Sell Out Records - A Music Review Blog

Leon Bridges Coming Home Vinyl LP (click here) Leon Bridges has put out one of the most soulful albums I’ve heard in a long time. But it wasn’t until I paid attention to “River” that I truly fell in love with the ideas pushed on the record. It’s in this song, that the nature of love is captured. But not just emotional connections with someone, but rather a larger scope. Obviously, music means different things to different people, lyrics can mean something but end up painting something else. For me, it is the structure of “River” that gets me every time. A simple man’s song turns into a beautiful, soulful institution. It’s not just about love for someone else, if you think about it. You can think about it in terms of God, losing a loved one, church, sanctuary, or just home. I recall that in 2011 when I stepped off an airplane headed home, divorced, saddened, and lost, a song could bring me hope. Little did I know that the soundtrack for that memory would be this. It’s in the lyr...

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, ...

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...

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...

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...

It’s not often that you get a debut with such power. March To May has put together a set of songs that are nothing short of beautiful. The balance between instruments and vocals does a lot to create the mood for each track. As you listen, you will be ushered slowly into the presence of an acoustic, folk, pop record that draws you in slowly. The combination of sounds illustrate an emphasis on art, more than just getting through the songs. Sometimes, with debut records you have a feeling that the artist is trying too hard to flow through songs. That’s not the case here. You will find that there is a passion that signs off on each track. Every track is an emotionally complex ride. Listen to the words, close your eyes, and feel the impact of the music here. The creation of musical components really stands out on the tracks, and you truly get a feel for what March To May is capable of. The best Ep’s are able to give you a taste of what artists do best, without giving you too much, and t...

"Cordelia" is the latest release from On The Water and it is proving to be one of the best mixes of folk music I’ve heard in a while. I use the term folk here, but it’s far more reaching than just that. It’s a heartfelt record with an emotional lyrical element that you don’t always get with these records. It’s here that you are thrown into what the true nature of life really is, like an old Tom Waits record, but with a bit of a modern push. There are several elements sewed into the tracks, each one building towards the next, and giving you a painting of life’s highs and lows. You get a taste for the raw emotion that comes from “Varsity”, then moves through “Cordelia”, and “Gatekeeper”. The unfolding set pieces creates such melody that creates a great rush. The 10 tracks found here flow through various quality tracks that do not try to hide behind emotional outlying words, but rather simplicity. There’s a raw element here, something you hear from the recording style, and t...

Raving Wild releases a track that not only encompasses what I hear on rock radio right now (106.7 KROQ L.A) but the kind of heart felt music that connects with you on a visceral level. With a mix of the 1980s introspective lyricism you’d except from The Cure and touches of folk like guys like Mumford and Sons, to a whole new spin on the genre, you get pushed into an anthem that will have you singing along in no time. In fact, I was very impressed with the way “Raving Wild” pushes you into the song with a good deal of focus on leading you down an adventure. From the first notes, through the chorus and guitar notes, you are given a sound that is eclectic, and very much honest. It’s catch, it’s fun, it has soul and that’s something that you don’t always get with these types of songs. There’s a certain urgency in this song, and you are going to tap your feet, and absolutely fall in love with the chorus. Overall, this is one hell of a single, and really does a lot to put a stamp on wh...

Miriam Crespo got me, right in the heart with this track. This folk, country, rock tune is such a good mix of music. It’s got a real folk sound, but with an indie push that reminds me a bit of Neko Case, but a bit more mature in sound. This is a very heart filled website, and it’s the first track from the artist’s upcoming record. This is a strong song full of emotion. It tells a story, and it paints you a picture. It’s as though someone is there with you, talking to you about the world around them. I found myself having to listen to this track several times as the overall emotion poured through the lyrics. There’s always something unique about folk and country singers, especially when you start to break down the overall flow of their vocals and connect the dots of their backing bands. Miriam Crespo’s vocals flow nicely over the eclectic band that gives you several notes to float on. I love the interludes, the notes, and the vocals which all connect to the soul. I love it. “Thi...

When The Shivers first came out with their landmark record, I couldn’t find a friend that liked them. Today, I’m 31 years old, and I can’t find friends that like good music, and I don’t care. When I first caught wind that this record was being pressed and released, I looked for someone to tell, and what better place than this blog, right? The Shivers will release “Charades” remastered, sequenced, and on Vinyl for the first time on October 17, 2014. Mark your calendars, break your piggy bank and make sure that you’re getting this incredible release. If you’re not familiar with The Shivers, then you’re missing out. You need to pay attention, because it is this New York City band that is one of the most influential artists of the past decades. Despite the fact that their release didn’t set the charts on fire or get into your brother’s music collection, they have managed to create a beautiful, and eclectic sound well worth your time. With 13 albums released, and a slew of fans, you’l...

