“Fire up that lava lamp, put on your go-go boots and watch the groovy slide show while you dance to the sounds of the Dark Marbles. Deep from the inner depths of some beat up garage, The Dark Marbles awake and step out into the moonlight to provide your soul with sounds from a time machine. Remember when every kid wanted to be the Stones or the Beatles and formed a band? Well, hell I don’t because I was only born in 1967 in the back of a VW Bug. That’s another story. Anyways, transport your mind back to that era when rock and roll was an escape from the Vietnam War (1962 to 1972). Young, nubile angst ridden teenagers strapped on a Dan Electro’s and bashed out a few chords with vim and fervour. The Dark Marbles roll into that vibe or mode with relative ease. Sure, they are not kids but they understand the passion and the blood, sweat and beers that went into making music of yesteryear. Whether it is a garage stomper like “That’s the Way it should be.” Alternatively, perhaps a well-aimed stab at what I consider one of the best singles ever- “Another Girl, Another Planet by the Only Ones. These cats know how to play and get their claws into from the opening song. The Dark Marbles roll up a big fat spliff filled with Garage/Power Pop and Psych. Take a puff, inhale, and feel the Dark Marbles penetrate your psyche!”

by Phil Rainone of Jersey Beat Magazine, March 2012: ” “Variety Pack” dates back to 1997, but the band got their start way back in 1987. With a legacy like that you’d expect a really good album/overview of the band’s material. The album weighs in at 18 songs, most of them being between three and four minutes long for a grand total of: 57:08! Whew! Now that’s what I call a hefty CD! Oh yeah, what about the music, you might ask! Well, to give you an idea of what The Dark Marbles are about, I just picked up a primo vinyl copy of the Byrd’s 1964 album, “Preflyte.” And to make a long story short, The Dark Marbles must have somehow gotten hold of a copy, or downloaded it, or summoned up some of The Byrd’s mojoic prowess, ‘cause their imprint can be found time and time again, but especially on the opening number, “Turn Me Around.” Glistening, angelic guitars, over a creative backbeat, vocals that are as passionate as they come, and yes, I do believe I hear a sitar! Nicely done boys! That’s not to say that The Dark Marbles aren’t original – they are! With youthful energy they plow the album creating stories of youth and growing up. It brings the listener on an emotional roller coaster as it highlights the highest and the lowest point of adolescence, with optimism and pessimism neatly entwined. The simplicity of the lyrics, the plaintive vocals, and the pop psychedelic arrangements in all the songs are irrefutably proof of the albums joyful/sorrowful vibe. Growing up is full of its own ups and downs, something which The Dark Marbles portray quite well. Take a listen to enjoy a journey through youth.”

Here’s an excerpt from “the Knights of Fuzz”, Tim Gassen’s definitive bible of “the new garage and psychedelic music explosion”, 2014 edition, issued by Garage Nation, a division of PCMP, LLC (ISBN 978-0-9797337-3-4): “Yod Crewsy (formerly of the SplatCats) first formed The Dark Marbles in 1987, but it took until 2005 – after many bands in-between – for him to issue the first three song “Let’s Go!” CD. The “Variety Pack” album (2011) collects tracks recorded since 1997, and it is a wonderfully vibrant guitar-garage effort. The jubilant power-pop of “Turn Me Around” is the first hook, and it’s a real winner. It takes guts to cover Love’s “She Comes in Colors” and the Marbles pull it off in fine form, minus the flute of the original and with a more muscular delivery – very groovy, indeed. Self-released and not well known, this CD is certainly worth the search.”