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Showing posts from November, 2015

Announcing 25 Days of Alternative Christmas Music Reviews

This year, Sell Out Records is doing something absolutely special. We will be reviewing as many Alternative Christmas music records as we can. These will be featuring genres like punk, metal, hip hop, hardcore, and so much more. These are NOT traditional records, they are alternative. You will hate them, you will love them, you will probably ignore them as you ignore a lot of the things that we post. 25 days of Alternative Christmas Music begins tomorrow or today, I don’t know, I haven’t decided yet.

Relient K Self Titled Review

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Relient K "Self Titled" LP Relient K put out their debut in 2000 and it was one of those records that I immediately gravitated towards. It was pop punk, and it had a slice of religious ideology that I had started to collect. At the time, I was going to a cult, er, I mean church that damned everyone that bought a secular record. I had a TON of them, but I wasn’t about to let anyone in on the massive collection of music that I had. The good thing about that period was that I would be exposed to a TON of great bands from the “Christian” scene. Relient K is one of the talented bands that I got stuck in my head all the time. The guys put out this incredible debut, and it still rings true today. From the start of “Hello McFly” you get a sense of joy and fun from the band. These guys, to me, were like The Aquabats in many ways. Going through some jovial tunes, throwing down some interesting takes on being a good person, and overall, just having fun. There’s a few serious note

Relient K The Anatomy of The Tongue In Cheek Review

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Relient K "The Anatomy of The Tongue and Cheek" LP Ah yes, 2001, the year that Relient K were seniors in the world of punk rock high school. Their first record was good, no doubt, but the guys came back with 17 tracks and nearly an hour of pop punk goodness. It’s here that the dual singing punkers really put on a showcase for the immortals. Whether you are a fan of punk in the Christian scene or not, you have to admit this this is a record that is well composed, easy to digest, and right on par with Screeching Weasel, and others. It’s poppy, it’s punk rock, it’s “safe”? Yeah, “The Anatomy of The Tongue In Cheek” took on a whole new world of punk rock when released, and I was thrilled to hear them put on a showcase on tour with the likes of Five Iron Frenzy and Mxpx. This is a much harder record than the original, at least in regards to the guitar work. The lyrical elements are funny, then there are serious topics like that of “Down In Flames”, which talks about hypocr

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones Let’s Face It Review

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The Mighty Mighty Bosstones "Let's Face It" LP  Let’s go back to 1997 for a minute. That was when I was young and dumb, but loved ska music. A lot of my friends thought that the genre was dumb or lame. I didn’t care, I still love the world of ska music and will recommend a ton of records to people that ask. With that in mind, one of the most popular and o utstanding works from the genre is none other than The Mighty Might Bosstones “Let’s Face It” . This is a record that absolutely skyrocketed the band from being a third wave ska act into the mainstream circus of music. In fact, it was their lead single that seemed to get the band the recognition that I had been trying to give them since I first heard their debut on cassette. Whatever the case is, the band saw significant success in ska music and the mainstream as a result of this compelling record. The tracks that stand out here include “Noise Brigade”, “The Rascal King”, “The Impression That I Get”, “Numbered Days

Foo Fighters Drop A Free EP With Saint Cecilia and You Can’t Help But Love It

I’m not a big fan of the Foo Fighters, but the band did put out one of the first compact discs that I ever purchased. The first two discs that I ever bought were Foo Fighters and Nofx records, so there you go. With the Paris attacks that occurred recently, the band decided to pen a note to their fans and the world and released this EP for free. It is 5 songs, 18 minutes of the bands signature style of alternative rock. Each song has a different element to it that makes it grand, and you know what, it’s catchy, it’s poppy, and it’s a standard release for the band. Would I have purchased this record if the band didn’t release for free? Probably not. But the songs on it, are getting stuck in my head right now. Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe I would have purchased the record because I’m still sinking a lot of money into buying music. Then again, maybe you agree with me. I don’t know, I am just rambling at this point. If you haven’t heard it yet, you should really do so. Foo Fighters “Saint Cecil

