Sell Out Records - A Music Review Blog

  When you talk about punk rock landmarks, NOFX's "Punk in Drublic" is a record that doesn't just play in the background; it grabs you by the collar and demands your attention. Released in 1994, this album didn't just define an era; it became the soundtrack for a generation of punk rock enthusiasts who were looking for something raw, real, and relatable. "Punk in Drublic" wasn't just another album drop in the ocean of punk rock; it was a tidal wave that reshaped the landscape. Upon its release, it achieved immediate acclaim, meshing catchy riffs with satirical and often introspective lyrics. Unlike its predecessors, this album wasn't just noise and rebellion; it was a crafty narrative wrapped in a blanket of hardcore punk melodies. From the raw edges of "Linoleum" to the rhythmic pulses of "The Brews," each track offers a unique window into the ethos of 90s punk culture. Diving into "Punk in Drublic," each track...

 This has moved to jdune.com

this has moved to jdune.com

Released in 1965, this is one of the most talked about jazz recordings for Christmas. You’re most likely going to see it in every store in a special tin. I prefer the initial December 1965 release that came out on Vinyl, but that’s just me. The remastered version takes out some of the ambiance, and white noise that you may hear on the recording. This was the soundtrack to the CBS special, and was done by the Vince Guaraldi Trio. This is one of the bestselling jazz records of all time, and has been touted as being triple platinum at press time. Every December more people pick up this record and are amazed by the jazz tones found. Recorded at Whitney Studio in Glendale California, the Vince Guaraldi Trio put on a showcase of jazz that really does encompass the showcase that aired. As the holidays are approaching, I found myself listening to this in the morning, and wanted to review it again here, before I forget. My favorite tracks here include “Linus and Lucy”, “Christmas Time Is Here”,...

This has been moved to Jdune.com

As vinyl records keep getting pushed into the mainstream, you are going to no doubt want to pick up a player. However, if you’re not really going to commit to buying a hi fi option, you’re going to need to look into the entry level options. There’s a lot to look into, and so here’s the start of a series of reviews for those that want to pick up a low cost record player. We’re starting with the Jensen JTA-230 3 Speed Stereo Record Player . This is an option that is listed at around $80, but you can get it for at least half of that if you look. Amazon, for instance has it for $45 at press time. The Cost Break Down For the highest fidelity, you won’t want to pick this up. However, if you aren’t going to spend a lot of money, or you want something to get you started, this works well. For the price, you will get a fully working machine, with plug in and play features. It also converts your records to MP3 if you want to do that, and it has a lot of control over tone and pitch. You can...

I recently took a chance and joined the Vinyl Me Record Club. I saw ads, I talked to someone on Twitter about it, and finally caved in when I saw that they were going to release a supreme reggae record. “Super Ape” is a record I reviewed for an up and coming blog “For The Fan”. It’s one of the best records from the Island era, that I have heard, and it was nice to get the updated treatment. However, the last two records from the club have been, meh. Here’s my simplified review of this service. Pay Under $30 For starters, you can join month to month all for the price of 1 full priced vinyl record. Like many other clubs, you can keep your subscription and keep getting vinyl or you can quit before the month’s done and just get 1. When you sign up, you will get a newsletter, access to a member’s only store, and a lot of cool little notes. The member’s only store is lackluster to me. There are some good records to explore, but it’s not nearly as grandiose as I thought. I thought I wou...

Anti-Flag released this EP entitled “A Benefit for Victims of Violent Crime” after tragedy struck their band. It was in 2007 when the bass player’s sister and boyfriend were murdered. That tragedy left the band with heavy hearts, and they took to the studio to record a few songs and give the proceeds to “The Center for Victims of Violence and Crimes”. The release marked 5 new songs from the band, and mixed reviews from critics. The critics should’ve been beaten for giving this less than stellar reviews, considering the intentions of the band, the solidarity of giving the funding away and the tragedy that struck. None the less, people still want to review this record as an absolute Anti-Flag release. The strength of “A Benefit for Victims of Violent Crime EP” really hinges on the back story and the political, social movement that the band has been promoting since they first started. Even today, they push on a heavy political focus and social conscious message that other punk bands ma...

Face to Face is one of my favorite punk rock bands ever formed. Their documentary really showcased how hard their life was trying to put out music. “Big Choice” was an incredible release at the time, and it sounded like it was recorded in a cave, but who cares, it was fast, it was punk, it was catchy. It was put out in 1994 and was originally released through Victory Music, not to be confused with Victory Records. The band put this album out eventually got put out through A&M Records, however it was an awful experience. The record has a lot of great songs, and for being a sophomore record, still rocks as hard as it did when I first heard it. I bought the cassette tape when I was a kid. I used to listen to my Walkman non-stop. Regardless, this record is awesome, and it features some of the best hits from the band. Songs like “A-Ok”, “You Lied”, “Disconnected” and “Bikeage” all point to greatness. The re-recorded “Disconnected” is sometimes heard on rock radio, to this day. The...

If you call yourself a music fan and you haven’t either purchased a copy of “Dookie” or at least heard the songs from the record at nausea, then you probably aren’t much of a music fan at all. The band sold as many records as Michael Jackson did, making this mid 1990s record one of the most famous of all time. However, upon the original release through Reprise and Lookout Records the LP/Vinyl version was just standard (amongst some other color options) and that didn’t sit well with the band or the fans. Sure, they bought the record, but after some time it was necessary to release an 180g Vinyl lp of “Dookie” . That’s what I got my grubby hands on recently and am posing it here for you to consider purchasing. The record, first of all, is considerably heavier, and sounds 100 times better than the original release. Features This record is 33 1/3 LP and it is 180 grams of wax. If you’re a collector or just prefer to listen to music on wax, then this is for you because it is considerab...

