They currently play as a three-piece band, with Ben on guitar, Kyle Forester on bass, and Kevin Shea on drums. But at times the band's size has swelled to include at least half a dozen other members. Heather McIntosh (Japancakes, The Circulatory System), Dottie Alexander (Of Montreal, Marshmallow Coast, My First Keyboard), Derek Almstead (Of Montreal, Marshmallow Coast), Kevin Barnes (Of Montreal), Scott Spillane (Neutral Milk Hotel, Gerbils) and Bryan Poole (The Late B.P. Helium) have recorded and toured with the band.
The song Posters For the Theatre appeared on the compilation Happy Happy Birthday To Me Vol. 1, introducing Great Lakes to an audience outside of Athens for the first time.
April 2000 brought the release of their debut, self-titled album on Kindercore Records. Two years in the making, it had been recorded at home in Athens, Georgia and mixed and mastered in Denver, Colorado with Robert Schneider (Apples in Stereo, Marbles) at Pet Sounds Studio. The album features several contributors including Scott Spillane (Neutral Milk Hotel, The Gerbils), Dottie Alexander ( Of Montreal, Marshmallow Coast, My First Keyboard), Derek Almstead (Of Montreal, Marshmallow Coast), Kevin Barnes (Of Montreal), Andrew Rieger (Elf Power), and Adrian Finch (Elf Power, Dances With Wolves, Masters of the Hemisphere).
Not too long after the release of the CD, they released a 7" as part of the Happy Happy Birthday to Me singles club. It features 4 non-album tracks.
The Kindercore singles club released a split single with Elf Power in the summer of 2000. Great Lakes cover the Zombie's song This will be our Year.
A CD single for Come Storming was released on the now defunct La Suprette label in the UK in February 2001. It also featured the songs No More Conquistadors, Bead by Bead, Tugboat Sailor, The Morning of my Life, and This will be Our Year. These songs were all also found on the HHBTM and Kindercore singles except The Morning of my Life which is a previously unreleased Bee Gees cover.
Sister City 7" was released in December 2001 on Hype City Records. It features 2 previously unreleased songs. And in January 2002 a 7" single of A Little Touched was released on the UK label Track & Field Organisation.
An album entitled The Distance Between was released on Orange Twin in the US in August 2002 and in the UK on Track & Field Organisation in September 2002.
Their third and latest album, entitled Diamond Times, was released in 2006 in the USA by Empyrean Records, and in 2007 in Europe by The Track & Field Organisation.
Teen Angel
Great Lakes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Would love you if they could
But I'm easy
But I'm easy
But I'm easy
Now that you're in demand
And, darling, if you can
'Cause it's easy
'Cause it's easy
I'll take you anywhere
Buy ribbons for your hair
You need me anyway
And you know, what are you going to do?
All the boys as you look about
May be funny to work out
But I'm easy
But I'm easy
But I'm easy
In Great Lakes's song Teen Angel, the lyrics talk about a boy who is seemingly infatuated with a girl in his neighborhood. He notes that all the other boys in the neighborhood also have an interest in this girl, but he claims to be "easy" compared to those other possible suitors. He offers to take her anywhere and buy ribbons for her hair, as he believes she needs him anyway. The lyrics also suggest that the girl may be gaining popularity or demand, but the boy remains confident in his ability to be there for her.
The lyrics seem to capture a feeling of being overlooked or underestimated, but also a sense of devotion and hopefulness. The boy recognizes that he may not be the most impressive or desirable option, but he still sees himself as a valuable companion to this girl he admires. The repetition of "but I'm easy" throughout the song emphasizes this sentiment, while also hinting at a certain vulnerability or self-doubt.
Overall, Teen Angel is a nostalgic and heartfelt tune with a simple message about love and loyalty. It captures the innocence and yearning of adolescent romance, while also acknowledging the complexities and uncertainties that can come with these feelings.
Line by Line Meaning
All the boys in the neighborhood
All the boys in the area where we live
Would love you if they could
They have feelings for you but cannot express it
But I'm easy
I'm not hard to please
Now that you're in demand
Since everybody wants you
And, darling, if you can
If you're capable, my love
'Cause it's easy
It's not difficult
I'll take you anywhere
I'm willing to go anywhere with you
Buy ribbons for your hair
I'll purchase accessories for you
You need me anyway
You require my presence regardless
And you know, what are you going to do?
You're aware of it, so what's your next move?
All the boys as you look about
As you observe all the guys around
May be funny to work out
It might be amusing to figure out
But I'm easy
I'm simple and not complicated
Contributed by Grayson I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.