Great Lakes Drop Last Night’s Smoke

Sometimes old habits are hard to kick, and in the case of my appreciation for Americana, I’m almost there…except when it comes to Ben Crum’s Great Lakes. Prepping the band’s 7th album, Contenders, Ben and company released this new single, and I can’t stop just jamming out to it at my desk. It’s got all the elements you’d expect from a Southern rock record, influenced by heavy jams and country licks, but there’s also something really intimate and personal about Ben’s vocal delivery; it sounds like you’re sharing a beer with your poetic best friend…and we could all dig on that vibe. Contenders will be out February 4th via HHBTM.

Last Week’s Jams, Today (11.22 – 11.26)

We took a break last week, albeit just for a few days to spend time with our families, so instead of the usual hour, you get just a mere 30 minutes of sweet sweet music. A few of the tunes I tossed up don’t exist on the streaming sites, so I just pulled in some other hits…from Great Lakes and Ted Leo, so maybe you’ll go back and check out the site, or check out their other work. Also, got some new stuff from Fawns of Love and Kaputt, so while it’s a shorter list than usual, it’s not short on jams. Enjoy your week folks.

Great Lakes Announce Contenders

You ever stumble into a tune that just makes you nostalgic for home? Well, listening to the Ben Crum’s voice on the new single from Great Lakes had me yearning for that feeling, searching my soul for hints of home. I love how the track toys with Americana vibes, particularly as the voice has a wee bit of twang, but it’s still not afraid to put forth a heavy rock vibe that certainly seems like no easy feat. The guitar work and heavy stomp of the rhythm section often seem to work beneath the song’s surface, bubbling up in the chorus, jamming in the interludes, and dragging the song with a heavier hand across the finish land. If you’re into good tunes that feel like comfort food, then jam out here, and look for Contenders when it hits in February 4th via HHBTM.

New Music from Great Lakes

GreatLakesCOLOR1Winter is here folks, well, musically speaking. It’s that time of year when slow ballads and folk-laden tunes are coming left and right, but perhaps none more enjoyable than this bit from Great Lakes. The center of this song holds true to modern folk/Americana tropes, but the layering of harmonies and various bits of instrumentation adds more depth to the song itself, creating a dense study in the genre for listeners. The Brooklyn (by way of Athens) will be releasing their 5th album next year; Wild Vision is being put out by Loose Truck Records on January 22nd.