"The ability to play music and call the resulting sound "rock music" is one thing. But when that sound can make the crowd go wild, it's something else. The Great Shakes did the latter when they came to Cincinnati last Friday, and rocked The Comet… Darren, the glue that holds the band together, is beyond unique, like he was made from the same fabric of eccentric singers before him… has the sensibilities of Debora Iyall, Little Richard, David Bowie and Wendy O's illegitimate spiritual daughter and wannabe successor, Karen O... Above all, class, style and grace are what The Great Shakes have got going for them."
News Record, University of Cincinnati 10.2005
"Without wishing to imply that the music is derivative, The Great Shakes' overall sound has a feel of London Calling era Clash, which is certainly no bad thing. Cool band name, cool cover art."
Shindig www.shindig-magazine.com 06.2005
"The thing that may just have knocked the biggest dent into the new material on the back-to-basics punk player Americana Bebop is the reelection of George W. Bush. Though the New York City quintet is nestled in the bluest corner of one of our bluest states, our American President and his agenda figure large into the new Rich & Sexy, Inc. disc, lending the group a sharpened sense of attack and further tipping the balance in its lyrical tightrope walk between loaded sexual and political imagery. "
Delusions of Adequacy www.adequacy.net 06.2005
"Well, snotty punk with melodic pop intrusions are what the Great Shakes are all about."
New York Press 04.2005
"US band The Great Shakes offer a mild dose of Michigan mayhem. Tuneful but forceful pop punk in a considered trash rock style comes in the form their 5 track Duty Free (The United Shakes of America) EP and 'The Ballroom' double tracker. Sounds worth paying attention to."
Shindig Magazine 02.2005
Ladies and Gentlemen: I present to you, The Great Shakes! Deep from the belly of inspiration derived from bands like the Clash and mixed-up with edgy and angry yet appealing guitar notes slung about, the Great Shakes give you something tasty and cool to suck down.
http://www.silentuproar.com /showreview.php?ID=930
Silentuproar www.silentuproar.com 11.2004
If you read Danish, click here to read our recent review. Although we're not sure how good it is
Undertoner www.undertoner.dk 03.2004
An explosive mix of 70s rock, punk, trash and more angular experiments
Delusions of Adequacy www.adequacy.net 01.2004
"THE GREAT SHAKES and RICH AND SEXY, INC. have brought us one of our All Time favorite RANKIN BASS tunes, especially the one included Here. If We tell you, it won’t be a surprise anymore now will it? Ya gotta Listen to the show. These guys are putting out great indie punk infused with great Attitude and we Can’t wait to get More of their music into our show. If you see them, please tell them RadioMike Loves great Music. RICH AND SEXY, INC. , as far as we can tell, is a Brand New New York record label and they have Incredible taste in Music and impeccable taste in Christmas Covers. THE NIGHT BEFORE is a great CD. Go out and get it before they Actually run out at a store near You." - From thefeveredbrainofradiomike.com
thefeveredbrainofradiomike.com 12.2003
We love this posting that has been making its way around other DUTCH music sites:

"The Strokes maar dan in een donker steegje, met coke versneden met Witte Reus en aftandse Dominicaanse hoeren in plaats van Elite modellen."

"It's the Strokes, but in a dark alley, cut with cocaine and White Russian and aloof Dominican prostitutes instead of Elite models."

Dutch Music sites 09.2003
"Yesterday I saw a group of English tourists walking along, and after listening to them it appeared that one of them was the head of the New Musical Express. This guy should get beaten up! First punch a few teeth out because Andrew WK turned out not to be the savior -with a big S - of rock music after all. Then kick him into the shins because there are always 900 pop-ups on the NME site. Then twist him around on the gallows if he doesn't tell who is going to be on the cover in five weeks as the next savior of rock music. But this I did get out of him, it is the Great Shakes. "Bowie-fied" Strokes of Iggy Pop wannabes. And as long as the Strokes have nothing new out, this does just fine. Only their cover of Warm Leatherette is weak, the rest is mighty tasty. No more and no less. The head of the NME still sits in the basement; opportunities to torture him given by appointment."
Retecool www.luister.retecool.com 09.2003
"Mothers hid their daughters and gentlemen guarded their beers while in New York City recently, and for good reason. The Great Shakes were in town, making a lot of noise on their own home turf, and they were definitely looking to stir up some trouble."
Delusions of Adequacy www.adequacy.net 08.2003
"If there’s one band that seems to have 'The Next Big Thing' written all over them, it just may be The Great Shakes..."
Delusions of Adequacy www.adequacy.net 07.2003
"Their debut EP is a five-song kick in the balls that explodes with attitude and the confident/cocky lead vocals of band mouthpiece, Darren"
The Tripwire www.thetripwire.com 05.2003
"The Great Shakes exploded out of my stereo speakers with some of the sharpest and most vicious trash and punk rock I've ever heard from a young band in a long time."
Delusions of Adequacy www.adequacy.net 04.2003
"The Shakes are the latest, greatest thing to shimmy up from the depths of the 'new' New York scene."
The Village Voice, Voice Choices 04.09.2003
"Out of the dirty/smokey clubs of the Lower Eastside (NYC) come The Great Shakes. They play rock n’ roll that is abrasive, but that still contains a pop vocal fixation. Local Dj Karibomb compares them by saying “If Iggy Pop Fucked The Strokes”. I say take traditional 70’s punk like Johnny Thunders, Sex Pistols, and the pop sense of Generation X, then add elements of present day NYC and you have The Great Shakes. The Great Shakes insist on living life their way by partying and staying true to rock n’ roll."
Crashin' In www.crashinin.com 03.2003
"Detroit trash punk sound (Black Rebel Motor Club) and...you guessed it IGGY! Fast furious, with a name taken from a Keith Moon quote..."
Village Voice, Voices Choices 03.05.2003
"Unlike so many post-postmodern ponies, The Great Shakes have far more than one trick: Each sneer is followed with a knowing wink, every wrist-slashing riff salved with a coolly bracing vocal turn. In short, the perfect soundtrack to the home movies of the sons and daughters of Iggy and Bowie doing the nasty on the white house lawn."
David Sprague, Writer: Variety, Village Voice, Guitar World 03.01.2003