"A five song blast in shades of upbeat pop rock and post punk melodics. The last two songs get steadily mellower, with the first of the two breaking in to some old school indie rock vocals with some California punked out riffs shooting the chorus dead center. The last one moves melodic and still catchy, like one of the Replacements slow sad songs... "And I can't remember every time I let you down..." It brings back this Here Comes a Regular kind of sadness, and I want a drink. Definitely something that catches me in mid-stride, making me turn around to look back and wonder when I'm gonna get to hear a full length, 'cause I think it could be interesting." - Marcel Feldmar, Ink Nineteen (October 2000), on Julie et Cetera.
"Trio slightly sidesteps standard Emo fare simply by starting from a more pop oriented place. And while that might be a subtle distinction, it's enough to separate them from Lo-Fi friends by leaps and bounds. In fact, you could say it's the difference between sharks and minnows." - Linda Ryan, Listen.com.
"Sleeping Sickness" is an excellent song, propelled by the guitar-work. While the drumming fairly standard punk-rock fare, the guitar really keeps this song driving, even giving it something of an emo-core flare. "New Vibration," starting off, "I'm waiting on a new vibration," almost makes me think this is going to be a Beach Boys cover. But it's not, never fear. Instead, it's another fast-paced power-pop song, really moving fast and strong and getting some nice vocal harmonies. "Miracle" might be the best song on this EP, putting much more emphasis on the vocals, which here are almost on the verge of being shouted. This song turns up the energy a bit, reminding me more of Alkaline Trio, maybe with the energy of a band like Far mixed in. I really enjoy the more reaching vocals on "Crazy 8s," getting all high pitched as the song slows down and piano is added, lending a more emotional feel to the song. And "Bonaventure" closes things off on a much more mellow and relaxed pace. The piano adds a nice backdrop to this softer, prettier song. - Jeff Marsh, Delusions of Adequacy (January 8, 2001) on Julie et Cetera.
"Sharks and Minnows are the fortunate children of my sour disposition. They receive my holy blessing for today. Perhaps on some other day I would have dogged this group. I would have sent them to hell for no other reason than the fact that I was in a bad mood. Last night, however, I think I snapped. I had read about depression and suicide all day. I popped this five song CDEP into the computer and proceeded to write out all my thoughts to a few of my friends and pissed them off. I think I will grant "Julie Et Cetera" a stay of execution because it was with me during that time of dread. That's what is great about music: it is always there and never hurts like people do. This is a power poppy album with definite bleak undertones on a few of the songs, namely "Crazy 8s" & "Bonaventure". The vocals can be harsh, yet also melodious and are sweet on my ears. They're kind of twisted in the sense that while the music is happy, the vocals don't always go along with that tone. I like that it's like that. Most likely "Julie Et Cetera" is that combination of a memory and sound becoming all I could never be. Whatever it was, whatever it is, it works for me." - Kurt Morris, Action Attack Helicopter (January 2001) on Julie et Cetera.
Opening act Sharks and Minnows are one of Atlanta's best emocore bands, with a dark, melodic sound that will appeal to fans of older Jawbreaker. - Foy/Ware, Creative Loafing (November 29, 2000).
"what a super cool band. i mean that. if the atlanta music scene was a giant TEDDY RUXPIN doll, then SHARKS AND MINNOWS would be the little cassette that goes inside that makes him dance around and blink his itty bitty eyes! go see them, and buy their cd "Julie Et Cetera". those 5 slices of rock n' roll pecan pie will make you wish you'd recored all your MENUDO records before melting them down to make your ricky martin statue! SHA-ZAM!" - bizarre anonymous posting on the localmusic.com site (July 2000).
"Hailing from the atlanta indie emo scene, Sharks and Minnows provides the listener with rocking indie emo tunes that bring to mind Sunny Day Real Estate, Superchunk, and the Get Up Kids." - Gavin, Stickfigure Distro (November 2000), on Julie et Cetera.
"Formed in 1999, this Atlanta-based trio flits from Posies-style power pop to ballads that recall Jets To Brazil. Check out the new EP Julie Et Cetera." - Flagpole (January 2001).
"Sharks and Minnows play the type of jangly pop-based emo that's almost synonymous with underground music since the lates '90s. Neither particularly awful nor focused, the band provides fodder for the scene's appetites." - Aversion.com.