"'Who Said That Life Is Over?' defies its Williamsburg roots as the hottest anti-hipster record this year. Honest, working mans poetry-style lyrics are married via singable, catchy melodies to good, old-fashioned laid- back rock and roll. With perfectly imperfect instrumentation and raspy, earnest vocals, each of Low Waters expertly- written indie-pop songs rocks, and rocks honestly. Oh - and definitely check this one out on headphones - its the best (and only) way to catch all the wicked-cool recording nuances. Beautiful. Just beautiful."

- Kevin Keating, Origivation Magazine

"Their laid-back rock, full of slow guitar riffs and supported by John Leitera's rough vocals is a perfect prelude to the last long weekend of summer."

- S. Davis, The Deli

"Low Water are brilliant lyricists and engaging rockers ...dozens of lyrical gems surface throughout the record, as well as a nice variety of studio bells and whistles that color each song... 'House in the City' is a standout..."

- Ben Krieger, JezebelMusic.com

"Gritty post-Replacements rock with style and substance..."Reputation" brings a nervous post-punk energy to exactly the kind of descending riff the Kinks were all about that sunny afternoon on Dead End Street. And when they slow it down a bit and mellow out on a poppier song like "Strange New Element," they're even better, giving lead vocalist/songwriter Johnny Leitera all the room he needs to wrap his best Westerbergian pout around the story of a man who "invented the something that led to the else/When his books got too heavy, he discovered a shelf." Great lyrics, better vocals, with some nice guitar noise to distract you while the melody invades your brain and sets up shop.

- Ed Masley, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette


“One listen to Hard Words should be enough to convince anyone that liking Low Water's brand of rock is nothing to hide. The songs are tight, the melodies are catchy, and the riffs are firmly rooted in a classic, dirty blues tradition. The album is a killer, start to finish; a full rack of meaty cuts with that vinyl-era sound that never really goes out of fashion.It is a remarkably confident debut. It's got variety and heart, and it's not afraid to rock out.”

- Jason Meininger, West Coast Performer
"Low Water has relocated to the Big Apple, although the move makes sense in a way. Life in San Francisco can be a little too nice, and guitarist/singer John Leitera always has seemed inspired most in the face of adversity. Leitera comes on like the bastard son of Paul Westerberg and Joe Pernice. His pouting, heart-on-sleeve songs are elevated above your average Emo rock by his melodic and tasteful guitar playing, subtle humor, and masterful and clever wordplay. He first caught my ear a couple years ago with the line, "You started getting over me by getting under him," and I've been a fan of Low Water ever since. And it certainly doesn't hurt that his partners in crime are a very tight rhythm section. Nick Davis and Dave Rubin bring Leitera's words to life, giving them an edge and propelling them forward with invention, style and grace. By the way, I'm not implying that all gloom and doom with Low Water. "Skywriter" lets loose with the humor and is four minutes of driving, classic rock: Low Water doing Pavement doing Lynyrd Skynyrd.Clocking in at a quick 39 minutes, Hard Words In A Speakeasy passes the most important tests in entertainment: It leaves you wanting more. San Francisco's loss is New York City's gain."

- Michael Burbo, The Davis Enterprise


“Hard Words in a Speakeasy reads like a handbook for bridging modern Americana with rock n'roll out of the garage. There are very few predictable twists and turns and each song stands on it's own as a snapshot of unique, unfettered songcraft. Honest, unpretentious rock is a precious comodity; Low Water is the real deal, and Hard Words delivers the goods with uncomprimising simplicity and homage to the spirit of rock and roll.”

- Jeff Shelton, Amplifier Magazine


"Brit influences like XTC and The Beatles sneak into the mix, but Low Water's Hard Words in a Speakeasy is a melodic, American Rock album. The poppy "Sad Eyes" is anything but sad. It's got a rhythmically bouncy melody and captures the band at its best. Rumor has it that this formerly local trio has headed to New York, who now get to experience the band's catchy songs for themselves."

-Seamus Williams, MESH Magazine

"...Low Water also plays."

- San Francisco Bay Guardian