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Akron/Family

Love Is Simple

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by Marcel_Ledbetter on 12/14/2007

Akron/Family describe themselves as Progressive-Freestyle-Gospel. Most record stores are going to file this effort under the neo-folk, psychedelic "beardrock" movement that has been sweeping the hipster scene of-late. Love Is Simple certainly underscores the accuracy of this description and categorization. But, these adjectives do little to really describe these twelve tracks.

Love Is Simple is a lengthy 57-minute roller-coaster ride through primal, drum-circley beats and rhythms (track 2: "Ed Is A Portal"); tender, soft ballads(track 7: Crickets); heavy-hitting-jug-band rock and roll(track 4: "I've Got Some Friends"); and fun, hippie, campfire holler-alongs (track 1: "Love, Love, Love Everyone.") Some tracks are self-contained rides all on their own. All three of the tracks: "Lake Song/New Ceremonial Music For Moms", "There's So Many Colors", and "Of All The Things" are each over 7.5 minutes and take you through Akron Family's Progressive/Freestyle/Gospel landscape from beginning to end.

Multi-part harmonies play a central role in many of these tracks, and these boys can deliver. Although Ryan Vanderhoof recently departed the band, leaving a core threesome: Seth Olinsky, Miles Seaton, and Dana Janssen; all four members step to the mic, and many times, all at once. The delivery is more spontaneous and organic than tightly practiced and polished (think more "The Band" than "The Beach Boys"), but it adds a wonderful dimension and depth to this album. These guys sound like they are having a ball playing each song, and listening to the album makes you feel like you are joining in on the fun.

Love is Simple is Akron/Family's latest release, and my first introduction to the band. However, their discography is three albums deeper:
* Akron/Family (March 2005; Young God Records)
* Akron/Family & Angels of Light (October 2005; Young God Records) - split album with Angels of Light.
* Meek Warrior (October 2006; Young God Records) - a collaboration with a longtime hero, percussionist Hamid Drake
I am looking forward to checking out some of their earlier work. If anything like Love Is Simple, I'll be in for a treat.

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My Mixtape Phenomena [MP3]
My Mixtape Ed Is a Portal [MP3]

Album Details

Year: 2007
Label: Young God Records
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Tracklist

1	Love, Love, Love (Everyone)
2	Ed Is a Portal
3	Don't Be Afraid, You're Already Dead
4	I've Got Some Friends
5	Lake Song/New Ceremonial Music for Moms
6	There's So Many Colors
7	Crickets
8	Phenomena
9	Pony's OG
10	Of All The Things
11	Love, Love, Love 2 (Reprise)

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Akron, Family, Love Is Simple (with Bonus DVD) New from: $11.61 Used from: $10.56

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