Search - Akron, Family :: Akron/Family

Amazing experimental folk record

Lucid | California, USA | 04/25/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I can't recommend this album enough. This album has alot of beautiful folk music mixed in with experimental noise and melodies. A friend told me about this album, and at first I thought it was ok, but it's definately a grower. Now I can't get enough of it.



I'm not great at explaining individual songs, so I'll just recommend some songs to get a good idea of their sound. Try these first:



Running, returning (a beautiful epic song)

Italy

Shoes

Franny/You're Human

Hidden Track

Before and Again

I'll be on the water



The only songs on this record that I don't like too much are Suchness and Part of Corey. They're still good songs, just not as stellar as the rest of the tracks. And I can't say I like the burst of white noise in the beginning of one of those songs.



I'd give this album a 4 and 1/2, but since there's no 4 and 1/2 rating, I'll give it a 5. The good far outweighs the bad in my opinion. If you're looking for something new, and you are a fan of experimental folk music, I'd say you should definately give it a shot."

Where's my beard?

HOOMER | PA USA | 03/29/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"What can you say M Gira has done it again......I simply love this album....It is as all the other online reviews have said ...is a weird "neo folk" noise fusion......this album just sweeps over you. I have seen these guys live 3 times now....and not 1 show was the same ...in any discenrable way...except maybe the fact that one guy plays the guitar with a screwdriver......



Why should buy this album? cause its just great! the mellow soundscapes drift over you ..juxtaposed by weirdness.....this is the sound track to a warm summers evening with red wine,,...a lover....and a long hot bath.....the sheer joy the 4 guys have (and they are so funny live) just bleeds onto the plastic.....I'll leave others to get all finicky and breakdown each individual track.....and just leave it at....."thinking of you...there's lightning bolts in my chest....I know you know....I think our love's the best.."(I'll be on the water)"

Melancholic lilt

openingfield | all banality, UPstate | 12/15/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"forget the freak folk descriptions, or the need to classify them as dark bluegrass. akron/family are simply strong musicians--pure & simple--no matter whether they are playing toy instruments, televisions, change machines, kazoos, or guitars. this album: great, melancholic lilt that is oddly hopeful & sweet. in the dead of winter, curl up in bed with it as you used to do with this mortal coil. (as for the reviewer who complains about them not getting on with their songs, clearly that person should stick to top 40 b/c he doesn't understand the value of static, noise, humming, and silence: all integral to real av-g composition. see: the tmc comparison above.) akron/family also have a great home recording disc they were selling at their shows in the states last summer: track it down through them: it is a wonderful miscellany. & go out of your way to see them live: they are powerhouses, perched on chairs. cd holds together as a whole (& should be listened to as such), but the tracks that make this album worth the purchase alone: "sorrow boy"; "i'll be on the water"; and "franny/you're human"..."