Robert Plant Band of Joy Review

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Robert Plant "Band of Joy" LP  You already know who Robert Plant is, and if you don’t, then you are way behind in your music history. Robert Plant was a member of Led Zeppelin. If you aren’t familiar with this hard rock world, that’s ok, he’s done a lot more than just throw down some serious musical moments. In his solo career, he has transformed musical genres and created compelling compositions with thoughtful lyrics, and beautiful musical arrangements. It’s with “Band of Joy” , that I really started to love the solo work of Plant. I loved Robert Plant as a kid, as I even named my first pet hamsters Robert and Jimmy. They both died. I have cats now, they are well taken care of, though, so no worries there. As for “Band of Joy”, I was floored by how I missed this record in 2010. I first started seeing this record out at Starbucks. I lived next door to Starbucks in Seattle for many years. I would drink it daily, and sometimes 3 times a day. I miss those days sometimes,

Myke Clements Time Has Come For A Review on Sell Out Records

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Myke Clements The Thunder Quiet LP Excuse the terrible opening title, I didn’t know what else to lead in with. I guess I could’ve stated, “review”, but come I reserve that for unsolicited random thoughts on records that I have. Myke Clements shouted me out via my Scary Film Review twitter account, which I sometimes promote links for this page on. He’s a fan of Falling Up, and well he threw me a link, and now it’s time to talk about the record he’s put out, “The Thundering Quiet”. I wasn’t sure what to expect, as I’ve never heard of Myke at all, and that’s a shame. I would’ve been trumpeting for him for a while now, but the good thing is that today, is the day we discuss his latest opus. This record is fascinating. It’s a record that feels like a movie score. There’s so many ethereal elements at play. When you start to break down the pieces, you are driven through a lot of different arenas. Close your eyes and you can even find yourself skateboarding through the streets, jumping t

Bootsy Collins - What's In My Bag? Amoeba Video

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Amoeba posted an update to their "What's In My Bag" series. This is a video in which Bootsy Collins, famed bass player from THE FUNK, talks about what he's picking up at Amoeba Records. Check it out below.

Beauty To Ashes Reproduce The Common Practice Review

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Beauty To Ashes "Reproduce The Common Practice"  In 2002, I was delighted to see that one of the best bands in Southern California had finally inked a deal to release their first record. Of course, the band had done a few things on the independent tip, but they finally put out a full length and I was excited to see them grow. The band was Beauty To Ashes. The record was titled “Reproduce The Common Practice” and it blew the doors down on the hardcore scene, for about a few weeks. What happened to the band? Well, like a lot of other hardcore bands, money, family, and reality hit them hard. Not only that, this record is only 21 minutes long, which means that the band didn’t exactly put on the best showing. The songs on “Reproduce The Common Practice” are a far cry from the initial EP that they put out. However, they were able to harness some of their best studio work and create a good overall sound. “Bystandards of a Lifestyle Obsession” for instance, is a definitive sh

A Tribe Called Quest People’s Instinctive Travels and Paths of Rhythm (25th Anniversary Edition) Review

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A Tribe Called Quest People’s Instinctive Travels and Pathsof Rhythm (25th Anniversary Edition)  “Can I Kick It?” is the stand out song that I recall from Tribe. It has been 25 years since the hip hop group threw this out to the masses. With the anniversary here, the group has decided to re-release the record and has been received very well. You may already have this record, as I have purchased it several times time in my day. However, today, it just feels like a new day, because the recording is a bit crisper than I remember. Perhaps it’s due in large part to the fact that A Tribe Called Quest has grown up , or my audio recording devices are light years away from where it was in 1990 when I first got a hold of this record on cassette tape. With the release of this special edition, you are going to get the original release, plus a few remixes, new artwork and more. There are 17 tracks found on this record, with over an hour of samples, rhymes, and the thing that you expect from

The Goo Goo Dolls A Boy Named Goo (1995) Review

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The Goo Goo Dolls "A Boy Named Goo  Let’s rewind to the year 1995. It’s the year that I purchased an alternative rock record in cassette form that would end up breaking over time. It was none other than the Goo Goo Dolls release “A Boy Named Goo” . The band was riding high on the release of “Naked”, but I picked up the record when I first saw the movie “Angus”. If you remember that movie fondly, you know that these guys had a track on the record that would go platinum. Right? I think it went platinum, I’m not sure. Whatever the case is, “A Boy Named Goo” is a strong contender for the best alternative record of 1995 in my opinion. It embodies the slick production, and killer guitar work with distortion, solos, and vocals that were prominent at the time. Even though I’m not a fan of the band’s work past this album, this record had me tripped up and my cassette tape was on replay non-stop. The opening track alone is enough to get any rock fan interested, as the guitar work is s

