Customer Reviews

Set Em Wild, Set Em Free [Vinyl]

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Akron/Family are an 'experimental rock band', also occasionally lumped in with the 'freak folk' stylings of The Angels of Light, or the more psychedelic Animal Collective. They have an extremely wide range of influences in their work, and yet they sound like a cohesive band with their own identity. You can hear the Led Zeppelin, the Sonic Youth, the Jethro Tull, as well the more modern sounds of Modest Mouse and The Arcade Fire. They're obviously listened to loads of obscure psychedelia and probably electronic music, too. The vocals range from the raw, out of tune modern indie style to a smooth tenor to Radiohead-esque breathless crooning. And if there was any question about it, they're definitely a bunch of hippies, as the tie dyed flag on the cover would suggest.

For the most part, they have near perfect control of all these different sounds, and their music paints subtle and colorful pictures. The band has a lot of passion and feeling in what they do. Their experiments definitely do not all find equal success, yet "Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free", their 4th album (and my first experience with the band), is an incredibly listenable album. After a little while, the listener knows each track will likely be distinct and stylistically different from the rest, even if they aren't all as compelling as "River" or "Creatures", the two best songs on the album, by far.

"River" is some kind of mad, over-intellectualized campfire singalong, complete with some seriously wordy lyrics, but the melody will get stuck in your head for days, and the band plays with a lot of energy... Somehow, it all totally works. "You and I and the flame make three". This song really exemplifies the woodsy, pagan flavor of the album. There's nothing here to stop you from really being drawn into their world.

"Creatures", the next track, contrasts this by beginning with a funky, almost electronic groove and fuzzed out bass line. The rhythm stays consistent as the song makes its way through some chilled out rhodes textures, and a complex, labyrinthine acoustic riff carrying emotions just as complex. It's hard to describe, but it reminds me of the moment at the end of a fun, eventful day where the energy runs out and a little bit of doubt and melancholy begins to creep in with the weariness. It's the highlight of the album for me.

There's definitely some other quality stuff on the album, ranging from good to great. "Everyone's Guilty" sounds just like 70's prog / hard rock, really. It's a great opener. "MBF" is the feedback laden, Sonic Youth inspired number, with an improvisatory feel, noisy loops and gritty, heavy distortion. It fails to be truly memorable, but it's enjoyable. "Gravelly Mountains of the Moon" starts out almost like a jazz ballad, full of comforting muted horns and piano chords. The song proceeds to become another noisy jam with group vocals. "They Will Appear" has a crushing, stop-start finale that will have you singing along whether or not you know the words.

The band does have quite the preference for vintage sounds, and in the end, the album's most glaring flaw turns out to be its commitment to making you believe it's still the 70's, as well as its penchant for repeating supposedly anthemic phrases that are actually quite uninspired and dull, lyrically. For example, "things that are still sometimes appear to move", from "The Alps / Their Orange Evergreen", or the 'finale' of the album, "Sun Will Shine" and the following epilogue, "Last Year", during which the band resorts to using a dull, overused major chord progression on the piano and chants "the sun will shine, and I won't hide" in pretty uninteresting harmony. It feels like such parts exist only as an attempt at recreating the atmosphere of classic 60's and 70's music, but without the inspiration to pull it off.

In conclusion, this is a great up and coming band and their material is consistently interesting. Their songwriting is a bit hit and miss, but I admire their adventurousness. "River" and "Creatures" are truly awesome, and I'm definitely going to check out their first 3 records. Recommended. 4 stars.

This band is probably one of my favorite discoveries of the year. They're so great at making things really organic and folky, but they also occasionally implement really great electronic flourishes and larger orchestration. They love the old but they infuse it with the new. And they do it in a way that if you had never listened to folk, you wouldn't be sure if folk came before or after Akron/Family. In other words it's less of an indie schtick and more of a thoughtful fusion. The usage of family in the band name makes me imagine a resolution between 2 brothers that share a profound love of music but within different genres. "Gravelly Mountain on the Moon" is a great example. It starts out being this nice little plucky folk number but evolves into this sweeping rock jam without you questioning it. In a sonic climate where listeners have an increasingly shorter attention span, their ability to keep things interesting will likely bring them substantial rewards.

