Family [Vinyl]

Le Loup | Format: Vinyl

Product Details

• Vinyl (September 22, 2009)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: HARDLY ART
• ASIN: B002JODUMA
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #28,708 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #88 in Music > Alternative Rock > Indie & Lo-Fi > Electronic Pop

Track Listings

1. Saddle Mountain

2. Beach Town

3. Grow

4. Morning Song

5. Family

6. Forgive Me

7. Go East

8. Golden Bell

9. Sherpa

10. Neahkahnie

11. A Celebration

Editorial Reviews

At the core of every contented family is a sense of balance, an emotional push-and-pull that helpsstabilize the entire unit. A similar equilibrium anchors Le Loup's second album, Family. Recorded in aremote cabin and a Maryland basement, the record finds the middle ground between tribal rock, freakfolk, and sonic experimentation.Like most families, Le Loup has grown since its inception. What began as the bedroom project of SamSimkoff is now a full-sized band, with all five members contributing vocals and songwriting credits. Theband's music - originally a blend of keyboard loops, banjo, and computer wizardry - has grown as well,encompassing everything from shape note harmonies to polyphonic percussion.Simkoff and band-mate Christian Ervin produced Family themselves, having previously workedtogether on the band's debut, The Throne of the Third Heaven of the Nations' Millennium GeneralAssembly. Unlike that first album, Family doesn't rely on synthesizers or electronic support. Instead, themusicians took a more elemental approach, capturing the organic sounds of their instruments beforetreating them with various effects.''Christian and I would chop up all of those organic sounds and re-process them as samples through acomputer,'' Simkoff explains. ''Then we would either add heavy effects or just throw them back togetherin different ways, which helped us get a very inorganic, synthesized sound from natural instruments.''Certain melodic themes were added to multiple songs, linking the album together with their recurringmotifs.After months of recording sessions in drummer Robby Sahm's basement, the band traveled to NorthCarolina, where they settled into a cabin and removed themselves from the distractions of everyday life.There was no internet, no TV, and little communication with the outside world. Using that isolation totheir advantage, five songs were recorded in two weeks, effectively finishing the record.Sophomore albums are tricky things to cre

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You thought the wolf was hungry before..., September 23, 2009

By 

TheBionicLife "TheBionicLife" (Boston) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Family (Audio CD)

I am a big fan of "The Throne" and also of Le Loup's live capabilities which are pretty moving, so the newest album would be welcomed anyway... But with "Family" Le Loup moves way up in my book. Introducing some great new vocal cooperations, the same catchy (if not catchier) hooks and songs that stick in your head. The album also maintains Le Loup's tech-edge feel with cutting in sound and fiddling with effects, but simultaneously introduces a new much more natural sound, showcasing the live show. Le Loup also once again showcases their ability to create an album with songs rather than a few songs on an album. In my opinion, THE best way to listen to Family... straight through. This band is really fantastic. Highly recommended.

Favorite tracks: Family, Beach Town, Morning Song

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you like Le Loup, you'll like Family, July 23, 2010

By 

C. Hugo (Seattle area, WA United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Family (Audio CD)

Since Le Loup's debut album was perhaps my favorite of 2008, I eagerly awaited the release of their sophomore album. It took about a 1/2 year longer to get to market than initially expected, and the group experienced a couple of artist departures from the first album. When Family came out and I was able to listen to 30 seconds of each track, I was a little disappointed. But, to support this Indie group, I finally bought the new album. Now that I have adjusted to the new tunes, Family is also a favorite. It must also be a favorite at RIM, makers of BlackBerry phones and PDAs -- Morning Song from this album is the background to a new RIM ad I just saw on TV.

If you like Le Loup, this is a sure bet. Also, try Person Pitch by Panda Bear, a very similar style.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars No family of mine, December 26, 2009

By 

D - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Family (Audio CD)

Here's a story...

Band makes album.
Boy thinks album is stunningly brilliant and completely original, and rejoices in its splendor.
Band makes second album.
Boy's heart is broken, irreparably, forever. Boy thinks album is not good and sounds nothing at all like the last one. In fact, boy thinks the album tarnishes the name Le Loup and thinks band should rename itself - maybe "More Guys Who Sound Like They Wear Flannel and Have Big Beards", or possibly "Fleet Foxes 2".

Seriously, what happened? "Family" isn't unlistenable, but the first album is one of my favorites, and the band's new sound just doesn't do anything for me. And it does in fact sound way too similar to other "indie mountain men" bands that have emerged in the past few years. I hate it when this happens!