Eddie Vedder Into The Wild (2007) Review

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Into The Wild by Eddie Vedder Eddie Vedder’s voice is one of those iconic rock elements that you can’t really compare. I have heard a lot of bands try to emulate him, but no one has he’s garble at times, and strength at others. The lyrical elements that Vedder has been able to place through music is also grand. While I wasn’t the biggest fan of the movie “Into The Wild” , I did find it to be fascinating enough to pick up the soundtrack. Mainly for Vedder’s solo work, and I was blown away at the time. This is a very mellow Vedder at times, but the lyrical companions work towards pushing you into a Pearl Jam kind of mood. Over the course of several tracks, you swear that some of the songs must be Pearl Jam B-Sides, but I assure you, they are not. The lack of gusto in some of the rock compositions is proof of that. “Into The Wild” plays so well if you combine it to the movie’s central themes of adventure, isolation, life, and death. Without that companion piece in the back of my mi

Slowly Going The Way of The Buffalo Mxpx Review

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When Mxpx jumped to A&M Records, I heard a lot of rumblings about how they sold out, and they weren’t Christians any longer. I didn’t care. I first heard a single from this record on KROQ in Los Angeles during Jed The Fish’s Catch of the Day segment. Released in 1998, produced by Steve Kravac, and the major label debut of the band, this is a solid outing. It’s not “polished” completely, it’s raw, it’s more interesting than “Life In General”, and it had a great treble to the bass sound. What I find cool about the history of this record, is that it took the band 2 years to get certified Gold (500,000 sales) for this one. That’s a sizable accomplishment for the trio from Bremerton, Washington. Stand out tracks here include “The Final Slowdance”, “I’m Ok, You’re Ok”, “The Downfall of Western Civilization”, “For Always”, “Self Serving With A Purpose”. The treble is too high in my view, but that’s what the band wanted. It’s a shining moment for them. You can pick up “Slowly Going The Way

The Renaissance EP Mxpx Review

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I remember when Fat Mike of Nofx announced that they signed Mxpx for a release. That’s what happened in 2001, which you got a 9 track EP that really changed the pace of the band. This came after “The Ever Passing Moment” that netted the band some MTV and Radio Play as well as a Pepsi commercial. With this EP, the band toned down a bit, and you hear it with the raw sound. Yuri and Tom played producers on here, with some great tracks, including “Lonesome Town”, and “Party II (Time To Go)” as highlights. It’s short, 9 tracks for 18 minutes, but it’s an interesting release from Fat Wreck Chords, none the less. “The Renaissance EP” is one of my personal favorites from the band, as it really was a bridge between full length releases. Classic West Coast Punk rock, with a DIY style of production, you’ll hear it when you hear it. You can pick up “The Renaissance EP” from Mxpx for $5.75 new here , or you can get it for $0.01 here . It’s a great one, but look for the Vinyl LP, which I prefer.

Secret Weapon Mxpx Review

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I was living in Seattle when Mxpx decided to put out “Secret Weapon”. It was officially put out July, 2007, and I had just moved in March. Living in Seattle was grand because that meant the band was doing a lot of in-store appearances. It was one hell of a record, and I had the special edition, plus the double 12” vinyl. The CD version was also grand, and I had them all signed when I met up with the band at Silver Platters. Anyways, this is a strong record with a lot of great songs, and possibly the best from the band since their 1996 record. Some of my favorites include “Secret Weapon”, “Shut It Down”, “Angels”, “Drowning”, “Chop Shop”, and “Bass So Low”. Overall, these songs are great, but the whole record is a huge release that deserves a lot more attention. It’s polished, it sold well, it’s a favorite, what can I say? Produced by Aaron Sprinkle, this is a killer sounding album. You can pick up “Secret Weapon” from Mxpx for $5.99 new here , or you could pick it up used for $0.23 her

Buddy Rich The Roar of 74 Rare Vinyl LP Review

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Buddy Rich The Roar of  '74 Rare Vinyl NM $200 + this has moved to jdune.com

Lore City Kill Your Dreams Elevates Your Perception Through Spatial Musical Flight

