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Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free - Akron/Family
Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free Image
Metascore
78 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 25 Critics What's this?

User Score
7.8 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 9 Ratings

Your Score
10 out of 10
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  • Summary: This is the first album for the trio since Ryan Vanderhoof left the band in the fall of 2007.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 25
  3. Negative: 0 out of 25
  1. PopMatters
    90
    Both "Meek Warrior" and "Love Is Simple" are strong albums, but there's a sense of unfulfillment in them--Akron/Family seems to be testing itself in new areas rather than completing a task. On new album Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free, though, that changes, as the band delivers a masterpiece.
  2. Prefix Magazine
    90
    On their fourth album, Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free, they've simultaneously intensified and refined that blend, even as they've shaved off one of their original four members.
  3. Uncut
    60
    On the fifth album this East Coast trio make it patently clear this is not the same band whose 2005 debut placed them in the rustic shadow of former Young God Records labelmate Devendra Banhart. [Jun 2009, p.83]
    All this publication's reviews

See all 25 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. TJ
    9
    While it bored me at times, I believe this is one of their best. Gravelly Mountains of the Moon is a sublime track.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  2. ChristianP.
    9
    one of the best of the year. they've grown immensely.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  3. VaughnA.
    4
    These guys reek of the same kind of, "oh don't you just love what we're doing", bullshit that makes me despise Conor Oberst so much. If I want self-adoration I'll go to Bare Naked Ladies concert.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes

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