Sell Out Records - A Music Review Blog

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy first came into my radio in the late 1990s when the rest of the swing revival happened on rock radio. I immediately latched onto the swing sounds and the band really hooked me. I have been following the band’s career for some time, and one of my favorite records that they put out was definitely “How Big Can You Get”. This is a record that takes on a tribute. The band pulls through a best of Cab Calloway and his big band music. They do covers in the style of Big Bad Voodoo Daddy however. It’s really well done, excellent in recording, and worth your time on a lot of levels. You are going to get the classic tracks that the famed jazz and big band leader put out. Some of my favorites include “Calloway Boogie”, “Minnie The Moocher”, “The Jumpin’ Jive”, “The Ghost of Smokey Joe”, and of course the whole record. In 11 songs, the band puts on 44 minutes of swing music that you would swear was part of the 1950s and 1960s. It’s fresh, it’s hip, it’s Big Bad Voodoo Daddy doi...

I just got a new speaker for my laptop. Previously, I was listening to music with headphones, but didn’t like it. I got tired of it overall, so I bought a new set up. I mention this because Nick Festari’s latest record “This is me..Slower and Faster” was the first record I heard with it on. I turned things up and boom, the semi sonic sounds of rock, pop and great melody came through immediately. “You Wanna Make Me Fly (I Know You Belong To A Dream)” is absolutely a hit opener. This is the kind of opener that you get from major label record debut albums. I was immediately impressed with the structure and balance of the record, and quality of the recording. From the vocals, to the style of guitar and keyboard elements, you get a feeling for the talent that Nick Festari has. It’s such a powerful song, and it goes through every emotional element that you’d expect from a veteran of the music industry. “This Is Me..Slower and Faster” is cultivated to showcase various genres, and within t...

I went to school in Jesus Land. I went through 10 grades in Christian school. In that arena I was exposed to a lot of alternative Christian music. I hate the label because some of the artists were absolutely great no matter what their beliefs are. Consider Tooth and Nail Records and the early catalog of their hits. They are absolutely grand. Amidst the influx of alternative music from those years, I have to make mention of one band that didn’t get enough credit outside of the religious circles, and it’s The W’s. The band put out one of the best swing records ever crafted in 1998. I know, I’m reaching here for some, but the record is really well made despite the label that many people shun. “Fourth From The Last” has all the features of a great swing record , even if you don’t believe in the lyrical elements that come through sometimes. Do you like swing music? Chances are that you aren’t paying a lot of attention to the lyrics anyways, and if you are, you’re not going to get hit wi...

One of the most famous songs from Sublime is actually not an original. It’s a song that they covered, and many others have covered from The Melodians. I once heard a rendition of this song played at a pastor’s conference in Prescott, Arizona. This rocksteady group comes from Jamaica (of course), and is one of the better sounding artists from the 1960s. The song of course is “Rivers of Babylon”. With “Super Best” , the record that came out in 2012, you get a collection of tracks from the group. The disc is 25 tracks of rocksteady, and reggae, but with a subtle religious touch to it. Whether that’s by design or it’s just the signature style of The Melodians, I don’t really know. However, throughout the 25 tracks, you get a true sense for the reggae and ska artist’s passion for the music. There are elements of love, peace, harmony, and even religious ideas sewn throughout the songs. This is the type of ska record that you are going to be able to share with family, friends, and not get lau...

I write a lot. People don't understand how much I write. I write so much that I start blogs and just run them into the ground with the amount of text that I throw at them. Some of them get popular, others die slow deaths. I was listening to a song by Thursday, and it begins with the title of this post. So I decided to name a blog, and start writing reviews about the music that I want. I already have a review site called Sell Out Records (http://selloutrecords.blogspot.com), but that's for long form reviews. I also post random thoughts on Sold Out Records via Tumblr. However, I wanted an outlet where I wasn't confined to long forms, so here is this idea. In this blog, you will see reviews of music from all over the map. I will write about things in a very concise, and simple manner. No long form reviews will be posted on here, unless I want to rant. The reviews will be 250 words each and edited by James Himsa. The editing and writing will be to give you a break down of some ...

So, The Electrets woke me up from a daze on Twitter with the release of their new music video! If you don't remember The Electrets , then you aren't reading my blog, idiots! I reviewed their stuff HERE . Check out the video below, go follow them on Twitter, and wake up to one of my favorite up and coming bands since I first discovered The Donnas and desperately tried to marry a member. I was a weirdo, I'm sure.

I discovered Murs thanks to John Cena. John Cena and DEF JUX were something new I discovered a while back. Murs did a video for his track “HUSTLE” and it featured Cena in the video. It was from that point forward that I wanted to listen to everything that MURS ever put out. I did and have been blessed by some of the lyrics that he’s pushed out. Through the affiliate with DEF JUX that MURS and others had, I was able to discover all sorts of hip hop heavyweights. The creation of lyrical elements has always fascinated me, and though I’m not a rapper, I would like to think of myself as a fan of poetry. I mean, I am in a master’s program for Humanities. With the release of “Have a Nice Life” , the rapper from Los Angeles has created a kaleidoscope of music released through Strange Music. From the starting line of “Have a Nice Life”, you get into a car with the famed rapper. He presents a slice of life that is somewhat autobiographical, but so much more. It’s a fascinating trip through t...