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I got an email out of the blue about Lore City. Usually people don’t email me, or find me through this blog. It’s not that I’m elusive, it’s just that I’m not writing for Alternative Press or Spin. Believe me, I’ve tried several times to get there, but for whatever reason I always get passed up. That’s neither here nor there, I’m just making it a point to say that it’s rare to get an email about music. All that aside, Lore City “Kill Your Dreams” is my introduction into a unique duo of music that has surprised me. I haven’t been this surprised since I saw Talk Demonic play in Silverlake, California with The Velvet Teen. (Ha, hipster references) There’s a fascinating quality to the record, something that you would definitely pick up on the first sounds. Lore City finds a way to get into your head. Take the beauty of Mazzy Star and mix in Denali, a little Portishead, and you may get a sense for what this musical duo is doing. You’ll find that it’s hard to peg them into one genre, but i

Nevermind Colbie Caillat Here Comes Electrets With Try

Terrible title, aside, “Try” is the latest single from Electrets and guess what? It’s amazing. I’m not a fan of Caillat, but I am a fan of this punk rock cover that absolutely blows me away. I threw this on and immediately was floored by the semi sonic sound coming through my Marshall. (yeah I have a Marshall rig for my music) I don’t need to sell you on this do I? You have ears, so let them hear the magic of this cover. I truly think this band has something special. If I still had my record label, I’d sign them, and send them on the road to punk rock celebrity status. Listen to the track, and wake up from your music slumber. Check out more from this band by hitting their Sound Cloud page here . Also, remember I talked about them before Right HERE cause they're rad and that's that.

Hepcat Right On Time Review

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Hepcat "Right On Time" LP  Hepcat is a band that should be on every jazz fans list. This is a jazzy ska record that doesn’t get enough respect, if you ask me. There’s something special about “Right on Time” , from the introductory phone call from one of the member’s father, to the way that the music flows through time. This was released in the 1990s, and yet it sounds like something that you’d find on a juke box from your favorite 50’s diner. This is a very intriguing ska record because of the way the vocal harmonies work. If that doesn’t grab you and take you back in time, then at least consider the way that the music works. Hepcat’s “Right on Time” presents a lot of jazz momentum. The trumpet alone is beautiful, and the horn section just puts on a showcase of interludes, bridges, and moments that are too much like jazz to call ska alone. Through the record you get a feeling that these guys are traditionally trained, and not just a rag tag grouping that were picked up

Punk Rawk Christmas Mxpx Review

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One of the shining lights for me in 2009, was when I picked up this record from Mxpx. This is a collection of Christmas tracks from the band. “Punk Rawk Christmas” is a very awesome record, and if you’re savvy, you can find the limited edition 7” record that has a couple of acoustic B-Sides. Other than that, you can get 14 tracks or 16 tracks on the bonus edition. Either way, the record is a compilation of tracks that were released to PxPx members, but other than that, 2 extra tracks came through. Ok, this is a punk rock Christmas album, and it’s one of the best alternative Christmas records that you’re going to find today. I love it. The fun mix of punk, and even hip hop is great. Mxpx does amazing things with the traditional and non-traditional songs. My favorite is none other than “Christmas Night of the Living Dead”, which is rad. If you like alternative Christmas records, Mxpx Punk Rawk Christmas is $9.99 new and used , it’s out of print. It’s worth it!

Few Left Standing Regeneration of Self Review

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Few Left Standing "Regeneration of Self" I’m not sure what it was about the late 1990s that made so many Christian youth pull together some of the most incredible music. There hasn’t been a time before or since that I’ve followed music as a whole and had so many amazing records hit my desk and speakers. One of the many records that I remember being floored by was Few Left Standing’s 1999 release on Takehold Records. It is called “Regeneration of Self” and it is by far one of the most complete metal core records that can be labeled Christian and still be very much heavy. Yes, there are other bands that put out great records, but nothing really coalesced with the spiritual side as much as it did with the heavy sound of Few Left Standing. The flow of this record and the all-out onslaught of progression through heavy gut wrenching speech is second to none. Chris Stafford goes to nail down some of the most outright religious lyrics, while maintaining a signature sound

Max Roach Drums Unlimited Rare LP Review

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Max Roach Drums Unlimited (LP) 1966 Drums Unlimited” is one of the key releases from the Max Roach catalog of records. It came out in 1966 via Atlantic Records, and it’s one of the essential records that you should be purchasing right now. There are 6 total tracks in the original vinyl release, and an extra take when you pick up the Rhino Records reissue on CD. This is a rare one, and it’s one of the better records that you’re going to hear for melodic, logical drumming. Even though there is some improvisation on the record, it’s really good overall, focusing on Roach’s killer drumming approach. “Drums Unlimited” isn’t going to break the bank, go ahead and buy it by clicking here .

