Sell Out Records - A Music Review Blog

2016 has been quite the year for music, and it’s just beginning. The Holstered is a band that I spoke about on this blog in the past . Well, they are back in action for 2016, and they have released their first rocking single from their upcoming album. The song “Outer Space” takes the psychedelic 1970s punk rock, garage sound and turns it to 11. It’s a catch song that brings about themes that are straight out of the garage punk era of the past. Fans of Iggy Pop, The Cramps, and Buzzcocks are going to be absolutely delighted with “Outer Space” as it has a definitive punk rock, retro feel. You’re going to be lost in the easy going guitar riffs, the soothing guitar solo elements, and of course the lyrical subject matter that will transport you back to a simpler time. This is a rocking track that continues The Holstered’s sound and yet improves on it in many ways. The band truly knows how to push that retro, punk, button, and it’s definitely something that you have to listen to right ...

I’m not a big fan of the Foo Fighters, but the band did put out one of the first compact discs that I ever purchased. The first two discs that I ever bought were Foo Fighters and Nofx records, so there you go. With the Paris attacks that occurred recently, the band decided to pen a note to their fans and the world and released this EP for free. It is 5 songs, 18 minutes of the bands signature style of alternative rock. Each song has a different element to it that makes it grand, and you know what, it’s catchy, it’s poppy, and it’s a standard release for the band. Would I have purchased this record if the band didn’t release for free? Probably not. But the songs on it, are getting stuck in my head right now. Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe I would have purchased the record because I’m still sinking a lot of money into buying music. Then again, maybe you agree with me. I don’t know, I am just rambling at this point. If you haven’t heard it yet, you should really do so. Foo Fighters “Saint Cecil...

The So So Glos performed live for KEXP and here's the video of it, listen up idiots. Look, if you have a few bucks, why not pick up The So So Glos record HERE?

Labor day, I hate it. No, I take it back. I don’t hate it. I just have found myself working on another holiday, and despite a nice weekend full of clients, I still feel the sting of bills and problems. It’s muggy here in Indianapolis, so what better way to celebrate another Monday than to reminisce about a record that came out in 2008 and taught me to grow up faster than I was developing. Beck put out “Modern Guilt” and I didn’t hear a lot of people talking about it . My coworkers at the time barely heard, with the exception of Will from Car Crash Set (say what’s up via Twitter here ). He always knew what was out, what was new, what sucked, and would be quick to tell me if something was lame. Then again, he was quick to also play unreleased music, b-sides, and so much more. Beck’s “Modern Guilt” is an interesting departure from what most people thought about the artist. Before this record came out I was listening to “Guero” in Santa Monica and Brentwood. My coworker at the time was ...

P.O.D. hasn’t been on the mainstream radio circuit quite as much as some of their peers, but they are still putting out music, and pushing their message to the Warriors out there. If you’re a fan of the band, then you already know this. For those that haven’t heard from them in a while, you’re missing out. The band released an acoustic record called “SoCal Sessions” last year (2014), and it was funded through crowdsourcing. The band stripped down their best songs and turned out one of the best records I’ve heard from them in a long time. I first heard of the band back when they were on Christian labels and they were not quite as poppy as they are now. With the release of their record, “Brown”, I thought that these guys were destined to remain underground for a long time. Things changed though, and upon the release of their major label debut, they turned out one of the best recording from a Christian hard rock group ever. That’s not just me talking, that’s the millions of people th...

In the 1990s, soundtracks meant the world to me. Heck, they still mean the world to me, and you can usually find me listening to a lot of soundtracks to movies. As a former video store clerk, I live in the movies at times, and go through my life picturing the nuances that I go through in comparison to the glory that comes with the images on screen. Sometimes the soundtracks sell the movie, and in the case of Tamela D’Amico’s “Love and the Gun”, I’m once again enthralled with the music and must see the movie now. Tamela’s vocals amidst an orchestral backdrop lends credence to the fact that you can fall in love with a singer’s voice. That’s what happens when you listen to the song, as you are whisked away into dream land with Tamela D’Amico singing of love and more. This song is part of the “Rob The Mob” soundtrack, and the official music video showcases scenes from the film with Tamela’s vocals moving you through a variety of moments of the movie. It’s truly a visceral experience, o...

Electronic music is hit or miss with me, but there are some great artists that can mix rock, electronic sounds, and flush design. Randy Ichinose is one of those artists that can fuse genres and come out looking incredible. Listening to his latest release of music, you get two sonic booms of musical integrity. From the song structure, to the singing, every element is taken to the ultimate conclusion, posing incredible design overall. Iblīs starts things out first, and it starts out with a good vocal style and mix of guitars and percussion that leads into a powerful chorus and bridge. The song is very much like you would expect from some of the better alternative rock bands on radio today. The style is done very well, and I can definitely appreciate the modern twist on the rock sound. Vocally triumphant, this track rocks hard, with a softer opening and build to grandiose finishes. On the track So We Drowned, Randy pushes the elements giving the listener quite a mix. Electric, rock,...