Akron/Family – Love is Simple
Akron/Family have always tended to remain in the background as a band, most recently as Angels of Light’s backing band. But it was always their half of the split EP they did with Angels of Light that I enjoyed most. Everyone in the band basically sings everything and it just seems like they’re having one heck of a time playing and singing their songs, both on the album and live. Their new album, Love is Simple, is just as good as anything else they’ve put out and I’m loving it. “Ed is a Portal” is one of many songs recently that have completely thrown my top 20 songs of 2007 list out of whack and made me seriously rethink my choices. It’s 7+ minutes of happy chanting, jangly guitar, driving drums, clapping, strings, and that unique sound that only Akron/Family can pull off. If you have a chance to see them live, do it. And if you have a chance to check out Love is Simple, do that as well, if only for the epic song “Ed is a Portal”.
RIYL: The Polyphonic Spree if they lived in the woods and made music during the Woodstock era.
To give you an idea of how great their live show is:
Ed is a Portal live (bad sound, but can you imagine seeing this live?)
[youtube Cq3h2iCRiAI]
Raising the Sparks live (best video showing them live)
[youtube mR66MYt03Q0]
Tour Dates Left:
U.S. and Cananda
Thu, Oct 18, 2007, Richards on Richards, Vancouver, BC
Fri, Oct 19, 2007, Crocodile Cafe, Seattle, WA
Sat, Oct 20, 2007, Doug Fir Lounge, Portland, OR
Official Site / Young God Records / Buy
Bonus:
I’ll Be On the Water (from Akron/Family)
Raising the Sparks (from Angels of Light split)
