Sell Out Records - A Music Review Blog

2011, what a year. This release came out in October of 2011 and it was the fifth record from the band Jane’s Addiction. I have been a fan of the band since I first saw Perry Farrell in “Been Caught Stealing” and of course my affinity for Porno For Pyros is also well documented in my blogs. This record came out swinging with a whole new attempt at capturing the magic of the band’s earlier material, without sacrificing too much. Was it really worth it? Did the guys really come through on this one, or was it another miss in a long line of bad rock records that came out in the 2000s? The Heavy Bass Lines Makes The Great Escape Amazing “The Great Escape” shows Jane’s Addiction’s prowess for song writing . The music is well produced, and what I find to be absolutely astonishing is the bass work. Dave Sitek’s bass guitar playing on this record is not to be missed. If you’re a bass guitar fan, then you have to listen to this record a lot. It’s fascinating how the record pulls through ...

This week Dicky Barrett turned 50 years old and everyone in Boston must have been proud of the Bosstones singer. I know I read about a lot of different things that were done in celebration, including Jimmy Kimmel flying out to throw him a bash. For those of you that love ska, then you know how much the musical influence has come through each decade to bring noise and quality sounds to stereo systems the world over. With the celebration of the singer, I have decided to throw down the 10 best Mighty Mighty Bosstones’ songs ever! That’s right, the best songs from the guys out of Boston and one of the best ska artsists of all time! Even though Dicky may never read this, congrats on 50 years! Here we go, 10 of the best from the Bosstones. “Don’t Worry Desmond Dekker” from “Medium Rare” (2007) Desmond Dekker is the king of ska, and this song appeared on the 2007 release of B-sides and more from the Boston ska group. This song is classic tones, and it presents a horn heavy song with m...

Fender Jazz bass One of the biggest pet peeves from experience musicians is simple. It happens all the time, a newbie receives an expensive bass guitar . It happened to me, and I got ridiculed a lot, even though my electric bass was not the most expensive in the store. When I was a teenager, I received a Fender Precision/Jazz Combo. It was a Mexican bass, and the experienced players around me were all laughing at the fact. One friend even took the neck and tried to break it, or adjust it. He then railed against the spotty craftsmanship that Fender started to be known for. I was devastated. However, as I learned to play better and look back on the experience, I can understand the sentiments of many experienced bass guitar players. It’s with that in mind that I’m crafting this quick note about the reasons you may want to consider for skipping out on the expensive bass purchase. Reasons #1: You Don’t Know How To Play Well If you don’t know how to play the instrument, then don’t ...

The role of the bass guitar is more than just the low end sound. It plays between melody and rhythm. In regards to metal and rock music, you are going to find that some players and teachers consider the instrument a part of the overall big picture. In the analogy from David Ellefson of the rock guitar method , he discusses it as a brick and mortar option in construction. In that framework, you will find that it’s a matter of bricks and the bass is the mortar that glues two bricks together. So the drummer will be one brick and the guitar will be another brick. Between those two things is the electric bass guitar. The role of the bass in metal is to be the glue that helps push the sound. Listen to a song without that, and you will not have bricks that are essentially glued. Or look at it in a math equation. 1 + 1 The equation there showcases another way of looking of the role of bass guitar in metal music. 1 guitar and 1 drum set is put together by the + symbol. Or another analogy. A san...

When I got my first bass guitar, I was 15 years old. I purchased 3 bass guitars in my life, and each one was more expensive than the last. If you are looking at purchasing a guitar, you most likely want to start with an electric bass guitar . With that in mind, follow a few steps below so that you can get a good deal. Set Your Budget Low If You’re Learning If you are still learning, and you are NOT an expert, than you will want to set aside no more than $100. I say this because you don’t need a vintage Fender electric bass guitar. You don’t need anything overpriced, because you’re learning. I know, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it’s 100% true. When you master the notes, chords, and you are an excellent player, then spend your money on something nice. However, when you’re learning start with something standard, non-expensive. No more than $100! Order Online I suggest that you order your electric bass guitar on amazon.com . Today, for instance, I found one for $69 with free sh...

