Press Reviews

  • Slim Chance is Back - Best Albums of 2022- Stijn De Jong, 12/20/22
  • Americana Highways, The Top Albums of 2022 - ". . . an album that is like a tonic for the soul." -Gary Schwind, Americana Highways, 12/9/22
  •  Slim Chance is Back - “. . . The Space Between Us proves once again that Silver Lake 66 are one of the best alt-country acts of our times.” - Stijn De Jong, Netherlands, 6/22
  • American, Roots, Country and Bluegrass Music - "Captivating and utterly alluring, this is an album to savour and spin repeatedly ” - Alan Cackett, UK, 6/22
  • Rocking  Magpie  -  "Silver Lake 66 really do take you on a roller-coaster of emotions here; with the ability to make you want to dance your socks off one minute; then cry your eyes out the next. . . "  -Alan Magpie, The Rocking Magpie UK, 10/3/19
  • Blues Magazine, Netherlands - "Americana and blues fans, give this duo a chance! They deserve a large audience. Let's hope their next album will be released on a big label." - Paul Op den Kamp. 10/4/19

  • Messenger Newspaper, UK  - "This gifted duo are now based in Portland, Oregon, where they ply their trade with a warmth and emotional directness which is well nigh irresistible."  -Kevin Bryan, Messenger, 9/5/19

  • Lonesome Highway review of Ragged Heart -  "self-written songs that mix classic and country rock with a solid energy and enthusiasm . . . Ragged Heart is a show case for Silver Lake 66, one which will be well received. . . "
    -Stephen Rapid. Lonesome Highway, UK  5/30/19
     
  • Ear to the Ground Blog  -  "Another album I am loving right now, is Ragged Heart by Portland, OR based husband and wife duo - Silver Lake 66.  The music sounds like a long-lost track from another era, and it also sounds very fresh and very wonderful."  -Joe Wolfe-Mazeres of E2TG, 6/13/19
     
  • Slim Chance is Back, Netherlands - "Both Francis and Overbo possess a fine set of pipes, and there’s a pleasant sharp edge to their harmonies. On occasion they even remind me a little of Chris and Morgane Stapleton, and in actual fact they deserve to be heard by at least as wide an audience, if you ask me." - Stijn De Jong, 10/9/19
     
  • Take Effect Review of Ragged Heart-- Silver Lake 66, brings more of their country sounds and rock influences, where vivid lyrics and dynamic chemistry between the pair make Ragged Heart one of the best Americana albums of 2019 - Tom Haugen, Take Effect
     
  • Rootstime Belgium Review of Ragged Heart, Dani  Heyvaert, 9/30/19   Click here for  English translation
     
  • Paris Move Blues Magazine -4 Star Review -Patrick Dallongeville, 9/9/19
     
  • Review of Ragged Heart by The Nashville Blues And Roots Alliance - "Silver Lake 66 are Maria Francis  . . . and Jeff Overbo  . . . Fans, they have it ALL, y’all–roots steeped deep in classic country, roots, and good ole rock ‘n’ roll, and display it for everyone on ten originals that make up their latest set, “Ragged Heart.”  Like any great duet, the pair switch off on lead vocals, and sweet, strong harmonies are plentiful." - Sheryl and Don Crow, 5/31/19
     
  • Rootsville European Blues Union, Belgium -  Review of Ragged Heart,  9/8/19
     
  •  Video Premiere of  "Blue Earth County" lead track off  Ragged Heart , by Americana Highways - "The striking characteristic of Ragged Heart is the energy of the instrumental interplay, with a throwback early ’70s style and tones to match . . . The band’s energy is irresistible, and the vocal harmonies are divine".  -Melissa Clarke, Americana Highways,    4/22/19
     
  • Readers choice album of the month, Americana Highways  - 5/7/2019
     
  • Country Standard Time review of Ragged Heart - "Silver Lake 66 is a truly complimentary partnership with each feeding off the other's strengths. This is how honest country music should sound." - Jim Hynes, 4/5/2019
     
  • Aiding and Abetting - "Everything comes together on this album, which is easily one of the finest and loveliest I've heard all year." -Jon Worley, 5/9/19
     
  • Album Review of Ragged Heart by HVY.com - ". . . the album contains some solid songwriting, good, often personal song subjects, and effective, entertaining melodies." -Will Phoenix,  5/13/19
     
  • Album Review of Ragged Heart by The Flame Still Burns - "At the core of Ragged Heart is solid songwriting, a knack for making the right choices with regards to arrangements, and the wisdom to tell stories in an unvarnished, emotionally honest way . . .Country music this good probably can’t get made in Nashville."  -Joe McSpadden,   4/4/2019
     
  •  Glide Magazine  album Premiere of Ragged Heart -  "a glorious roundabout of Americana mixed with splices of hearty rockabilly and chugging sweet seductive melodies. Silver Lake 66 transports a dignified sound that evokes the gratifying sounds of Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris, with a sly inkling for today’s roots music ears."   4/1/19
     
  •  Popdose Single Pick "Ragged Heart".   3/27/19
     
  • "Silver Lake 66 is hands down my favorite country/Americana duo because of their marvelous melodies and delicious vocals, ranging from potent tones full of galvanizing, infectious ebullience to tender, elegant timbres rife with tantalizing wisps of recollection, love, and home." -Randy Radic, Rawckus Magazine.  Read full review   3/24/19
     
