On the debut album from Chicago’s octet of ramshackle elite, Jon Drake & The Shakes find their eclectic yet focused sound in blending Americana and chamber pop with soulful sensibilities. Utilizing strings and horns backed by an intoxicating rhythm section, the band shifts from sonically introspective to hand-clappingly, boot-stompingly danceable. “Dear Ulysses” is both reminiscent of the sounds of open fields and the hootenannies which they contain. 

What people are saying:

“Rich and rewarding songwriting is the order of the day on the band’s debut Dear Ulysses. Jon Drake’s tenor rings pure on most tunes but there’s some artful panning and double tracking on a few tunes that help him cut even closer to the bone. Jon’s not afraid to get up his subject’s face just a bit but only enough to draw the listener in to his indignation. The art of it all comes in to play when you find yourself singing along to whatever it is he’s singing about. At the top of your lungs.” – Richard Milne, Local Anesthetic, WXRT

“Jon Drake sings through thoughtful, hooky chamber-folk, fleshed out with horns, fiddles and foot stomping.” – Time Out Chicago

“Dear Ulysses has a lot of bright spots included among one of the most listenable records I’ve heard all year.” – Music. Defined.

“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