FUZZ: FUZZ’s Fourth Dream [Album Review]

FUZZ
FUZZ’s Fourth Dream
In The Red Records [2025]

“Heavy, chaotic, and shockingly essential — FUZZ’s early singles and rarities have never sounded this good.”

Album Overview: FUZZ began when Ty Segall and Charles Moothart were trading chaotic late-night jams in a San Francisco garage before bringing Chad Ubovich (Meatbodies) into the mix. What started as an experiment in blown-out riffs quickly turned into a trio with its own identity, separate from Segall’s other outlets. Their early singles and self-titled debut built a loyal cult following, and the band’s raw chemistry became their calling card.

Fuzz’s Fourth Dream collects those early singles, out-of-print releases, home recordings, and a stack of unearthed tracks that trace the group’s formation. It’s less a formal album and more a sonic scrapbook, showing how FUZZ sharpened their attack while keeping the looseness that sparked the whole project. Longtime fans will recognize the blueprint here, while newcomers get a clear look at how their sound took shape. Honestly, this set might hit harder than their three studio records.

Musical Style: The record captures FUZZ in a zone where heavy rock traditions collide with scrappy garage instincts. Riffs carry the weight, the rhythm section digs into bold grooves, and the vocals sit inside the grit instead of floating above it. The trio thrives on instinct, creating music that feels immediate and grounded without chasing polish.

Evolution of Sound: Across these recordings you hear FUZZ move from spontaneous garage ideas to more deliberate statements that point toward their later albums. Early jams catch the band finding their footing, while the singles show a clearer sense of direction. Even the demos offer clues to how FUZZ refined their identity by trusting rough sketches as much as finished tracks.

Artists with Similar Fire: If you dig the earthier side of Black Sabbath, the explosive roar of Blue Cheer, or the raw snap of early Mudhoney, you’ll feel right at home. Fans of Ty Segall’s heavier projects or the louder moments of Osees will also find plenty to latch onto.

Pivotal Tracks: “This Time I Got a Reason,” first released as a Trouble In Mind 7-inch, still feels like the ignition point for everything FUZZ would become. “You Won’t See Me,” originally paired with “Sleigh Ride,” pushes their sound with a tightly wound charge. Their version of “Til the End of the Day” — a Kinks cover from their split with CCR Headcleaner — shows how easily they reshape a classic into something sharper and heavier. Their take on “21st Century Schizoid Man,” the B-side to the standalone “Sunderberry Dream” single, drags the King Crimson epic into wild, unruly territory that fits perfectly in their universe. Among the demos, “Red Flag” (later appearing on II) stands out as a total ripper, carrying a Stooges-style fury that lingers long after it fades.

Lyrical Strength: FUZZ may lean on riffs first, but their lyrics carry a direct, rough-cut quality that suits the band’s sound. The writing favors simple images and repetitive phrasing, letting the vocals work as another rhythmic texture rather than a storytelling anchor. The words add to the mood without stealing attention, giving each track the presence it needs.

Final Groove: FUZZ’s Fourth Dream isn’t a polished victory lap — it’s a raw, loud reminder of how the trio built their world from the ground up. These tracks show a band trusting instinct over perfection and sounding all the better for it. Whether you’re rediscovering their beginnings or stepping into their universe for the first time, this set captures the spark that made FUZZ such a force. And if this vault-clearing release is any indication, there’s still plenty of heat left in their future.

FUZZ REVIEW HISTORY
III (2020) / II (2015) / Live In San Francisco (2013) / FUZZ (2013)

FUZZ LINKS
Bandcamp | In The Red Recordings