Sell Out Records - A Music Review Blog

I admit, I have been through the wringer lately. Traveling across the country, my car breaking down, and missing my sister’s wedding all happened in the last few days. I felt terrible, and another thing I forgot was to review Arjun’s latest release sooner. I’m kicking myself hard right now because this is an album that should’ve been up and reviewed a lot sooner. All that aside, Arjun’s latest record “Core” blew me away within 30 seconds. The first song “Rocks” is perhaps one of the most solid instrumental songs I’ve heard in a long time. I love instrumental rock music, but this is on par with some of the best ever played. It’s well conceptualized it’s perfectly played, and brings together a certain jazz quality through every change of sound design. It rocks hard, but it does so with such a precise and exclusively unique manner. It goes from rock, metal, jazz, and even a bit of reggae bass, all without leaving you hanging, and it’s a perfect start to what I call a perfect record. Y...

Storytelling and music go hand in hand, especially when dealing with country music. Billy Roberts and The Rough Riders take that to a whole new level on their latest release, “The Last of the Originals”. From the opening lines and singing on this record, through some stand out tracks, you are going to be floored by the way things open up to tell you about a new world of ideas. This is not your grandfather’s country music, and it’s not what you hear on the radio, this is true storytelling and it’s done with such a flair, that you’re going to be kicking yourself for not listening to this sooner. The record starts out with a great rocking feel on “Mrs Jones” and it doesn’t let up. There’s a slight twang here and there, but for the most part, this is a rock record with country roots throughout. The storytelling really changes everything here and it’s something that you’re going to absolutely love when you listen up. The lyrics really compliment the song’s structures and gives you a goo...

Daniel Angelus, one half of Surrender Hearts, has unleashed one of the most atmospheric records I’ve heard in a long time. The EP is called “Dream Pop” and it takes notes from a lot of bands, and artists, but it’s truly its own. It’s a complex electronic debut that takes layers upon layers to work within. You’ll listen to it and pick up on a lot. You will not be able to take this straight through, you will need to rewind and listen to the tracks again and again to pick up on all the little things that are being pushed in your ears. It’s like a cloud of music comes through and blinds you, only to play on your ears and create something grand. It’s with the track “Touched By The Death” that the EP really starts to shine, even though the opening track is a good one as well. However, it’s within the scope of the second track that I’m brought back to different times. You play this and close your eyes, thinking about your past and you start to see a cinemascope play forward. I for one saw...

If you turn on alternative radio, you’re going to get hit with a lot of electronic music and dance hits. What happened to rock? Gliceryn pushes out the trends and instead, brings forth a rock sound that is well placed in the alternative scenes that made Seattle’s sound of the 90s takeover what glam rock was destroying. The band has put together an initial showing that is all over the map, and they cut their teeth on a rock sound that is not being played often on radio, and should. What you first get from Gliceryn when you hear them is the strong backing of the band’s hard, dirty rock sound. No, this isn’t just fuzz and noise for the sake of it, it’s tight, it’s well produced and it brings through that rock and roll sound that you’ve been missing. They work well together to form a unifying front of noise that comes through as high quality. Their initial offering “Deadbeat” is one that should punch you hard, and flow through the rest of their tracks right now. Through “Pure”, “Colo...

Roxanna is an artist I caught up with through the release of “Exotica” and I’m flabbergasted. How did I not hear about her before? She has released one of the infest records here, and her vocals are second to none. They are sultry, they fill the room with emotion, and they focus on so many layers that I had to stop writing for a moment to just get lost in the words. Love, passion, loss, dreams, art, and so much more cycle through with the songs that you hear on this recording. You will not find a dull moment here, or a wasted note. There’s just so much passion that comes through with the songs, and it’s really something operatic at times. I loved the flow of the tracks, and the starting point “Only You” got me hooked. I love female vocalists, but there was something that Roxanna does on this record that really shines beyond my favorites. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but she figures out a way to connect with me on a visceral level. That connection is what makes music so worthwhil...

Blood Sugar Summer unleashes one of the most opulent tracks with the release of the “The Most Photographed Woman On The Planet”, and it’s completely awe inspiring. This epic track is going to completely floor you. You’re going to find that the lyrics are compelling, and draw you in. They paint you a picture of beauty, vanity, and loss. The song structure is very much synth, pop, and somewhat gothic in feel, and it just focuses on movement forward. It’s orchestral in a way, and it blends together in such a manner that is just absolutely intriguing. You will definitely find yourself listening to this song over and over again, trying to capture the essence of what is there. Blood Sugar Summer creates such a spectacular movement here that it’s hard to really categorize them in one area. They found a way to blend synth and goth rock into a very eclectic manner that you will have a hard time not liking. It’s a track that has many layers and builds into something absolutely stunning to sa...

The minute I heard trumpet, I was sold. I love trumpets, it’s one of my weaknesses as a music lover. Good trumpet and melodies are great, and what you get with the track “Ruins” from Marques Robinson is beautiful. You are given a glimpse into the mind of an artist that knows how to put together something outstanding. You are treated to over a minute of nice melodious tuning, and layers, and then something moves ahead, presenting you with even more to the soul of the song. This powerful instrumental completely floors you by the second minute as it starts to unravel a story that will definitely be presented in your mind. The way the trumpet flows with the rest of the elements is exquisite and will definitely give you a rush of adrenaline. I love the combination of guitar sounds and trumpet elements mixed with the overall band sound that you get on the track. It’s really a highlight of a track, featuring a lot of well-timed moments. If you’re looking for something new to listen to, ...