Sell Out Records - A Music Review Blog

I know it’s my job to compare musical acts and try to paint a picture as to what they are doing so that you can go and buy the record and check them out, but every now and again artists are beyond just one genre and above any simple terminology. It’s paying disservice for me to call the latest release from 2KX anything other than a masterpiece. Fronted by Lisa LaRue, this is a release of progressive rock and is like nothing I’ve heard in a long time. Yes, there are other prog rock bands out there, but this release is a cataclysmic exemplification of art, and not just music. With the release of “Sussuration”, you get elements of every type of musical genre, but it’s like a work of art, seamless in the integral elements that make this worth picking up. I was floored by the pieces, and really found myself in awe at the precision at which every element comes together. It’s like a giant jigsaw puzzle, and once you hear the record, you understand the pieces fit to make sure that this makes...

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Iakopo has just released and the artist took to Okinawa to produce the music video for the title track “One Forever”. When you hear love songs, you may immediately think of one genre, and one of your favorite singers, but every now and again a new artist comes through and shakes things up a bit with poetry, and musical taglines that are just compelling to listen to. Iakopo has painted quite the illustration with this track, giving all you guys out there a song to sing for your girl, or put on as background music to spark a bit of romance. This song has everything you could ask for in an honest look at love and appreciation for someone, as you hear the lyrical notes, and the musical elements. Acoustic guitar tones, simple percussion, and signature vocals put together a nice song that will have you flowing through feelings for that special someone in your life. It’s a good overall song, and the video is definitely in line with the lyrical elements and musical tones that...

During my days, I listen to a lot of fast, hard, and obnoxious music. But every now and again I will slow things down and listen to some slower tunes. DigMarie came on my playlist and completely turned my day upside down. The vocal presentation mixed with the lyrical elements all play so well together. They put my cats at ease (I have 4), and got me daydreaming. There is a sweetness to the vocals that you get when you hear this talented singers voice. There’s a gentle spirit that comes forth on tracks like “Lost In You” and it’s sincerity that tugs at your heart, and whispers in your ear. It’s a seduction that is played with such a compelling elemental design. As you move forward with more tracks from DigMarie, you start to realize that there’s a lot more talent than you may have first realized. There’s depth to the tracks, and as you traverse the different layers of the music, you get that same vibe that you received when you first learned about many other mainstays in the music i...

Joe Con’s latest effort “I Choose You” is an ep that mashes a lot of genres together to form one of the most satisfying records that I’ve heard in a while. It’s hard to fit this one into one area, but it’s definitely going to find fans across several genres. There’s a little bit of country, rock, alternative, hip hop, and other elements moving fast within the songs. It’s based on acoustic guitar entries, but it’s built and layered with more as the lyrics come in and the singing builds a bridge between the listener and the words that Joe Con illustrates. The lyrics are good here, they paint a good story, they are like country music’s finest in many ways. However, it’s not limited to that genre and it really isn’t the same as you would expect, even though you feel it at times, including during some of the parts of “Said and Done”. There’s a more contemporary feel to the tracks so it’s hard to place Joe Con in a box. Just when you think you’ve figured the work out, you get hit with a ...

I was introduced to Sienná through the first musical notes on the upcoming single “I Know Why”, and was completely stunned. There’s something elegant about the musical production at first glance. You’ll hear a very melodic point, before you are lead down a line of singing and other elements that create a lavish picture. It’s this ethereal relationship that comes through with vocals and sound design that is really well done. It’s got a mix of pop, electronic, digital, and organic sounds that work very well here. You really get this compelling sound and design that flows so well together. You are not going to be disappointed upon listening as it starts to become clearer through the track. By minute 2, you are enthralled, you are in love, and you can’t let go. There’s a symbiosis at work here, something that only the best artists can produce, and that’s iconic here. It’s not a noisy track, it’s moody, it’s eclectic, and it is definitely one of the better sounding songs I’ve heard in a...

I was immediately blown away by Vin Deca’s production on “Electro Positive Plus”. Not since Kavinsky have I heard of a unique mix of music that is by far compelling and artsy in so many worlds. This is beyond the genre of dance and electronic music, as it fits into a whole new element of musical creativity. I’m honestly not sure how to really explain the layers that are created here as the positivity shines through and through. On the record you are going to hear the traditional beats you may have grown accustom to in regards to dance or pop music, but right when you think you’ve got Vin Deca figured out, he throws you a curve. When you listen to tracks like “Avec Plaisir” you really denote that. I loved the way the flow turned around and then struck a new element throughout. It is an energy filled track that really needs your attention. The rest of the record is compelling too, and it flows through ambience and rhythm that is very much on par with what you would expect from a ja...

Shid Latta is coming out strong from Baltimore and brings about one of the most compelling tracks that I’ve heard in a long time. It not only hits you hard with the beats and production by EVOLUTION MS, it comes through with a lyricism that hits you like a prized fighter to the face. The delivery of the lyrics is hard, delivered within words and ideas that are filled with dreams. The writing brings about a swagger that comes over the top and brings you to the experience that the rapper is trying to present like a painting. If you close your eyes you will start to bounce a bit as the delivery showcases a lot of different elements moving forward. This is the type of song that you are going to hear playing as loud at a stop light because it’s full of incredible timing and influence. It makes you want to throw a fist up in the air at times, it makes you want to listen carefully to the lyrics, and it’s the sign of a rapper that knows how to divide the beats and inspire within the words, b...

I grew up on Christian music, and with that, I had to hear a lot of terrible rappers try to rhyme. Then something happened, call it a spiritual awakening, but Christian music started getting really good. A.K.A. FiSHEЯ proves that yet again, and you get a super flow that is going to surprise even the staunchest of critics. With the track “It’s A Jesus Thing”, you get the power of secular beats with a flow that is going to push you into thinking twice about what Christian rappers are all about. The lyrical flow here is impressive, A.K.A. FiSHEЯ makes this seem too easy. When you start to dissect the track, you will find that there are a lot of elements that the best rappers in the game have, only this time around you are getting pure food for the soul. Whether you’re a believer or not, this is going to hit you hard. The beat alone is going to make you want to turn up the stereo, and once the flows start, you’re going to be cast down into a world of incredible music. I found it to be ...

When The Shivers first came out with their landmark record, I couldn’t find a friend that liked them. Today, I’m 31 years old, and I can’t find friends that like good music, and I don’t care. When I first caught wind that this record was being pressed and released, I looked for someone to tell, and what better place than this blog, right? The Shivers will release “Charades” remastered, sequenced, and on Vinyl for the first time on October 17, 2014. Mark your calendars, break your piggy bank and make sure that you’re getting this incredible release. If you’re not familiar with The Shivers, then you’re missing out. You need to pay attention, because it is this New York City band that is one of the most influential artists of the past decades. Despite the fact that their release didn’t set the charts on fire or get into your brother’s music collection, they have managed to create a beautiful, and eclectic sound well worth your time. With 13 albums released, and a slew of fans, you’l...