Sell Out Records - A Music Review Blog

Bernie Journey is set to release one incredible track of music on December 30th 2014. The track entitled “Are You Thinking What I’m Thinking?” is a dance, pop, electronic single that took me by surprise. I wasn’t expecting the song to be so catchy, but by the mid-point I was singing along and really enjoying the music. It’s an ethereal mix of pop sensibilities with electronic music precision that is definitely going to get you moving a bit. The single is reminiscent of the 1980s for me, with clear vocals, sung over hypnotic electronic elements, and that classic dance pop sound. It just seems like it fits so well in the past, that you’ll be thinking this is a hit from another generation. However, it’s new, it’s well done, and presents a vibrant end to the year. The track itself is a compelling one, bringing together a collaborative musical process that is often missing with electronic music. If you’re a fan of pop music, this is definitely going to be hard to stop listening to. Be...

Not since I first heard the soundtrack to Mega Man 2 have I been so enthralled with electronic music. This year has been great for digital music, and I have been given a lot of options to listen to, and here is just another example of great music moving through the internet and other arenas. Bombs Dropping “Winter 2014” is a mix of electronic dub, club, or whatever you want to call it and it’s definitely a fine production. It starts heavy with “Fame”, before it starts dropping digital bombs, as it were. There’s a lot of bouncing on the record, but there’s steps that are going to take you out of the old techno raga and put you in touch with a new wave of digital creation. I love the tracking on “Cold Front” which feels like something right out of a video game from the PS3. It feels organic, and it has a strong electronic vibe that is definitely well worth your time. You’re going to be thrown back into the industrial era of rock music that made games like Quake so exciting. Don’t m...

Violent Ground is no joke. They have found a way to tap into a sector of hip hop that is usually seen in major hubs of the United States. These two brothers from Quebec and Labrador present a lyrical giant of a record that blew me away upon first listen. The beats are strong, and the lyrical presentation has a duality that is definitely going to take them far. I was very impressed with the track “Born With Tha Mic”, before the guys championed a set of tracks that absolutely will blow you way. “Reborn”, “Never Fade Away”, “Rap”, “Nuthin’ On Me”, all stand out amidst a solid 13 tracks, but this is a whole record to be consumed and listened to as a whole, not just singles. I appreciated the way that things work so well together, flowing through various themes, topics, and ideas. From love, loss, politics, and so much more, the duo paints a picture so well that it feels so complex and yet they make it seem so simple. The flow goes slow, fast, and through various stages, creating a kaleid...

T.Lee throws out a hard hitting record that starts with one heavy handed mix of beats and lyricism. “Before The Overpower” builds on an empty canvas and gives you a deep look into a versatile rap game that T.Lee is overthrowing. “The Crash Part.2” is a provocative track that speaks volumes with raw power and a beat that drives the point the rapper is trying to make as an opening. It’s like a kick to a locked door before rushing in and taking no prisoners, solid in the approach, and smooth through the ending, a well-placed starting point for a hip hop record that truly goes through several defining lines. It’s not all harsh and heavy handed, T.Lee knows how to flow through various moods, beats, and rap styles. You’ll be surprised how he a story can unfold from introspection to commentary on love, life, and so much more. Just when you think you figured out everything, the record takes a left turn and a new picture is painted for you, which is usually reserved for the best rappers. It...

“Conformity is Over Rated…” the first track ends with a serious note as to what’s to come and it most certainly comes through on this record of great importance. Hip hop has been sewn up with a lot of mediocre rappers, and the mainstream seems to have lost the ethos of the past yet again. Then rappers come out like you hear on this record and you get a whole new hope for the future. It’s with that in mind that “Tears In Your Eyes” opens up, the storytelling that you’ve heard in the past gets a new twist with rhymes and beats that showcase the harsh realities of life, love, and more. A.S.H.E.S The Chosen comes through with rhymes that matter, paint a picture, and beats that are connective tissue to the body of “ID, Ego, Superego”, and it’s expertly done. Every track has been carefully chosen, words presented as more than just rhymes, and something that hits you right in your mind’s eye. At times it’s bouncing, others it’s raw, but overall the words are put together to show you a lar...

