“A whirling carnival of complex pop” – Matt Pais, Metromix

“A stomping hoedown that mixes the ramshackle sound of Neutral Milk Hotel and early Modest Mouse with melodic brass and string flourishes.” – The Onion AV Club

“In a town primarily known for power pop heroes likeCheap Trick and dark rock villains like Billy Corgan, Jon Drake and the Shakes stand out sheerly because no one can really peg them in either or those genres; nor any other for that matter. They have a luminous pop sensibility, but lyrically they can be darker and more angst-y than a 13-year-old looking for black nail polish at a Hot Topic. Either way they’re indisputably the largest, most passionate and assiduous band in Chicago with sometimes over 14-accomplished-musicians on stage, singing and playing their myriad of rock and orchestral instruments until they can no longer stand.” – Chicagoist