"The musicality of this album is so advanced and so expertly done, I almost feel out of place reviewing or analyzing it. It’s like me critiquing LeBron James on the beat way to hit a jumper" – Jeff Thomas, Fifteen Minutes of Fame

"[Kid Lightbulbs] has pulled deep from the bleak and restless place that we all have been before. Intriguing writing laced with beautifully textured melodies." - David Alan Coleman

RUINED CASTLE, the third Kid Lightbulbs album, is a reflection on suffering.

Composed in parts over the prior 16 years, RUINED CASTLE presents another perspective from Kid Lightbulbs' other albums: while the protagonist of THROW MYSELF and STEP INTO THE OCEAN grows through difficult experiences, this album chronicles the despair and neglect of that person's partner as they struggle with their own issues. The titular castle is a metaphor for the state of one's life and shelter after a long period of despair and neglect. One may feel their life slowly fall away from them, and the only way to rebuild is for someone to come in, truly empathize, and help.

Drawing from a wide array of influences including indietronica ("hope inside my baby's heart", "when i sleep"), piano rock ("i made a totem"), industrial ("don't wait") and even experimental electroacoustic music ("inside the castle"), and with infectious bass lines throughout, RUINED CASTLE takes the listener on a slow and tortured journey to acceptance of one's suffering and, possibly, healing.

Arranged, performed, recorded, mixed and mastered by Brandon Lucas Green

All lyrics & music by Brandon Lucas Green except:

• "belong 2" lyrics by Alicia Green & Brandon Lucas Green
• “sun loop" lyrics by Alicia Green & Brandon Lucas Green
• "old lady" lyrics & music by Mary Esther Carter
• "puppeteer" lyrics by Alicia Green
• “aquarium” lyrics by Tess Canfield

“inside the castle” contains samples courtesy of freesound.org:

• male_Thijs_loud_scream.aiff by thanvannispen -- License: Attribution 4.0
• snoring_sample.wav by jppi_Stu -- License: Attribution 4.0
• hhh7.mp3 by harri -- License: Attribution 4.0
• scream_group_women.aif by thanvannispen -- License: Attribution 4.0
• door 1.wav by ERH -- License: Attribution 4.0
• =).wav by sapht -- License: Sampling+
• psycho scream 1.wav by FreqMan -- License: Attribution 4.0
• choking.wav by braffe2 -- License: Sampling+

Cover artwork by Brandon Lucas Green