abyss of techno mastery. “The Open Door (For Lou Reed)” features DJ Chrisz (on all tracks) and gives you an introduction to what’s to come. Imagine a roller coasters steady progression up to the highest peak and the calm before it drops you into freefall, and you get this track. It’s a starting point that builds slowly and calms you a bit before you inevitably move into what will cause you to wake up. ...

There is a simplicity to the music that J.P. Kallio emerges with on his latest release “Tell My Darling”. The lyrics create a grand display, but the music is toned down, simple, and yet there’s a slow dichotomy, one that is complex in nature. The duality of complexity in imagery and musical inspiration collides to make a fascinating end result. I love the lines in the songs, including the track “They Don’t Make Them Anymore Like That”, as it is a stand out track that speaks volumes. The toned down nature of this record is introspective, almost like a worship album, tribute to art, it’s intriguing as you unravel the album as a whole. It’s on “Soul” that you have to turn up your speakers and really pay attention. The subtlety of the intro mixed with the moving lyrics begin to paint you the picture of a larger scale. It’s masterful in the way it’s presented, comes through to showcase the talent of J.P. Kallio’s guitar work, and melodies. This song truly magnifies the “Tell My Darling”...

It took me a few seconds before I blasted my speakers to “Can You Whine (feat. Galaxxy Quuen and Prince Ama)” as it is one of the most compelling mixes I’ve heard in a long time. Skip Martin breaks up the monotony of music with this incredible track of reggae, pop, and dance mixed into an incredible sound. You cannot listen to this song without turning up your subwoofer as it explodes with an infusion of sounds that you are going to absolutely love. The bass on this release is going to hit you hard, and the fast flow that you hear from Skip Martin is going to impress. The whole track just has a lot of different points, and if you watch the video, I dare you not to dance. I laughed hard, and then danced a bit for my cats. This is one of those songs that is going to make you laugh, it’s going to make you turn it up and you’re going to keep on asking “Can you whine?”. “Can You Whine (feat. Galaxxy Quuen and Prince Ama)” is my favorite reggae mix to date. I know, I love s...

When you think atmospheric rock, you immediately think bands like Dio or Dragonforce, but Ashes of Luna is going to change that for you. They play a brand of rock that is both metallic in nature, but doesn’t limit the appeal by going in one direction or genre. With the release of “SI – 963 Hz” you are treated to one of the finer independent records in the alternative scope of music. It’s heavy, it’s pretty, it’s layered, and it will knock you on your butt if you’re not paying attention. What surprises you immediately is the layered approach to the Ashes of Luna sound. There’s a lot going on and it’s not limiting at all. You get a symphonic introduction to the record, and then on comes the rock guitars and percussion. The vocal styling is solid, with good overall tones and you are never left out of the picture. Storytelling and musical integration is the name of the game here, and you are treated to a lavish display of glorious timing and precision playing. This is not metal, so d...

I’ve listened to a lot of hip hop tracks, and a lot of rappers try to get a flow as smooth as butter, but most of them are lackluster. The Swavy One comes through correct and drops one of the most eclectic and compelling hip hop song I’ve heard in a long time. It’s smooth, the flows seem easy for the rapper as he goes through several themes fast, and within the beats of an isolated track of beats. The looping is classic, the song just keeps a good stride before you get hit with a chorus that makes you get up out of your chair and start to, well, “Bounce”. The Swavy One is talented on this track he spits an interesting flow, and delights with spelling out what his ideas are through hot rhymes, clean pronunciation and instructions that should make you, well, “Bounce”. (See what I Did there?) It’s rare for me to be so delighted by a hip hop single, but this is definitely one of the better options I’ve heard in a long time. It’s smooth, it’s well written, and the hook is delightful. I ...

In my world of music, you either have something good or you don’t. I know I highlight a lot of the good on this site, but that’s only because I have chosen not to talk about bands that I dislike or hate. I did that in the past, and those articles serve no purpose, so when I find a band that is worth listening to, I jump forward and praise them for their work. That’s exactly what I’m doing with The Electrets. Their release of “Misfit” completely floored me, and I’m so surprised that I haven’t heard of these ladies and their incredible punk rock noise. They have a certain intangible that I used to look for when I had my record label back in 2001. The band puts together all the elements that made The Ramones and even The Huntingtons shock with awesome rocking tunes. On the EP, The Electrets put on a showcase of talent and it’s not just the same old Ramones style rock, it’s something more. You get keyboards at times, you get awesome solos, and a certain horror movie quality to the lyri...

Through this year I have listened to a lot of music. You can check my last.fm link to see just how many different albums, songs and records I’ve listened to, and amidst all of that noise, I’m always surprised with the next big thing. As such, Grit Harbour gets my “best of” vote today, and for 2014 so far. Their recordings that I heard today are impeccable, timed well, and pushed with a certain design that I can’t really describe in a simple sentence. As a teenager, I bought every record from Jade Tree and Deep Elm, I listened to everything. I had the whole Tooth and Nail Records catalog, and this band’s latest record fits within that world. You are going to find that this is the kind of independent release that speaks volumes to the genre of alternative, indie, and even pop at times. The first thing you hear, “On A Quiet Roof” is evidence enough to get you thinking about better days. For me it took me back to my years in Seattle, where I seemed to have a semblance of happiness, bef...