Great Lakes

***Great Lakes’ Ben Crum returns with a fantastic new album, Don’t Swim Too Close. Over 25 years and eight records, Crum has built a reputation for sharp songwriting and interesting stylistic shifts. Don’t Swim Too Close is no exception, as Crum draws from a classic rock tradition, echoing both the Americana spirit of Neil Young and The Band and the proto-indie rock of Television and the Velvet Underground.

Immediately accessible, its songs land with the ease of lived-in classics. Themes of empathy and regret, mental health struggles, disillusionment, and the lone journey of the writer weave through the record. But this isn’t a bleak listen. Crum’s dry, gallow's humor bubbles up throughout, balancing heaviness with wit. The characters in Crum’s songs are soul-searching, making for a compelling and thought-provoking listen.

Don’t Swim Too Close is that rare record that blends superb lyrics with the subtle smoke of melody, and delivers it all in an instantly enjoyable format.