Meek Warrior
- Akron/Family
- Band Name: Akron/Family
- Record Label: Young God
- Release Date: Oct 3, 2006
- Critic Score
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This is a special band. [#15]
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80They entwine eastern canticles and fuzzy finger picking and electronic trickery like no other.
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80A feverish set that borders on near-delirium. [Nov 2006, p.100]
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It's filled with sophisticated yet welcoming changes in texture, dynamic, and form/genre that seem effortless, not forced or idiosyncratic for its own sake.
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Meek Warrior’s seven tracks form a sprawling tapestry where every guitar pluck, clarinet wail or joyous shout seems part of some euphoric cosmic plan.
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Despite its scant 35-minute duration, Meek Warrior distills the entire history of experimental pop. Just as impressively, it finally bottles the frantic eclecticism and The Gods Must Be Crazy absurdity of the Family’s live show.
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80Every song has a unique feel, every song sounds meaningful, and every song is absolutely worth hearing.
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Close listening is rewarding--the boys have a knack for crafting intricate songs that lean heavily on texture and subtle interplay--but perhaps a bit too gentle.
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72The Akrons' striking group harmonies are at a greater premium here than before, but the grainy, more intimate production retains a sense of communal participation.
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While the rawk portion of Meek Warrior... is a bit of a letdown, Akron/Family hasn't lost its knack for making pretty with the acoustics.
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The problem, then, is that “Blessing Force” sucks and most of the rest of the songs imitate with varying success the music of the band’s staggering 2005 output.
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For a record bristling with ideas and extraterrestrial fervour the overall result is a little confused.
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Each track feels more like a costume change than a true exploration of new waters, as the group's newfound love of blustery free-for-all psych ultimately has more to do with the members' broad record collections than their ability to function as versatile musicians.
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60There's still a welcome sense of spontaneity in the way the songs unfold; it just occurs at a Sunday-morning pace, which should make Meek Warrior the perfect soundtrack for watering houseplants.
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50It never quite captures the other-worldliness that it clearly seeks. [Nov 2006, p.96]
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40Amid snatches of skewed beauty, it seems Akron/Family have lost a sense of who they really are. [Dec 2006, p.101]
User score distribution:
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Positive: 2 out of 3
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Mixed: 0 out of 3
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Negative: 1 out of 3
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iand8
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RickyS2
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LouiseH9Once again Akron/Family reaches across the threshold and bring us along to show us new and amazing fields of joy. Lovely