From the first moments that you hear Jiggley Jones on "A Mountain, A Struggle, A Tunnel, A Light", you are taken to a look at the world through the lens of a real poet. Jones provides the music and ideas that you may not see otherwise into words and an eclectic blend of song writing that mixes rock, pop, and acoustic songwriting into a very easy to listen and enjoy package. The EP comes at you strong with “Early Morning Light” and moves across a solid tangent of music that will completely stop you in your tracks. Listening to the songs definitely felt like more than just musical presentation. There’s soul here, and you get the picture as you start to listen to the tracks on a closer level. With the tracks moving so well together, you will be hard-pressed to pick a favorite. “Hope in a Bottle”, “Look What I Found”, “Modern Day”, “Nothing So Natural” and “Walk on Me” all present a unifying blend of music that has many layers. It’s not just one man and a guitar, there are ot...

 Ed Roman’s record caught me off guard. I wasn’t sure what to expect from the release of “Letters From High Latitudes” and was pleasantly surprised with the record. The latest release from this talented singer/songwriter flows through a variety of moods as it pens out a mix of songs that can easily be tagged as country, folk, and even some alternative rock vibes. From the moment you hear the rattling of your speakers to “Better Day Blues” to the moment you finish the record at “World Keeps On Turning”, you will be completely bound as a fan of Ed Roman’s mix of songs. Roman’s lyrics make you think, and if you pay attention you will catch a lot of cool references. “Electric Beauty (Distant Gods)” has to be my favorite of the tracks, including a little nod to Nikola Tesla. The whole record, however, is accessible, triumphant and definitely something that I can see myself and others appreciating over and over again. I especially like how it all flows, and is mixed together. It’s a ...

Matthew James Allen is going to be a name that you want to remember. Write it down, as you are going to be hearing great things from him. This singer/songwriter is from Texas and has brought together a sense of poetry and melody in his latest single “Don’t Let Go” that sends a true shock to the heart. It’s an introspective track that is on par with what you would expect from the likes of Pedro The Lion, Damien Rice, and Sufjan Stevens. Even though you can feel similar vibes coming from those artists, this is all new, and something that has the creative spark that you don’t always get from acoustic music. There’s a good mix of emotional complexity with the musical notes that comes across as sincere. In some ways it reminds me of Coolfield, Copeland, or even Brandtson, as the melody moves through the emotional connection of the lyrics to create a very nuanced approach. It’s this type of song writing that made the emo genre so tangible for me in college, but not to the parody level th...

Stew Dixon may be young, and may not be on the top of radio charts, but if you listen to his latest release “The Animals” you very well may think he’s on his way. Mixing equal parts Frank Turner, Chuck Ragan, and a bit of modern rock and folk, this young songwriter from Ireland is doing something that others aren’t, he’s creating eclectic music. The music on his latest work is stripped down, to the point, acoustic in nature and sounds quite amazing. You will get that taste of the Celtic roots as he strums and sings through this record, and really is something to behold. Not since I first heard Dashboard Confessional, have I heard something played quite well, with so much passion and emotion. It’s simple here, and that’s ok, you don’t need to have bombastic delivery, you simply need one man, a guitar and a heart. If you are a fan of modern rock, you will definitely find that this acoustic EP fits so well with what’s being promoted on rock radio today. Mumford & Sons would easily...

 Sprightly Moans puts together an eclectic blend of music, and does so in such a daring manner. You get that from the first sounds of "Demos III", their latest release, and while it may be short in songs, it proves to be an emblem of creative music. It’s a powerful performance piece that is hard to classify in one genre. Sure, it’s easy to say it’s rock, but it also has moments of indie, symphony, folk, and a touch for the dramatic here and there. You don’t hear this kind of passion in a lot of artists, which is why the album fits so well with me. Not since I first heard Bradley Hathaway perform at Tomfest, have I heard such a unique mix of passion and poetic lyricism. Sprightly Moans provides a good wall of noise on “Blushes all Around”. Some may liken it to MeWithoutYou, and others may hear shades of Pedro The Lion, with a louder “White Stripes” tenacity on guitars. On “I Wanna Be Afraid” the band really stretches a bit, rolling through a variety of sounds and rhythms y...