New Akron/Family - "River"

You've heard "Everyone Is Guilty," the opener from the retooled, tighter, and relocated Akron/Family's forthcoming fourth full-length Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free. It began with spare junkyard percussion then entered into backwoods funk and various vocal strains, highlighting the trio's harmonic interplay as soaring shouts, mellower off-handed melodies, etc. It's in every way an anthem. On the album (and in our post queue) it's followed by "River," which opens with shakers and a vocal line that sounds like Paul Simon for a moment before ushering in a softer, pastoral, whistle, guitar, and horn-lined taste of what is, at least to these two ears, the guys' best collection to date. Each track finds them operating on all burners without succumbing to sloppiness, as they have sometimes in the past.

Akron Family - "River" (MP3)
(Via P4K)

Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free is out 5/5 on Dead Oceans.

[Photo by Sebastian Mlynarski]

Posted at 10:11 AM by brandon in MP3
Tags: Akron Family

10 Comments

fuckin niiiiice

Posted by: jOE at 04/06/09 10:18 AM  | Reply
Score = -1

Been dragging me feet on listening to this album, but I'm all about it after hearing that.

Posted by: Deezey at 04/06/09 10:22 AM  | Reply
Score = 0

this is by far the best song on the album.

Posted by: The Middle Distance Runner at 04/06/09 10:54 AM  | Reply
Score = -2

yeah this is a great song, but its pretty much all downhill from here for the rest of the album.

Posted by: scott at 04/06/09 11:08 AM  | Reply
Score = 1

There isn't one song on this album i don't like. It infuses everything they've done thus far in a weirdly cohesive way. The album slows down when you want it to, and when you start thinking its too quiet and acoustic it kicks your ass just in time. It's perfect. The last two songs are perfect and sum up the feeling of their career to this point.

Posted by: Cherepaha at 04/06/09 11:24 AM  | Reply
Score = -1

I just can't believe this is akron/family. am I alone here? I love it, but it sounds nothing like them.

Posted by: joy at 04/06/09 11:55 AM  | Reply
Score = 1

this is the best band in america but the album is pretty tame (set em wild?????) wish they'd get back to stuff like 'moment' and 'raising the sparks."

Posted by: megafan at 04/06/09 4:47 PM  | Reply
Score = 0

Ohh look! Another multi-plethora-instrumental bearded man band.

BORING!!!!!!! seriously.

Posted by: tlangston82 at 04/07/09 12:39 AM  | Reply
Score = -2

ankron/family = the dank sh*t

Posted by: RubberSoul at 04/07/09 9:54 PM  | Reply
Score = 0

They don't look good and sound mediocre. If this is the best song of the album, I don't think I'd want to buy it.

Posted by: TSAO at 05/29/09 10:30 PM  | Reply
Score = 0