Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Progressive......, January 20, 2006
As this world gets older, and novelties increase along with our exposure to everything, you must consider that everything you are exposed to influences you in SOME way. This is an album that could have only been made in the 21st century. It does not suffer as a result. It is honest and at times, very sad. And yet, it does not wallow in self-pity or depression - it sounds both somber AND proud. Some of the production techniques are unusual (I love when artists experiment), and yet, quite often, it's usually just a voice and a guitar with ambient sound. Pretty minimal sounding to be the work of a band. This tells me that they didn't feel they had to play all the time - they're secure in their silences.
Like a lot of modern recordings, it triggers a lot of emotions, sometimes complex and contradictory. So it's very human. Which automatically propels it over a whole slew of computerized-sounding assembly-line CD's by so-called "artists". In some ways, it's of its time, and in others, it's timeless. I'm not sure how well I was able to review this....I think as life becomes more complex and artists' work reflect this, it might be harder to define 60 minutes of sounds in 2 paragraphs. But basically, this CD affects me deeply. They are a band to watch out for (in fact, I'm going to see them tonight!).
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing experimental folk record, April 25, 2005
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.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
melancholic lilt, December 15, 2005
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"...
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