Sell Out Records - A Music Review Blog

John Neal is an artist from Little Rock, Arkansas and upon listening to his latest self-titled release, I can truly say I’m a fan. His new record is out now and fuses together a southern rock gospel that is going to completely blow you away. (Not gospel as in religious, but you know the blues/rock sound) Whatever the case is, this is one hell of a release and it definitely deserves to get cranked up. It’s hard hitting from the opening track “Mexico City” through the last track of “Call on Me”. Diving into the roots of blues music and bring out some stellar rock is hard for even established artists, but John Neal makes it seem easy. Bring together the best parts of several genres, the presentation on the record is quite good. It has a country tinge, but it’s not country, it has a rock feel but it’s not just pure rock, it’s built on solid song structure, good lyrical elements, and just plays through like a crossover record right out of CMT. Don’t misunderstand though, there’s more ...

Hong Kong Danger Duo is such a cool name, I wish I would’ve thought of it first. The release of their debut EP marks an incredible start to what very well may become a long career for this band that plays a mix of rock fused with lots of genres, and definitely defies the monikers I can think of. The self-titled EP starts strong with “Haymaker’s Son” and drives through layered guitar riffs, percussion, and strong vocals amidst electronic backdrops. There’s so much here, that you’ll have a hard time pinpointing any one given direction, and that’s a powerful thing with this debut. The songs flow together with a strong blues rock feel, but there are moments of metallic glory, and a streamlined fuzz that is going to definitely pique your interests. With “City Smog” you get a southern rock style, and some nice guitar work flowing with lyrical elements that are stronger than what you will hear on the radio today. It’s a strong second song, and leads right into the heavy “Flatline” to fini...

Through this year I have listened to a lot of music. You can check my last.fm link to see just how many different albums, songs and records I’ve listened to, and amidst all of that noise, I’m always surprised with the next big thing. As such, Grit Harbour gets my “best of” vote today, and for 2014 so far. Their recordings that I heard today are impeccable, timed well, and pushed with a certain design that I can’t really describe in a simple sentence. As a teenager, I bought every record from Jade Tree and Deep Elm, I listened to everything. I had the whole Tooth and Nail Records catalog, and this band’s latest record fits within that world. You are going to find that this is the kind of independent release that speaks volumes to the genre of alternative, indie, and even pop at times. The first thing you hear, “On A Quiet Roof” is evidence enough to get you thinking about better days. For me it took me back to my years in Seattle, where I seemed to have a semblance of happiness, bef...

I admit, I’m not the biggest blues fan, but when it’s done right, it’s amazing. I’ve heard a lot of bad blues acts in my life, so I wasn’t sure what to expect from the latest release from Whiskey N’ Rye, and then the first track hit. “Bootlegger” is the first song off of this record and it stunned me, it was like a jolt to my jaded system. Every element is in place to mold blues, rock, alternative, and roots sounds into one melodic song. The structure is very much what you’d expect coming out of the late 90s alternative rock explosion. The same spirit that made Hootie and the Blow Fish, Blues Traveler, and Counting Crows famous is found here. This is not to say that the band sounds like those acts, because they don’t, they tap into their own sound, and it’s evident from the first tracks power to the second track’s catchy chorus. The guys in this band know how to play well and you never feel that you’re listening to an independent release, you’re listening to something more. It’s th...

I admit, I’m new to the country world, but not as new as some of my compatriots in the alternative music world. I guess I started my journey into that market from the beginnings, and if you track it along music history you’ll find that out of jazz and blues, comes rock and country. Or rather folk, or something along those lines. To me the genres are somewhat uncharted territories, but not to say that I don’t have my favorite country albums. Mixing the two is hit or miss for me, but when it works, it really works. Mike Z Band on “Talk To Myself” does what most can’t, makes a compelling mix of genres that is rooted in blues, has country feel, and still rocks. In fact, it’s a surprise how interesting the Ep actually flows as a whole. I immediately thought Bryan Adams, but that’s because I always try to compare and contrast vocal and music styling, and that’s kind of what you get on this release. The songs are well structured and offer something for everyone. Opening up with “Wrong W...