Great Lakes. Formed in Athens, Georgia in 1996 (and initially aligned to the Elephant 6 collective), but based in Brooklyn, NY, since 2002, this ensemble leaded by Ben Crum has released five albums and several 7″ and EPs to date. Initially a trio, they debuted in the year 2000 with self-titled LP followed by ‘The Distance Between’ in 2002, two albums with a distinct, light-hearted psych-pop. But Crum, the only original and founding member along the years and Co. kept evolving towards a more introspective, enduring American folk-rock with their next releases, ‘Diamond Times‘ in 2006 and ‘Ways to Escape’ in 2010. Now the quintet is back with ‘Wild Vision‘, out since this January through their own label Loose Trucks. Moody, confident, warm, the tunes are the perfect proof of a musician and a band in total command of “their game”, summoning the spirits of Gram Parsons and Alex Chilton, and making a work of art of every song. Serious stuff here.
[Link]