We've been discussing Mike Dirnt's signature bass guitar for a bit, and while I can't review it myself, I did find a good review for those that are looking to learn more about the guitar. This precision precision bass is one of the premier Fender signature releases that has come through in a long time. GAK out of the UK decided to review this in HD and you get to hear about the size, sound, and style of this option. If you want to order it, you can purchase it from amazon and get it delivered by clicking here . Otherwise, check out this video review and then go to your local shop. I for one will be looking into it on amazon . What do you think? Let me know.

Mike Dirnt talks about his precision bass guitar in the following video. He talks about the sound and what went into making the Fender option that is his signature guitar. On a side note, I personally played a Fender Jazz Bass/Precision Bass Combo, and Mike’s item wasn’t released yet. I like the sound of his signature edition and it’s definitely worth checking out if you have the money. You can buy the Mike Dirnt Signature Precision Bass Guitar by clicking here . Mike Dirnt also talks about the amp that is also in conjunction with Mike Dirnt’s ideas. The Fender Bassman goes great with the precision bass that he has out. To further explain it, here’s Mike talking about the signature sound and design. My friend had a Fender electric guitar and a standard Fender amp, but it wasn’t as good as this one. The distortion, gain, pedal and interesting buzzes are mentioned, which I can testify to hearing in a live setting. I think it sounds great, it’s loud and really is a great overall option fr...

Green Day is one of those bands that has a lot of polarizing opinions thrown at them. I love them, and have dedicated some time to reviewing, listening, and trying to pay attention to their form and style as a musician myself. I usually talk about bass guitar on this blog, and though it’s still a new site, I still want to work within the framework of bass. When learning bass guitar, you’re going to hear that the drummer and the bass player in bands are really tight. So with that in mind, check out this drum chronology of the band’s music from their humble beginnings to the latest options. Bass guitar players pay attention to the drum kick and the style that shifts. Often times if the bass guitar is out of sync with the way the drums are played, you will definitely find structure can be tough. I know it’s punk rock, and I know this is a drum video, but it’s definitely worth watching for all musicians. Check out the Chronology of Green Day’s drums and then pull out your bass and make a v...

Mike uses Fender A lot of people want to talk bad about Green Day , but I've always enjoyed their music. In this video, their rigs are explained, mainly the guitars and different set ups that create the live experience. Mike Dirnt's bass rigs, cabinets, and sounds are impressive here. You'll find that he doesn't use a lot of effects, in fact, he uses NONE . He plays straightforward precision bass guitar, and uses Fender's only. Fender custom makes the Mike Dirnt guitar and it's a precision bass, much like the standard punk option. It's not "down tuned" or anything special outside of being a signature sound and style that the band is known for. As I posted yesterday in my update about the song "Warning", the band has some unique bass lines and provides an interesting look into punk and pop bass guitar work. This video shows off the rigs they are using. If you want to buy a Mike Dirn't signature bass guitar from Fender, you can do so ...

Love them or hate them, you are going to have an opinion on the band Green Day. I love them, and that has gotten me into some heated arguments with blow hards that say my taste in music sucks. I don’t believe them, but that’s something that I have to deal with on my own. Green Day released “Warning” in 2000. A lot of people hated the album because it wasn’t the same style as their break through “Dookie” and they got a lot of flak for it. I think it’s an amazing example of punk rock ethos meeting song writing structure from back in the day. It’s also very mature for a punk rock recording. Now, for the purposes of this blog, Green Day’s title track for their 2000 release, is a bass guitar gem. Mike Dirnt plays the bass on this, as he always does for the band, and you get a sense of his style without getting hit in the head. In the music video below you get a sense of the bass line that repeats alongside the three chords that Billie Joe plays. Turn up the bass boost on your mp3 player an...