captured tracks

Craft Spells | Gallery | Album Review

Andy Fenstermaker
April 25, 2023April 25, 2023

Craft Spells is an indie pop band hailing from Stockton, CA and founded by singer-songwriter Justin Vallesteros in 2009. The band’s EP Gallery was released in 2012 on Captured Tracks, and features their unique blend of dream pop and indie rock, as well as Justin’s songwriting prowess. Released in 2012, Gallery features six tracks that transport listeners to a nostalgic world with lyrics that delve into familiar themes of heartbreak and self-reflection.

Axxa/Abraxas: Not Your Average Stoner Pop

Andy Fenstermaker
May 23, 2014May 5, 2023

Axxa/Abraxas is the moniker of one Ben Asbury, a man creating psychedelic stoner pop that very much fits the vein of Captured Tracks, who released the band’s self-titled LP back in what looks like early March. I’m just now catching wind of this album, and it has taken me by storm.

SaÃ¢da Bonaire: You Could Be More As You Are

Andy Fenstermaker
November 11, 2013November 10, 2013

On their announcement of their forthcoming reissue of SaÃ¢da Bonaire’s lone single from the early 80s, Captured Tracks made note to file the group under Why was this band not huge?. Makes perfect sense; listening to the band’s single “You Could Be More As You Are”, one is adorned with sounds somewhere between Kraftwork (the song was produced in their studio) and Stereo Total. Read More »SaÃ¢da Bonaire: You Could Be More As You Are

Juan Wauters: Water

Andy Fenstermaker
November 6, 2013November 6, 2013

Since releasing Play Silver Nickels and Golden Dimes on Hardly Art a few years back, The Beets’ front-man Juan Wauters has focused his creative efforts on a solo project. He continues to possess a strong Lou Reed/Velvet Underground-meets-Syd Barrett influence. “Water” is the latest track to surface from Wauters and the first off his forthcoming early 2014 LP N.A.P. North American Poetry on Captured Tracks. Read More »Juan Wauters: Water

Minks Release Sophomore LP “Tides End”

Andy Fenstermaker
August 9, 2013September 18, 2013

MINKS

This week Minks released their sophomore LP on Captured Tracks. The new album, Tides End, sees the band progressing beyond their lo-fi, Joy Division-esque early days of By the Hedge. They’ve grown into a much more dreamy sound; one less harsh and abrasive than found on their debut. Read More »Minks Release Sophomore LP “Tides End”

Beach Fossils [Feature]

Andy Fenstermaker
April 21, 2010April 18, 2010

I recently posted a list of ten bands that I should have checked out last year and there was an overall theme to the ten: several were from the Woodsist label. Beach Fossils has the sound of that label, and it’s no surprise; the band released a 7″ via Woodsist late last year. Their sound is packed with the fuzzy folk-pop jangle of bands like Woods and Real Estate and Fresh & Onlys. “Youth” is the band’s next single and it’s off their forthcoming self-titled release on Captured Tracks, out any day now. It’s a laid-back summer indie-pop jam, filled with jangly guitars and chilled-out percussion. Read More »Beach Fossils [Feature]