Rolling Stone (p.74) - 3.5 stars out of 5 -- "Howard's dirt-black gravitas holds it all together....She's got as much Robert Plant as Janis Joplin in her..."

Uncut (p.73) - "There is much to admire about BOYS & GIRLS...not least its condience....Howards's singing is a glorious thing in and of itself, but is also reminds of something that has gotten lost: the properly big female voice..."

Billboard (p.28) - "Howard is a romantic but no pushover....The Shakes also show a deft touch with buoyant Muscle Shoals soul-rock..."

Q (Magazine) (p.90) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "This debut album proves they don't disappoint in the studio....Their music has a raw, aggressive style that is completely their own."

Paste (magazine) - "The Shakes looked to punk and hard rock as much as anything, and the melding of those influences with their rootsy, passionate appeal resulted in a style all their own, free of cynicism and brimming with vitality."