  • The Bluegrass Situation  - Song Premiere "Ragged Heart".   2/22/19
     
  • Americana UK  - Song Premiere "Blue Earth County".  2/19/19
     
  • "Silver Lake 66 are an exciting, fast rising modern Americana duo consisting of Maria Francis and Jeff Overbo. They hail from Portland and are ready to take the genre by storm with their unique blend of Country tinged Americana." - Laura Klonowski, CelebMix.  Read the article  2/25/19
     
  •  “Simply put, Let Go Or Be Dragged is one of the better albums I have had the opportunity to review. If you enjoy pure country music, the kind Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings used to produce, you’ll find Silver Lake 66 particularly comely.” - Randy Radic, Huffington Post. Click here to read full review
     
  • “This release, a dozen well-crafted songs arranged and produced with the focus locked in on honest depictions of human struggles and simple joys, reminds us that to be flawed is to be human, and to struggle is an honorable thing . . . Overbo and Francis self-produced and independently released this collection of original compositions. The joy in records like this is finding a true grass roots voice, something Silver Lake 66 has in spades. Although these are new tunes it is easy to see these songs were years in the making. This is music for cold nights and warm whiskey. In the wee hours this album will ask you to question the price you have paid for your journey. Silver Lake 66 would tell you it was worth the cost; the Devil be damned.”  - Joe McSpadden, No Depression. Click here to read full review 
     
  • “ Based on the influences of legacy acts like Lucinda Williams and The Band, the duo consisting of Maria Francis and Jeff Overbo rely heavily upon traditional staples of country and folk music to get the job done. . .these two are the real deal, and it’s their sweet harmonies that mesh the entirety of their sound together. . .They  follow a vocally-driven roots rock sound evocative of many other popular groups of the modern folk era, from Shovels & Rope to Shakey Graves & Esme Patterson, and do so with a vested pride that elevates them to very nearly the level of those aforementioned megatons straight out of the gate." – Jonathan Frahm, For Folk’s Sake. Click here to read full review 
     
  • "Silver Lake 66’s music is what I call “elegant simplicity,” i.e. the real McCoy. The kind of music that harks back to George Jones, Patsy Cline and Hank Williams, completely unlike the mechanical and predictable tripe that passes for country western nowadays." -Randy Radic, Huffington Post. (Interview with Maria and Jeff)  Click here to read full interview
     
  • "The song “Devil’s Looking For Me” and the album that it comes from, the aptly named Let Go or Be Dragged, feel like the perfect creative culmination of their life experiences. While Francis jokes, “We may be late bloomers,” it seems more like the type of well-worn sound that is earned through time and trouble." -Kelsey Greco, Vortex Magazine.  Click here to read story and see video premier
  •  “The album is a collection of classic, good ole fashioned Americana songs which tell the stories of life, love, loss, travel and adversity. The heart and soul infused into each track will grab you and leave you listening to the end.” –Mid Tennessee Music, Joshua (J.Smo) Smotherman Click here to read full review
  • “Soulful and twang-filled, Silver Lake 66 offer a rollicking, satisfying version of Americana on Let Go Or Be Dragged, their debut release. It's just the latest point in a long and rejuvenated career.” -Anya M. Wassenberg's Blog: Art & Culture Maven Click here to read full review
  • “Listening to Let Go Or Be Dragged . . . , you can feel the authenticity. There’s no glitz and glamour. There’s no making the song sound a certain way just so it can get airplay. It’s just pure music from the heart. That mind aspect probably came from Jeff and Maria touring, recording, and playing for so many years. Music is something natural to them, and that’s the best kind of music.” –Melanie Gomez, Indie-music.com Click here to read full review
  • “The Portland-by-way-of-Minneapolis-via-Los Angeles group has taken the long road, overcoming the real life obstacles of age and illness and emerging with one of this year’s finest albums, titled Let Go Or Be Dragged”.  That Much Further West Podcast   Click to hear podcast
  •  “The effortless combination of Maria Francis and Jeff Overbo meshes together to form a signature and connecting sound within their music . . . The overall style of their songwriting definitely alludes to traditional country and Americana standards, but with a soulful and modern twist in the present." -The Music Court Click here to read full review
  • “Throughout the entire album both artists combine their voices in this calm and satisfying duet, neither of them overpowering each other. The lyrics on the album reek of love and love, trials and suffering, and the beauty of life. It’s simple and direct which makes it very relatable and down to earth for listeners/reviewers. The whole album is very soul touching thanks to the sound being so clear and in a sense mournful.” -Kristen Calderoni, Audible Addixion  Click here to read full review
  • “Home, loss, love, pain, triumph—a regular part of life and the inspiration behind Silver Lake 66s’ very aptly named “Let Go Or Be Dragged.”  Melancholic yet hopeful, this country album (featuring significant hints of blues) makes for a realistically inspirational listen. . .” -RJ Frometa, Vents Magazine   Click here to read full review 
  • “While Silver Lake 66 take inspiration from the time-tested greats of their chosen classic genres, the Portland couple do their best to keep it real, crafting each and every one of their songs with a deeply creative, personal touch, and a genuine, straight-from-the-heart message.”  –Lawrence, GoodMoMusic Click here to read full review