Set ‘Em Wild, Set ‘Em Free
Akron/Family
Score:81
Reviewer: Justin Pearsall
Label: Dead Oceans (USA), Spunk (Australia), Crammed Discs (Europe)
Reviewed: May 14th '09, Released:2009
If there was a criticism to be levelled at Akron/Family’s last album, Love is Simple, it was that it was simply too far out. While this ensured originality, it sometimes stunted the flow. The great strength of Set ‘Em Wild, Set ‘Em Free is its ability to correct this without comprising on the uniqueness of the band. With a clear parallel to the record’s name, Akron/Family do not stick to convention, but neither do they snub it, proving that they can be both unrestrained and purposeful.
Some of the best moments on the album are unsurprisingly the freak-out, psychedelic jams and softer, harmony-based folk/country moments that dominated Meek Warrior and Love is Simple. Opener ‘Everyone is Guilty’ and ‘Gravelly Mountains of the Moon’ are what Akron/Family are most known for: genre-bending, progressive breakouts. Both are great, with ‘Everyone is Guilty’ squeezing in Abbey Road-esque Beatles moments, against Hard Rock riffs, horn solos and string flourishes, it may be the best track on a very good release. On the quieter side ‘River’ and ‘Sun Will Shine’ are standouts. ‘River’, with its world music undertones, should be led as the first single and while it is not entirely indicative of the album surrounding it (what could be?), it is a great representation of the band’s melodic and instrumental talent.
At points where the album may look like dragging, an interlude, some instrumentation, the most subtle of changes, carries it to another direction. For instance, the song ‘The Alps & Their Orange Evergreen’ is relatively linear for the band. While it is as genuinely pretty as anything Akron/Family has done previously, the warm conclusion and gradual build lifts it above its origins. Akron/Family have also expanded their use of spatial instrumentation and electronic elements, both of which are beneficial to the record.
Akron/Family have produced a great album in Set ‘Em Wild, Set ‘Em Free. It will satisfy those who like the band for their originality or for their melodic, folkier leanings and it proves that they can handle both simultaneously and with great skill.
