Sell Out Records - A Music Review Blog

I first picked up “On A Wire” on a trip to Alaska . I found it at a used record store in the paper jewel case. I loved the record from the first time I heard “Overdue”. Over time, a lot of records from the past don’t really hold up to well, but the soundtrack of emotional disconnect revolves heavily around The Get Up Kids and their music. I even saw them live once. I bought 3 tickets, and recall inviting a friend of mine, but he refused to go on the grounds that it was the band. I invited a girl I met online, I don’t remember her real name but she couldn’t find me and ended up scalping a ticket into the show. I stood outside long enough to miss Hot Rod Circuit play. The show carried on and The Get Up Kids played a good show at the House of Blues in Sunset, long ago. They played carefully curated selections from their career, and they included several from this record. What stands out for me is not so much the title track, which is a great one, including the music video that comes thr...

Ty Segall channels a bit of the past with his latest release “Mr. Face”. There’s a progression here that comes straight out of the 1960s alternative rock movement, or rather folk rock at times. The title track comes straight at you from the side stage of Woodstock, but with a modern twist that is definitely interesting to listen to. I was surprised up front by the simplicity of the track, with excellent production and a strong build towards the end of what very well may be the best indie rock track I’ve heard in a long time. It’s with the strength of the first track that the rest of the record blossoms into a can’t miss experience. What “Mr. Face” misses in terms of electric rhythm, it makes up for on the rest of the disc, specifically “Circles”, which brings about all the missing components of the title track. This psychedelic twist of a song is definitely not what I was expecting after the initial hearing. I love the way it progresses into a 1970s enigmatic track. It’s something ...

I know, my title doesn’t make as much sense as you may have hoped for, but don’t worry, when you actually sit down to listen to the new Secant Prime release, you’ll get it. “Made” the first track that I heard from the release blew me away, as if I was going through a time warp. This electronic release is a wakeup call, and the first good electronic release of 2015 for me. I heard a TON of records in 2014, but this year has started a bit slow for me. I’m glad that Secant Prime’s latest hit my speakers, because it’s definitely a top notch release and you’ll hear it flowing through insane tracks, layered beats, electrical circuitry, and attention to details that you normally don’t get from music of this style. I was impressed with how things moved from frenetic to peaceful, to thought provoking. The record has a good balance to it, and there’s no sound wasted here. It doesn’t just seek to please your ear as much as it is made to create harmony and chaos into a painting that you’ll see...

P.O.D. hasn’t been on the mainstream radio circuit quite as much as some of their peers, but they are still putting out music, and pushing their message to the Warriors out there. If you’re a fan of the band, then you already know this. For those that haven’t heard from them in a while, you’re missing out. The band released an acoustic record called “SoCal Sessions” last year (2014), and it was funded through crowdsourcing. The band stripped down their best songs and turned out one of the best records I’ve heard from them in a long time. I first heard of the band back when they were on Christian labels and they were not quite as poppy as they are now. With the release of their record, “Brown”, I thought that these guys were destined to remain underground for a long time. Things changed though, and upon the release of their major label debut, they turned out one of the best recording from a Christian hard rock group ever. That’s not just me talking, that’s the millions of people th...

When Dinosaur Jr. released “Without A Sound” I didn’t listen. It was 1997 and I was only 14 years old. I didn’t listen because I was too busy trying to collect the most punk rock cassette tapes and vinyl records that I could get my grubby hands on. I missed the boat in 1997, but have recently rediscovered the band, no thanks to WCW professional wrestler Raven. The band hit the studio in 1994 and came out with one hell of a record that is violent at times, emotional at times, and rivals any release that came out in 1994. That’s right, ANY alternative record can go toe to toe with Dinosaur Jr. “Without A Sound” and get a shot at glory. Six albums into their career, the band really came across with a polished sound. The guitar driven record sits well with alternative rockers, but it’s the melodic drumming and precision bass lines that really capture the essence of the bands rollercoaster. It is definitely defined through the opening track “Feel The Pain”, which landed the band on the B...