Who The Hell Is Max Roach?

Max Roach is one of the most iconic jazz musicians. He died in 2007, but before he left us, he worked in civil rights, education, and created some of the most iconic jazz records of all time. People talk about his influence in bebop, but I like to stick to the defining line of just jazz. In the coming posts, I will be recommending you listen to and pick up some of his best iconic jazz records, as I’m finding them to be quite amazing. You can learn more about Max Roach via WIKI Here .

Move To Bremerton by Mxpx Review

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In 1996, Mxpx put out what would become their insanely popular “Life in General”, and with that came a few singles. One of the singles that I really sought out was “Move To Bremerton”. Now, this was a time before you could hear this band on the radio, and before you could get the songs from YouTube, or Napster or anything. So I read about this release, and sought it out via mail order. The record features 5 songs, with 4 of them being ones I hadn’t heard. “Rock and Roll Girl”, “Circumstance”, “Easier Said Than Done”, and “Chick Magnet (live on KNDD)”, are the stand outs, aside from the title track single. “Circumstance” alone is the reason to pick up this EP. If you check out the video, you get a good look at the band’s home town. I know, this is an odd pick up, but if you’re a record collector, this is no doubt one of the pieces to the Mxpx discography you should pick up. You can pick up “Move To Bremerton” by Mxpx for $6.99 new , or you could get it for $0.01 by clicking here .

Jazz Findings

One of the most amazing things that you will find in music is jazz. I didn't agree with that notion at first, but as I got older, I had a new found appreciation for jazz records. Today, I find a lot of penny records, and love the sound. I wanted to write about jazz, so here is my humble attempt to discover, and promote jazz for people that may not have heard the cool sounds. This blog covers jazz, ska, swing, big band, and the likes.

Drums Unlimited by Max Roach Review

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Life In General Mxpx Review

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Ok, so after we discussed so much jazz, let’s discuss a little punk. I love punk. Ever since I first heard The Ramones, I was hooked. RIP CBGB’s! “Life In General” is the 1996 release from Mxpx. My nephew told me that these guys were and I took him to see them with Less Than Jake, and The Hippos. I felt old. But you know, these guys really were good. Anyways, this record features 17 tracks, and it’s done in 44 minutes or so. The drumming is what really stands out here, but it’s Mike’s bass delivery, and Tom’s guitar work that really puts on a rocking showcase. Stand out tracks include “Middlename”, “Move To Bremerton”, “Andrea”, “Southbound”, and others. I’ve seen these guys too many times, and they seem so much bigger than a punk band. Steve Kravac’s production stands out on this record, making it a must own for punk fans. Oh, and I love the artwork by “Coop”, so cool. You can pick up “ Life In General” by Mxpx new for like $10 around , or you can get it for $0.01 by clicking here . I

50 Minutes of Bad Religion History Was Put Out On All Ages

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Back when I used to buy compact discs at the mall, I begged my stepfather to hook me up with a few discs. The Sam Goody in the mall was having a killer sale. Their sale was simple, buy 5 get 5 free! That’s 10 total discs, and my stepdad saw that as a way to bolster the collection for his brand new truck. So he went all out and bought 20. That’s 10 free discs, and 10 for each of us. That’s where my collection grew by leaps and bounds. One of the last discs that I picked up that day was none other than “All Ages” by Bad Religion . This record goes back to 1995 and it features a lot of really cool songs on it, which serves to be a “history” of Bad Religion on Epitaph records. If you happen to come across a friend that hasn’t heard of the band, or just isn’t into punk, play them this 50-minute blockbuster, and you’ll convert them quick. With “All Ages” you get a lot of tracks from the band, and it’s all from their releases on Epitaph. Some of their biggest songs are on here, and if you

