“Recent psychedelic music sometimes seems like an extensively tested arrangement of reverb, fuzz and lyrics about good times instead of good ideas, but Brainstory offer a welcome reset. With this I.E. band, psychedelic is shorthand for (and pathway to) possibility, and within their songs, just about anything can happen. Think of Love, Os Mutantes, Syd Barrett or Shuggie Otis and the way they made taking the next new step seem like the natural thing to do.”
— Chris Zeigler - L.A. Record
“Brainstory has a sound that has all the right combinations: some Hendrix influence, some wah-wah pedals, a funky-ass bassist, a captivating front-man, some afro-latin groove, and a sprinkle of that Art Laboe, Inland Empire, cholo-funk romance.”
— José Galván - KCRW
“Through it all, Brainstory—led by brothers Kevin and Tony Martin, with drummer Eric Hagstrom—remains unmistakably chic, blending the elements in a post-modern mash of memorable tunes that are as hip as they are hypnotic.”
— Charlie Swanson - Pacific Sun Newspaper
“Brainstory’s characteristically agile instrumentation and powerfully confident boom-bap drums that set this down somewhere right between Arthur Lee and De La Soul.”
— LA Record
“What seems like sample fodder for a thousand and one hip-hop classics, ‘Sorry’ accentuates everything exciting about jazz, soul, and easy-going funk to make it new and heartfelt.”
— Marcos Hassan - Remezcla
“The trio — brothers Kevin and Tony Martin and Eric Hagstrom — refers to ‘Buck’ as ‘a state of mind, a way of life, a demeanor that gets you through the good times and the bad.’ The album makes it every bit as much as an action verb, with inviting grooves, warm tones and surprising changes.”
— Kevin Bronson - buzzbandsla
“Mixing soul, funk and rock with a lovely casualness. ”
— Randall Roberts - LA Times
“They’re laidback and free, choosing to create music as a state of mind rather than as a conforming formula of drops and climaxes.”