Another day, another round up of records that I played through. I’m having a terrible month, and even though the holiday season should be full of joy and not about anything else, it’s really crappy. I’ve had to deal with a lot of financial troubles, to the point where everything is on hold. At the same time, I’m trying to hire writers to give me more time to work, and I’m trying to establish all sorts of new things to work on for next year. I want it to be the most productive year in terms of writing yet, and at the same time, I’m trying to register for my next set of classes for college. As long as I am enrolled, I can chip away at that coveted master’s degree. They can’t take it away once I get it, so it’s what I am aiming for right now. The following records are a mixed bag, mostly from the 2000s, and do not represent everything I listened to. I took time to listen to a mix tape from an up and coming rapper, listened to the albums reviewed recently, ended the day on a fast note ...

In our latest feature for you cheap ass music fan, like me, I found one heck of a release. It’s from 2001 and it’s one of my favorite rock records that should’ve gotten way more attention. It’s from the band Rival Schools, and it’s called “United By Fate” . Now, if you were a fan of Anime and video games as a whole, you will remember the short lived series, or at least the fighting game that was on the Sega Saturn. Aside from the reference to obscure video games and anime, the band put out one cohesive album that is more so enjoyable as a whole than it is by just 1 or 2 singles. They call this genre post-hardcore, but I don’t know if I would claim that. The guitar work is far more intricate than just punk or hardcore, and there’s not a ton of yelling or anything like that. The band formed in New York and quickly became a part of the hardcore scene since the members were all from bands that I grew up with, throwing fists in the air. Bands like Gorilla Biscuits, CIV, and Youth of To...

Another Saturday has come and gone. I’ve managed to stay sane today, even though everything points towards insanity. Ok, that’s a bit much, but this week has really kicked me in the balls. As a freelance writer, the holidays usually mean that no one is hiring writers. Perhaps the Hollywood crowd is getting work, but us lowly content managers, bloggers, and Cretans of the written word are not getting any sort of financial push. It sucks, because that means Christmas is not going to be coming early or even at all for the Sell out Records crew. My cats got a Christmas gift, so perhaps all is not lost. Then again, it’s not all about the presents right? I mean, that’s what we poor tell ourselves about it, but that doesn’t negate the fact that inside, we want presents just like anyone else. Whatever the case is, this week has been hard on me mentally. I’ve tried to curtail it, but it’s just not that simple. Music helps though, and I have managed to maintain a certain level of musical inf...

Every now and again I’ll run into cheap music that I absolutely have to tell people about. My goal with Sell Out Records is to talk about music on a regular basis, and recommend albums, songs, videos, and more to those that may want to pick up a record or two. Music has changed my life and will change yours. Today we begin a new segment called Cheap Music, or as the picture says. On this day I found the seminal release from The Sex Pistols, and for 62 cents (used). You can’t beat that, you just can’t. “Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols” by The Sex Pistols is the one record that all punk rockers have to listen to at least once. I even signed a band based on how closely they resembled the sound of these guys. The Sex Pistols may only have put out one album, but their legacy influences so much music it’s ridiculous. Mention the name Johnny Rotten or Sid Vicious and people of any musical taste will know immediately what you're talking about. Even though Steve Jones, Pa...

Recently, I have been navigating the web to look for music on wax. Instead of trying to hit up any given store on the web, I look through search platforms for the word vinyl records amazon . Some people may not like the fact that they are a giant retailer, but they have been able to help independent records stay afloat. If you have ever purchased anything from them and used the “other sellers” link, you have helped individuals like myself, live the dream of making money by selling music through the net. Now, as for me and my hunt for certain key pieces to my collection. I have been able to procure some classics that I then flipped on Ebay or was able to listen to in the comfort of my home. Yes, I don’t always keep the records that I buy, but that’s only because I am not living in a mansion somewhere, I have a limited amount of space. With limits, I have to make sure that I don’t go overboard like I did in the past. At one point I had a wall of records, and physical music. By search...

I’ve been trying to sell an Ipod for 2 weeks now. Previously, I tried to sell a Boost Mobile Android phone, and could not for the life of me sell that either. Apparently no one in the Pomona area needed an mp3 player or a smartphone. I ended up putting it up on Amazon and someone bought hit. Hopefully they enjoy the piece of digital media. It’s odd how craigslist just doesn’t seem to get a lot of views like it used to. In West L.A. I would get a million responses, but here in the San Gabriel Valley, it’s not happening. I don’t know, maybe it’s the season, or maybe less people use the internet for the purpose of purchasing these types of items today? In Koreatown, I didn’t have a problem either, but here I am trying to hock things for the rent, and well, it’s not coming along. Writing has slowed down, but I keep hitting the pavement, trying to make a few bucks. That’s just an aside, the real story today is about The Daily Spin. In this edition of this column, I will be looking at so...

I wrote a quick review over at For The Fan Blog about Brother Ali’s 2007 record “The Undisputed Truth” . On that record came one hell of a track called “Uncle Sam Goddamn” and it’s an intrepid look at our country. I say our country, even though I am Mexican born because I became a citizen in 2001. This video is one of the coolest pieces of protest music and hip hop. Brother Ali goes through a track of content that is so confident and relevant that I wanted to bring a spotlight to it. In this first segment of Sell Out Records’ Video Spotlight, which will get updated every other day or so, I present you with the 2007 single from Brother Ali. Check it out, and please buy the album by clicking here . Support the artists, this blog, and your love of music. Have a suggestion, comment, or want me to feature your band? Drop me a line, visit the links, and join me on facebook. Thank you.