Jakob Dylan Put Out An Outstanding Country Folk Record With Women and Country

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I don’t know one person that picked up the Jakob Dylan record from 2010. In fact, I have recommended it to a lot of people. “Women and Country” came out in 2010 and I was impressed with the change of pace for the singer. The band The Wallflowers being as big as they were, I figured that Dylan would be putting out another rock record, but that’s not the case with this one. This falls in line with the work his dad was doing, and really impressed me at first mention. I was really into Neko Case in 2009 – 2010, listening to anything I could get my hands on from her. I saw that Jakob Dylan had her singing on “Nothing But The Whole Wide World” live on late night , and I was immediately sold on getting the record. Dylan does well to promote that country vibe here, and the topics of “Women and Country” flow through the same kind of roots that you’d expect from Dylan, Cash, and Nelson. The laid back vocal style of Dylan works very well here, and the band is stellar backing his lyrical elem

Gene Ammons Heavy Sax Review

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Max Roach Records To Pick Up Today

If you're going to pick up anything from Max Roach's discography, I recommend the following records. Click the links for reviews posted. Max Roach Live in Berlin LP Kind of Roach Box Set LP Deeds, Not Words LP Drums Unlimited LP Max Roach Trio Featuring Hassan Ibn LP At Basin Street LP

Max Roach Live in Berlin Max Roach Review

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Kind of Roach Max Roach 10 Disc Box Set

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Philip Masorti Brings A Seriously Heart Felt Record To The Masses With Into The Woods

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Philip Masorti is a name you’re going to hear come through a lot, because with “Into The Woods”, the singer songwriter is poised to become a big name in music. It’s with this release, that you get an incredible rush of emotions coming at you. This folk, country record is an outstanding release with a lot of lyrical elements to share. Masorti finds a way to tell you a simple story, and with each line, make it far more vivid, and at times more complex than anything you’re probably listening to right now. It’s a testament to the prowess he has as a song writer. It’s with “Bridges on 80” that the story telling really hits, and then never pulls away. The opening track “One World” is grand, but it’s the second track that you settle in to something altogether unique. With “Into The Woods”, you really have a cinematic story on your hands. If you let this come over you in the stillness of night, you’re going to find a lot of balance between emotional lyricism and great musicianship. The son

Malichi Presents A Fascinating Vision With Real Life

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I’m always on the lookout for new music, and if you follow my blog, you know that I’m all over the map reviewing records that I find hitting my ear. This includes a lot of music that most people skip over. Malichi is one of those artists that you may not know about, yet, but here I am to say that the music he’s putting out is quite good, and deserves more attention. With the release of “Real Life”, the MC puts on a showcase of relevance, with a touch of spiritual prowess as well. It’s rare to hear from Christian hip hop the type of flow that Malichi pushes with this recording. He isn’t emulating someone, he’s not trying to be the second coming of a secular rapper, he’s just himself here. With every track you hear a mix of fluid beats, and his lyrical points that come through with honesty, and fresh air. He focuses on a mix of rhymes, special guest singers, and a touch of reggae to mix things up. There’s so much here, 20 tracks to navigate through, and each one has a special flow to

Point of Recognition Day of Defeat Review

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Hardcore records come and go, but in 2002, when Point of Recognition put out their third record , I wore it out. I loved the band, and really enjoyed the work that they were able to create in a short span of time. With the release of “Day of Defeat”, the band came together to put out their best effort, and it’s not just lyrically or musically, the production stepped up. Aaron’s vocals really shined here, with a much deeper song structure, and a booming bass and driving guitar that nailed the Southern California hardcore sound. I heard a lot of comparisons when this record came out, people saying that the release sounded a lot like All Out War, and even Warzone, but I think it was a strong, bass heavy brother of Warzone and Hatebreed. There was a lot of slow down here and there, with some great break downs and sing-along parts. The band put together one of the heaviest hardcore records for the time. The title track, is by far the best on this record. It’s loud, it’s aggressive, and shou

Thelonious Martin Creates A Beautiful Rap Album With Wunderkid

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The only artist that I know with the name Thelonious is Monk. You know, the jazz pianist and composer that is one of the most recognizable artists of our time. But if you were to ask people to name another person with the name, you’re most likely going to hear them say Thelonious Martin . This is a rapper that has a lot going for him, especially amidst a lot of terrible rappers. I was recently in Los Angeles and my sister put on the radio, the only thing she listens to is hip hop radio from Los Angeles. Every channel was playing the most terrible and contrived rap songs, with the occasional mix of NWA, Warren G, Tupac, Biggie, and the rest of the classics. Other than that, people trying to sing, people trying to rap, and nonsense spilling from choruses of being drunk, high, or having sex. I’m not knocking that, but I need more than just the same old tropes in hip hop, and that’s where Thelonious Martin starts to come into frame. The rapper doesn’t shy away from topics that you’d ex