These guys are great. I first heard them just a few weeks ago on KCRW's morning becomes eclectic, and I immediately fell in love with their music and their hippie spirit. The songs are so alive and have such a spontaneous spirit, though they are expertly crafted. This was the first album of Akron/family I bought. I just ordered "love is simple" as well. I think I'll eventually end up with their whole collection, and can't wait to see them live. River is the most amazingly heart stopping love song I think I've heard in a long time. The lyrics on this CD are very poetic and the music is guaranteed to take you for a ride through the dreamiest places of your soul. Just when you're being soothed into a mystical lullaby, you'll be rushed awake by a tide of stirring guitars and their own special brand of jam which I can't quite find words for. Buy this CD and you'll find yourself dropping life's dull realities like clothes at the shore of a psychedelic swimming hole. Once in you won't want to get out.

I really enjoyed Akron/Family's tenure on Young God Records (but then, I am a fan of Michael Gira) and "Love is Simple", in some ways, was their crowning achievement on the label (although the s/t debut, along with their live act, is why I became a fan).
I figured that, after "Love is Simple", they would either take an acoustic/calm turn or a heavily experimental path...In some ways, they do both on "Set 'em wild...", but not in the way you'd think. With the departure of Ryan, they have both lost something
and gained something--but I can't put my finger on what. That is both my problem with the release as well as what is fresh and intriguing. In multiple listens, a few tracks really stand out ("many ghosts", "everyone is guilty", "gravelly mountains..")
and the the rest of the album remains in limbo. Perhaps this is because I so enjoyed "Love is Simple" and wanted them to explore some of those structures more. On the other hand, you can't expect a band this talented and original to stay put. What you end up with, then, is a step into somewhat unfamiliar territory (but a place that contains enough familiar landscapes--i.e. the vocal harmonies, guitar adventurousness
and the somewhat underrated percussion of Dana Jenssen). And once you're there, its not all that bad.

The promotional materials for this album say this is not the Akron/Family you think you know...Actually, it is -- hybridization of styles that shouldn't work but does; moments of soaring, epic brilliance punctuated by some outright noise.

The main complaint I've heard about this album is that it isn't Love is Simple, and while that is true, it's probably an unreasonable expectation.

Akron/Family is one of the most brilliant bands out there right now. I thought that "They Will Appear" was incredible, but when I realized that the lyrics at the end were cribbed from Black Elk Speaks? That just takes it to a whole 'nother level.

I have been an admirer of Akron/Family for years. I've got all their albums, have seen them in concert several times, etc. For reasons that aren't quite clear, this latest album really isn't doing it for me. All the usual Akron/Family stylistic traits are there... quirky existential lyrics, sound levels veering from quietly meditative to prolonged loud assault, intermittently countrified instrumentation.... but it just isn't adding up. Could the fact that Michael Gira didn't produce this record have something to do with its problems? I was never wild about Gira's own songs, but it might very well be that he was instrumental in making Akron/Family so compelling on their prior disks. Or could the bigger issue be Ryan Vanderhoof's departure from the band? Whatever the cause, "Love is Simple" and earlier albums were meaningfully better, in my view, than this one.

My disenchantment with "Set Em Wild..." is not the usual "uh, the band has changed its style, and I don't like this new style" -- Akron/Family is using the same musical vocabulary but their execution of it is much less effective here than in previous efforts. They've kept the shell of their music (the facade, really), but much of the soul has apparently moved on.

I have listened to all of Akron's CD and this one is definitely as good as its predecessors. I have always always really like their Meek Warrior album. This one reminds me a lot of it. This album is just soo enjoyable. It has rock, jazz, folk, and experimentation all put together in a way that isn't too hectic or forceful. Every song is played with real emotion that you can feel and gives you that feeling that music is supposed to give you. That is very rare thing with a lot of today's music. Either way, get this album, and decide for yourself. If you like it, I'm glad and you should listen to their other stuff as well.

This album is incredible as far as indie music is concerned. The Alps and Their Orange Evergreen will be stuck in your head for weeks. Buy it!