I had just arrived in Los Angeles in 2011. I was previously in Moscow, Idaho and going through a divorce. It was a new adventure to start over again, and pay my proverbial dues into a new life. I enjoyed myself a bit, and found that the dating world was full of ups and downs. However, I managed to meet someone that was very cool, and while we were never official, I can’t seem to forget. It was within the confines of our friendship that I would rediscover a passion for music, some lost records, and a new lease on the creative spark that drives writers. That’s where I highlight picking up this record from Bouncing Souls yet again, and it remains one of my favorites. “How I Spent My Sumer Vacation” came out in 2001 , and it has 13 tracks of melodic punk rock glory. Her name was Natalie. I’m sure she’s out there, living it up, and she is perhaps one of the coolest people I’ve ever met in my life. She was just real. I don’t know how else to say it, she was just real. I guess I had an op...

I didn’t hear “Clarity” from Jimmy Eat World until I was a senior in high school. I was late on this record because I didn’t really explore passed “Bleed American”, which was getting a lot of radio and MTV play at the time. I recall Carson Daly saying that these guys were one of the hardest working bands in the United States. They were in fact opening acts for a ton of tours, and they were coming into their own with the release of the poorly titled “Bleed American”, which saw a few title changes, and even censorship thanks to 2001’s events. “Clarity” is one of the best independent rock records every put together. However, it fits into the “emo” and “indie” mold all the same. It’s like Death Cab For Cutie’s brother, or cousin. The band flows through long winded songs, creating over an hour of music with just 15 songs on the expanded edition. These are not short songs at all, and they play through a lot of instrumentation, and sometimes, it seems a bit long. That’s the key to the in...

The So So Glos performed live for KEXP and here's the video of it, listen up idiots. Look, if you have a few bucks, why not pick up The So So Glos record HERE?

The So So Glos come at you fast. They are the type of band that has so many records, they get thrown into the punk rock discount bin. That’s not bad. I found some incredible 7” vinyl in these clearance bins. Funny thing, that’s where I first discovered Blink 182’s “Cheshire Cat”. With the 2014 release of “Blowout” This band of misfits, assuming they aren’t PHD students, put down 11 tracks of punk rock iconography that is going to get your feet tapping. If the band is pursuing a PHD, maybe they aren't misfits. Or maybe they are, what do I know? I'm just a dude trying to review a record. All kidding aside, “Blowout” is a garage punk recording that features a lot of that DIY spirit. You can hear it from the fuzz and noise that comes through the recording. It is not polished and it’s not a million dollar recording, but it doesn’t have to be. It shouldn’t be. The band goes through the songs in such a manner that you get the full passion of what they are doing. From the heavy ba...

Millions of people still think of Nirvana’s unplugged album as one of the best MTV ever produced . MTV was a great channel once. I wasn’t allowed to watch it, but I did so anyways. It showcased a lot of music, and it helped me branch away from purely rock radio into new dimensions. I remember that in 1996 I wanted to pick up several records, and one of the major ones that I purchased was Alice in Chains “Unplugged”. This was recorded for MTV as they had a series in which they put rock groups in a small venue, put some candles on, and the band would play through their hits and some B-sides as well. What made this so special was that the band had been absent from the limelight for a while. In fact, they didn’t play a concert for 2 and a half years before this. Layne Staley would die soon after the band recorded this, but the band definitely put on a showcase here. I recall at the time, a lot of music critics didn’t like this record. In fact, my stepfather, friends that listened to ro...

Vero snuck up on me. “Passed Grass Education” starts simple enough, with a smooth flow, and good beats. But while you’re slowly melting into the nuance that Vero brings through, you get taken into the real crux of this record, and something happens. A sonic boom of cool starts to drop through focused beats. There’s relaxation here, don't get me wrong, but there's a control element that only the best MC's in the game have, and that's what you get here. Controlled lyrical elements over smooth beats. Vero has a flow that is laid back, he’s not attacking you, he’s talking through the clouds of smoke and peace he’s bringing. You’re going to be bobbing your head, as the beats come through simply.This is the type of record you want to cruise through a skatepark with, no crazy tricks, just cruising along, hitting some hips, dropping in and mellowing out. “Just Trust” is just the beginning, as you flow through the rest of the tracks, you start to get a slow moving painting ...

The Dingees have been one of those bands that people love to hate. That’s at least what I got from people whenever I said I was a fan. I saw them play a lot. I saw them play at the mega show that was Skamania with The Supertones and Slick Shoes. I saw them play with Stavesacre and Project 86, and I booked them to play a show at a church in Orange County with Makeshift3, Beauty to Ashes, and The Discarded. I recall begrudgingly paying Pegleg (the singer) their fee, even though not a lot of people came to the show. But hey, we broke even, and I got a free shirt for my troubles. He was down. “The Crucial Conspiracy” had come out and it seemed like no one cared about the once promising band on the Tooth and Nail roster. “The Crucial Conspiracy” seems like a concept record , as the artwork is amazing. The art done for the record is definitely something to see, as the band’s record is placed into an Orwellian perspective. I love how the art and design flows through a very concrete and v...