Deeds, Not Words Max Roach Review

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Drums Unlimited Max Roach Review

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As far as jazz drumming is concerned, Max Roach is my favorite. Maybe it’s because I love the name “Roach”. With this release from Atlantic Records in 1966, Max finds himself putting on a showcase of drums and jazz music. Some people will call this “hard-bop”, to which I say, that’s elitism. Roach’s drum solos here are great, but there’s also some great bass solo work. Jymie Merritt’s bass work on “Nommo” is incredible. That song along makes this worth picking up. The line up here is Max Roach (drums), Freddie Hubbard (trumpet), Roland Alexander (soprano sax), Ronnie Matthews (piano), James Spaulding (alto sax), Jymie Merritt (bass). It’s a great record, and features some great playing. Fans of Max Roach will love this essential jazz record. You can pick up “Drums Unlimited” new for $11.46 , or spend a lot less and get it for around $2.05 by clicking here . It’s a great jazz record in my view.

Max Roach Trio Featuring the Legendary Hasaan Ibn Max Roach Review

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At Basin Street Clifford Brown, Max Roach Review

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Music Discovery

This blog is all about music discovery. It's updated not so daily with elements from all over the web. Mostly music that I like. Nothing really too difficult. I'm just trying to figure out how to navigate all of this.

The Dingees Armageddon Massive Review

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In 1998 The Dingees released what would become one of my favorite ska-punk records of the decade. You see, I was only listening to what was termed “Christian” music at the time. I didn’t branch out into the many secular bands until about a year later, when I got my hands on an Epitaph Records catalog and bought one of every cassette, vinyl, and CD I could get my grubby hands on. The Dingees put out “Armageddon Massive” and I was immediately amazed at the mix of anti-establishment punk rock, and jazz fused with reggae. At the time, The Supertones were experiencing a huge push, and The Dingees as a result got tagged into the same framework. With this release, the band flowed through 11 songs of punk-ska in the same lines as Less Than Jake, Reel Big Fish, and Operation Ivy. You hear these influences from the starting line of “Ghetto Box Smash”, “Chaos Control”, “Bulletproof”, “Rebel Youth”, and more. This very well could be the best debut record for a ska-punk act ever. That’s pretty bol

Matisyahu Live At Stubb’s Volume 3 Triumphs In Creating A Beautiful Hip Hop Kaleidoscope

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I first heard of Matisyahu long ago. I was in college and found out about his reggae and rap stylings, and was absolutely floored. I picked up the original set of records, before anyone else was into him, and then he got into rock radio in Los Angeles. When KROQ started playing his records nonstop on the hour, every hour, I saw a huge influx of fans go his way. That meant that I was not going to be able to see him live because the ticket prices started to get absolutely insane. I ended up selling the out of print recordings of his initial records on a Jewish record label, and kept tabs on the rapper, reggae artist. I noticed a stylistic change in the records that he was putting out, and while I admired some of the songs, and the lyrical elements, there was a point of disconnect with the original works and the new updates. He also wasn’t the same Jewish icon that he was, and well, I moved on, like many others. However, with the release of “Live At Stubb’s Volume 3” , the artist comes

Falling Up Dawn Escapes Shapeshifted Into A Hybrid of Electrical Music and Alternative Sounds

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A lot of people have talked about Christian music as a terrible thing. Lots of bands put together alternative rock and tagged a label of “alternative” onto it, and ended up creating subpar musical landscapes. Then there are bands that put together truly good albums but were plagued by the label. Falling Up released “Dawn Escapes” after putting out what I felt was an ok effort. Their previous record was muddied by sounds that seemed to be trying to be Linkin Park mixed with other Nu Metal bands but without the power. The record had some ok tracks, but it wasn’t until their second release that the band was able to create something grand, at least in my opinion. It didn’t start with the first track on “Dawn Escapes” however, as they seemed to be resting on their laurels. However, as the album progressed, holy crap, the band found a creative niche that was overlooked by music fans left, right, and in the middle. The piano entrance of “Exhibition” is your first signal that the band m