Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free

Akron/Family | Format: MP3 Download

Product Details

• Original Release Date: April 30, 2009
• Release Date: April 30, 2009
• Label: Dead Oceans
• Copyright: 2009 Dead Oceans
• Total Length: 49:40
• Genres:
• ASIN: B0027M8VNC
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #74,771 Paid in MP3 Albums (See Top 100 Paid in MP3 Albums)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "You and I and the flame make three", August 23, 2009

By 

The Pitiful Anonymous "Mazaro" (the Acres of Skin) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Set Em Wild, Set Em Free (Audio CD)

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.

4.0 out of 5 stars a warm fire for the winter, December 15, 2009

By 

Samuel Gentle (New Orleans, LA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Set Em Wild, Set Em Free (Audio CD)

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.

5.0 out of 5 stars Haven't found a group I like this much in years, September 20, 2009

By 

suncentaur (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Set Em Wild, Set Em Free (Audio CD)

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.