Thee Oh Sees An Odd Entrances Castle Face Records [2016] Who: One of the best things going in new music today, Thee Oh Sees have gone through many changes since their conception in 1997. While they’ve been fairly well known, they really started to make their mark with the psychedelic, expansive, garage fracas, 2011’s Carrion … Read more
Thee Oh Sees A Weird Exits Castle Face Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Like a tentacle from the warp hole, The Oh Sees latest is a spacy, slimy decay that beckons from beyond. Album Review: Friends, I really apologize for the delay. It wasn‘t my intent to let this important album slip through my fingers, … Read more
W-X W-X Castle Face Records [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: Tim Presley’s second side project of the year, W-X, follows closely on the heels of his DRINKS project from a few months ago. And much like DRINKS, W-X has its moments, but overall left me feeling disappointed. Maybe my expectations were too high, but after … Read more
The Blind Shake Live In San Francisco Castle Face Records [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: The seventh entry in Castle Face’s Live in San Francisco series features Minneapolis trio The Blind Shake, who specialize in their own unique style of “take no prisoners” sonic fury. Equal parts garage and noise, with some surf elements thrown … Read more
The Fresh & Onlys Early Years Anthology Castle Face Records [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: It is crazy to think what gets left on the cutting room floor when a record is released. This early year’s collection from The Fresh & Onlys is a prime example, as I can’t believe none of the 12 tracks … Read more
Who buys music anymore? Do you? I hope you said yes! While anybody can create a record label, it doesn’t necessarily translate into success. There are tons of indie labels out there but to do it right it takes some wits. I believe the five labels below not only have a strong foundation but have … Read more
POW! Fight Fire Castle Face Records [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: Yes, there is definitely something in the water in the San Francisco area that is causing most of the finest garage rock in the world to be produced there. POW! however, is not your typical San Francisco garage rock band, they spin it off … Read more
Damaged Bug Cold Hot Plumbs Castle Face Records [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: I am not sure everyone knows this but Thee Oh Sees’ John Dwyer has a synthesizer-driven side project called Damaged Bug. Cold Hot Plumbs is actually his sophomore album under this moniker and once again it is a mixed bag of interesting … Read more
Male Gaze Gale Maze Castle Face Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Ripping through space and time, Male Gaze burns with their debut. Album Review: One of the most exciting labels today has to be John Dwyer‘s Castle Face Records. Scooping up artists from the underground and piping them into our ear holes, Dwyer‘s newest discovery … Read more
Destruction Unit Live In San Francisco Castle Face Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Exhilarating psychedelic freak-outs from Arizona noise rockers. Album Review: Count me as a huge fan of the Live in San Francisco live series brought to us by John Dwyer and Castle Face Records. The whole series has been remarkable and well worth … Read more
Thee Oh Sees Mutilator Defeated At Last Castle Face Records [2015] Fire Note Says: After Drop, Thee Oh Sees return to form. Album Review: Thee Oh Sees have always been an interesting band. While—in my humble opinion—2014’s Drop wasn’t a huge success, it wasn’t a total failure either. Drop provided some killer tracks, which is … Read more
Warm Soda Symbolic Dream Castle Face Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Symbolic Dream is a refreshing power pop gem! Album Review: I didn’t love Warm Soda’s last album, Young Reckless Hearts. I felt like it was a pretty big letdown from their wonderful debut album, Someone For You, which ended up being one of my … Read more
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Quarters Castle Face Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Quarters is an intriguing and rewarding long player. Album Review: So here is a crazy idea. How about make a record with only 4 tracks that each runs a total time of 10 minutes and 10 seconds and then name it … Read more
Jack Name Weird Moons Castle Face Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Jack Name returns with an ever-eccentric brand of far-out space pop. Album Review: The first time that I heard Jack Name’s debut album, Light Show, it was easy to place him in the hall of pop eccentrics. Name wasn’t afraid to add concept to … Read more
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard have a new album coming out and its release looks nice. The original artwork for this record is a canvas divided into four quarters, with each distinct quadrant bleeding into the next. It has been blown up to 24″ x 24″ and made folding sort of mock gatefold, with … Read more
I can’t believe this one is still available but like all good things it probably will be gone soon. This is Warm Soda’s third LP, “Symbolic Dream”. The colored vinyl is Half Mustard Half Ketchup with splatter and available now. You can pick up a copy HERE.
Ex-Cult Cigarette Machine EP Castle Face Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Ex-Cult delivers an excellent, adrenaline-filled punk rock EP. Album Review: I have to say I am quite impressed with Memphis-based punk band, Ex-Cult. Cigarette Machine is a lean and mean EP filled with punk rock rage reminiscent of 80’s hardcore. They have a solid … Read more
In my humble opinion, Thee Oh Sees’ Drop LP was not their strongest effort. Having reviewed every single Sees LP since Putrifiers II—including Singles Collection Volume Three and the RSD 2014 Moon Sick EP—Drop’s 60’s garage theme was easy to spot, but the strength and consistency of their previous material was lacking. Well, if you … Read more
Ty Segall Band Live In San Francisco Castle Face Records [2015] Fire Note Says: The Ty Segall Band take no prisoners on the excellent Live in San Francisco. Album Review: Every so often an artist comes around where you don’t even need to think about it, you just buy the records. Ty Segall is unquestionably … Read more
[Ultra Clear Variant is now sold out] Castle Face Records has not let a single person down with their Live in San Francisco series. This new one from the Ty Segall Band will be no different and once again is pressed in a limited to 1000 copies ultra clear variant. These should hurry out the … Read more
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard I’m In Your Mind Fuzz Castle Face Records [2014] Fire Note Says: King Gizzard will give you an entire new perspective. Album Review: Melbourne, Australia band King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard grabbed me earlier this year with just their name but when I heard the double release of … Read more
Australian psych lords King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard are on the verge of breaking out here in the States with their new album I’m In Your Mind Fuzz when it releases November 11th via Castle Face Records. Their new single, “Cellophane,” has a little bit of everything from a psychedelic jam to reverb vocals … Read more
OBN III’s Live In San Francisco Castle Face Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Explosive live set from aggressive Texas punk rockers. Album Review: Castle Face Records hits another one out of the park with their latest entry in the Live in San Francisco series, this time out featuring Texas punks OBN IIIs. I didn’t know … Read more
Thee Oh Sees Drop Castle Face Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Dwyer loads Thee Oh Sees back into the garage—and there’s a bit of time travel going on. Album Review: To go over John Dwyer‘s catalogue it quite a task: Yikes! And the Hospitals, some Pink and Brown LP‘s, many Coachwhips LP’s, solo recordings under … Read more
Warm Soda Young Reckless Hearts Castle Face Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Young Reckless Hearts should have been a contender, but instead is a bit of a head scratcher. Album Review: Warm Soda’s debut album, Someone For You, was one of those albums that hung around my playlist all year long in 2013. It was … Read more