Akron/Family & Angels Of Light
by Akron/Family & Angels Of Light
Metascore
81

Universal acclaim - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 15
  3. Negative: 0 out of 15
  1. AllMusic
    70
    Pair Akron/Family with Angels of Light and what you get, apologies to the label-sensitive, is Grade A art rock.
  2. Alternative Press
    80
    The collaboration is far from perfect... but the players take plenty of risks, ultimately emerging with a new sense of discovery and a whiff of greatness. [Feb 2006, p.120]
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  3. cokemachineglow
    83
    Gira's half is solid, but Akron/Family can't help but demand most of the credit for the record's artistic heft and overall cohesiveness.
  5. Dusted Magazine
    80
    Cheers to the second installment of this beautiful friendship.
  6. Mojo
    80
    Heady, bodily, beautiful stuff. [Jan 2006, p.126]
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  7. Neumu.net
    95
    A rare, perfect instance of collaboration, where two distinct sets of talents merge into something larger than its parts.
  8. Pitchfork
    80
    None of the tracks are more noteworthy than anything on Sing "Other People", Angels' latest and straightest LP, and the foreshortened format disables development. But Gira's fatherly measuredness is a nice foil to Akron's hyperkinetic mini-opera.
  9. PopMatters
    70
    Gira creates music that draws on tradition, but constantly strives to be challenging, and in this album, as on Other People he reaches a good balance between the accessible and the haunted stop sign. The only true failing, really, is placing it after Akron/Family's insanely energetic series.
  10. Q Magazine
    70
    It's a place where sweet harmony vocals and extreme rock meet, like Crosby, Stills & Nash through an art-punk shredder. [Dec 2005, p.148]
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  11. Splendid
    90
    It is completely different from either Akron/Family's or Angels of Light's work from earlier this year, and in Akron's case, represents a startling pace of artistic development.
  12. Stylus Magazine
    100
    A complete album of epic scale, musical significance and a highly prescient lesson in listening, participating and challenging.
  13. Tiny Mix Tapes
    80
    This split album breaks new ground for Akron/Family while continuing to affirm Michael Gira as a reputable singer/songwriter.
  14. Under The Radar
    90
    One of the year's most unlikely breakthroughs. [#11, p.105]
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Awards & Rankings

56
#56 Best Album of 2005

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 8 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 8
  3. Negative: 1 out of 8
  1. TomJ
    Jan 26, 2006
    1
    there's nothing beautiful about 8 hipsters groaning, making abrasive noise, and singing horribly off-key. this album gives me a headache.
  2. MDavis
    Jan 12, 2006
    8
    This album is incredible. The first 8 songs from Akron/Family are bracing and beautiful. You will jarred by the way the beauty of the opening This album is incredible. The first 8 songs from Akron/Family are bracing and beautiful. You will jarred by the way the beauty of the opening track "Awake" slams into the mind-blowing rock of "Moment" and from there it's hard to quit listening.… Full Review »
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