Anti-Flag released this EP entitled “A Benefit for Victims of Violent Crime” after tragedy struck their band. It was in 2007 when the bass player’s sister and boyfriend were murdered. That tragedy left the band with heavy hearts, and they took to the studio to record a few songs and give the proceeds to “The Center for Victims of Violence and Crimes”. The release marked 5 new songs from the band, and mixed reviews from critics. The critics should’ve been beaten for giving this less than stellar reviews, considering the intentions of the band, the solidarity of giving the funding away and the tragedy that struck. None the less, people still want to review this record as an absolute Anti-Flag release. The strength of “A Benefit for Victims of Violent Crime EP” really hinges on the back story and the political, social movement that the band has been promoting since they first started. Even today, they push on a heavy political focus and social conscious message that other punk bands ma...

20 seconds into the latest from Mary Keey, and I’m a fan. I was blown away at 40 seconds in, and may very well have found my favorite electronic record for 2014. As a music writer, I listen to all sorts of music, and electronic is definitely one of the most eclectic genres, but this is something altogether new, and emphatic in the electronic world. This record comes off hard up front, then mellows into a variety of tracks that are unique, and flow through a very unique release. “Electricize Me”, is not a one trick pony, it’s a full scale record that has various inclusions from the world of digital music, and it is perhaps one of the finest mixes I’ve heard in a long time. “Apollo” opens things up in such a heavy manner, that you immediately take note of the record’s presence. After the initial introduction, you are taken through both dance elements, electric elements, and singing that fits right into the mold of EDM, with so much ease. There’s something special here, especially whe...

The power of the Deftones, the intensity of Poison the Well, and the precise elements that made Chevelle so good are all filtered into a whole new presentation with the release of “Bye Bipolar” from the band Fey. The Canadian band unleashes 7 tracks of experimental hard rock that is a breath of fresh air in a genre that is somewhat boring at times. There’s a lot to listen to here and it’s going to punch you in the throat if you aren’t paying attention. Things really start to go crazy with “Rent Free” as the ending minute will completely shake your computer and headphones. The promise of a record that sounds like Glassjaw is what you’re going to get here, because that’s what I got at first, but you know what? Fey seems to come into their own element on this one, and perhaps that’s the thing that you’ll takeaway. Comparisons aside, the band has found a voice that is very much welcomed in regards to hard music. It’s not quite hardcore, it’s not quite metal, but it has elements of all ...

J.P. Kallio’s fourth record is one of the most compelling things I’ve heard this year. The opening track alone is enough to hook even the most jaded of music fans, as the guitar work ushers you into a whole new world of music. It’s a good guitar ballad of sorts, and it begins a record that has incredible lyrical elements and emotion that you don’t always find in a lot of releases. There’s a certain honest that comes through from the beginning and flows through to evoke a fine mix of songs that you’ll have a hard time putting down. “Call Off The Angels” is one of the best songs on the record, but the movements forward produce even more for the listener. “On His Way To Hell”, “No Safe Bets”, “Watch The Rain”, and others filter through this record that produces a good sense for what J.P. Kallio has to offer. The acoustic, rock, and blues structure is felt throughout here, and there’s a lot of raw emotion that bleeds through the songs, making it a standard. It’s hard to find any misste...

From the moment that the new Ahtanum Shore album starts, you are taken into a frenetically paced punk rock album that is going to wake up and never let you go. You’re not going to be able to sit still on this one as there are several elements at play here and while there’s definitely a pop punk tinge, there’s also melodic rock, and even tastes of hardcore sprinkled within the tracks. From the opening moments of “This Song’s From You”, to the powerful push forward on the rest of the record, you are taken on a ride of emotion and song writing ability that is not only going to propel the band into more headphones and radio, but could possibly give them a shot at the big time. The production here is good, tightly produced, and brings about a good sense of expertise on every single track. The riffs are solid, the percussion comes in strong, and the vocals are definitely on par with some of the best bands past and present. Fans of bands like Fall Out Boy and New Found Glory will definite...