Greatest Lakes

"The Milwaukee-by-way-of Kenosha folk and indie rock hybrid got its start […] in 2010, and finally made its way into Rockford, Illinois-based Midwest Sound studio last year to record drums. Other instruments were then laid down in a variety of rooms between Milwaukee and Chicago. From there, it went to Brooklyn to be mastered by Nick Stumpf. Once Greatest Lakes was recorded, the trio of drummer/singer Jon Nichols, guitarist Brian Steinseifer, and bass player Mike Hawes took on three new members, as the introduction of new drummer Josiah Werning allowed Nichols to add auxiliary percussion depth and focus more on vocals; second guitarist Kevin Kaufman came on; and Melissa Steinseifer (who is featured on Greatest Lakes) contributed backing vocals. Though the construction was slow, the polished and grandiose 12-song effort more than makes up for the pace preceding its arrival. Dreamy reverberated three- and four-part harmonies thrust hollow and delicate instrumentation to the next level. A Band Of Horses comparison would be apt, but only when excluding the album’s ever present atmospheric underbelly and the abundance of driving rhythmic accessories, such as anthemic stomps and hand claps (best displayed in “Best Days” and “The Harvest”). Almost five years after the framework of some of these songs was first taking shape, Greatest Lakes has taken its time to unveil its delayed debut, and, in turn, has given Milwaukee one of its most satisfying front-to-back albums of the year.” - Milwaukee Record

"At times the band’s sound can conjure up similar harmony-driven bands from The Beach Boys to Band of Horses. Other times a more experimental side comes through." - Shepherd Express

"Greatest Lakes is a four-piece rock/folk band that calls our fair city by the lake home. The band’s intricately layered vocals certainly stand out first, but don’t sleep on the guitar craftsmanship and the sometimes-driving rhythm section that doesn’t rely on any obvious accents. In fact, don’t sleep on this band at all.” - WMSE Sonic Diet

"Greatest Lakes have staked out their own territory capturing a spacier, modern version of palatable west-coast folk rock." - Shepherd Express

"The slow-churning fragile fidelity of “Sun Song” and “My Home” along with the distant reverb soaked choral vocals are reminiscent of Tennessee Fire era My Morning Jacket – which, to a lot of people, is a real good thing." - Seizure Chicken

"Infused with intricate vocal harmonies giving you that feel of as if you were riding a jetski through the Arctic Ocean staring up admiring the deep purple aurora drenched sky and wondering to yourself, “Why am I riding a jetski in the middle of the Arctic Ocean?” - Head Underwater