Released in May 2009,Set ‘Em Wild, Set ‘Em Free is the fourth album by Akron/Family.
Opening with a groove unlike anything Akron/Family have ever laid to tape, the first track on Set ‘Em Wild, Set ‘Em Free kicks off a new chapter for the band.
The percussive thunder and anthemic electric guitars of “Everyone is Guilty” make a bold statement, touching on everything from Fela Kuti to Sly and the Family Stone in under six psychedelic minutes. This is not the Akron/Family you think you know.
As “Everyone is Guilty” fades into “River” the band returns to something they have always been known for: writing a timeless hook. “River” delivers Ali Farka Toure-like guitar work, but this song is all about the infectious vocal melody. As the album unfolds, Akron/Family’s musical explorations are virtually without limits. Whether it’s the celebratory sing-along gospel of “Gravelly Mountains of the Moon”,the lush folk sounds of “Sun Will Shine (Warmth of the Sunship Version)”,or “MBF”,which lies at the intersection of primal punk rock and heavy free jazz, Akron/Family are a band boiling over with ideas.
