Sell Out Records - A Music Review Blog

Emoshoon Ophy is one of the coolest acts I’ve been given the pleasure of listening to in recent months. They have found a way to mix several genres that I love and evoke the same power that makes Ozomatli, Damian Marley, and so many others work so well. Here you get something that cannot be housed in just the reggae genre, because it’s not. It’s not really pop either, and though it has some serious soul, it’s not really fair to call it that either. What you get from the sum of the parts here is a fusion of rhythm and blues, afro-beat, afro pop, and mixes of reggae here and there that are all working together to present a world music sound that I could not get out of my head. There’s a sense of world music up front, but there’s so much more when you listen to “I Dey Fine” a song that uses some pathos that come across the ska, two tone genre at times. It feels like you’re on an international trip, or you’re at a soccer stadium waiting for the beginning of the World Cup, as it reaches...

The Colored Parade gave me a ticket to ride in a time machine. I was taken across several generations of musical style, theory, and composition with the incredible release of their latest record. I was completely blown away from the initial track, moving forward on “…And The Walls of The City Will Shake”. “Please, Be Kind” should be on par with The Black Keys, and the rest of the bands that are getting a lot of attention today, because it’s iconic, it’s multi-genre, it had me thinking. I got a bit emotional, I admit it, the lyrics hit me, the way an iconic song certainly does. It’s there that the time machine continued to impress as the record continued to get better and better. From the opening blues, rock, pop genre mesh that you get with the initial track, to the second song you are taken to yet another locale. It’s hard to define The Color Parade as one genre because it’s not. It goes through several, and the record does so well in creating a lavish portrait of emotion. “When T...

The latest release from artist Mr. Eurodisco is a combination of digital music, dance, and more. The song “Feel It” is a well mixed, and highly interactive journey through several different visions of the mind. From the opening notes through the transitions, I felt as though I was being taken away into a new world of musical landscape. One that is full of possibility, and it harkened back to my days as a video game addict. I spent hours and hours playing games with this type of soundtrack in my youth, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing, this definitely has more than just video game rhythm, it’s passionate, it’s iconic, it is very much danceable. “Feel It” transfers several layers into one stereophonic dance tune, which is full of life. Even if you’re tired, jaded, or just a bit bored this will jolt you into a new state of mind. I know I was feeling tired this morning, and upon hearing this, my head start bouncing along. I also craved bacon, but that’s another story. I love the...

Jana Pochop’s voice brings about a new vision for me upon hearing “When Your Soul Leaves Your Body”. Perhaps it’s the subtlety of the song structure, perhaps it’s the vocals on the track, or maybe it just hit me at the right time. The song is a good starting point to her latest release “Throats are Quarries” as it spins a good tune on this 5 song EP. Jana plays acoustic guitar and provides vocals on this recording which is very much an eclectic mix. It’s simple, to the point, and on par with some of my favorite Neko Case songs. “Throw You Forward” brings about an emotional connection with me, and speaks to a poetic side that I lost along the way. It’s a good song that ties up how I feel about this record, that I hope gets more attention. The music is acoustic, folk, with a rock tinge, and truly is one that is accessible by all music fans. You forget that you’re listening to an independent artist as you look to the radio dial to see the station you’re on. That’s the magic of this re...

Dance of Atoms woke me up this morning. I was feeling tired from doing laundry all night, and trying to fight this depression that I have as a starving writer, and with “I Can Change” all things were made brand new. It may not have fixed my problems, but it sure woke me and my cats up, enough to get a little more upbeat. The sounds are a mix of 80s new wave, alternative, and electronic music with the same urgency that you would expect from Joy Electric or M83. I like the mix of sounds that start things up and to my surprise the continuous tracks just got better and better. With the release of "Atom and Eve", the morning becomes a bit more eclectic. A lot of electronic music is being touted as the next best thing, but I can truly say that this is a unique and vibrant mix of music that could very well be the next big thing. There’s no “one” genre here, even though it’s electronic at times, and that’s what I like best. I love when artists can find new avenues to use musical ...

AntBanks380 unleashes a track that had me spinning at first. I wasn’t sure what to expect, and then the song really took off into a whole new territory of hip hop. The song “Psalms 118” is a mix of singing and rapping, and it’s all in praise of God. Often times Christian music, especially hip hop is not very good. Some of it is downright awful, and the MC’s are just not good at what they are doing. This is not one of those times, as you get a feeling for that grit and honesty that you would expect from the underground, pointed to the sky instead. I like the flow of the rhymes, the sincerity in the singing and the message overall. If a Christian musician or artist is worthwhile, I will give them props, and that’s deserving for AntBanks380. Wearing hearts on your sleeve as a musician is tough, but that’s what you get here with a message that is aimed to the masses and relevant as ever. “Psalms 118” takes a path less traveled and unites it in a good way, bringing quality rhymes, singi...

Electronic music is one of those genres that I give only a few minutes to before I give up. Usually I’m handed a lot of repetition and boredom, but for those that have been following this blog for a while now, you’ll notice something grand. The electronic music I recommend is spot on great. Henneke once again shows me how incredible this genre can get, with compelling unions of sound, static, and so much more. You’re going to get hit with a tidal wave of bouncing rhythms, beats, and sounds, and it’s only an EP! Henneke's Outside Systems of Human Presumption is a testament to the genre. In a world full of boring music, this is one that mixes genres quite well. You get a little bit of flavor from ambience to pure digital frameworks, to layering of keyboards and more. It’s techno done right, with explosive symbiosis and integral elemental design. In the end, it just sounds good. From the first time I listened to “Isopoda” to the third time, it’s reflective of something magical a...