Akron/Family’s second album for Young God is a more rounded affair compared to their first. A wider range of songwriting is on offer along with a better production. It isn’t as instantly loveable as their debut but even with its short running time there is a lot to work with as a listener. There is a little more energy here than before which spices up the mix nicely.
My first time hearing Akron/Family was at one of their concerts which meant that when I got around to hearing their debut album I found that they had held back a lot on that record (due to them having to record those songs in their apartment leading to volume restrictions). Meek Warrior shows a little more of the Akron/Family that captured my attention live.
The opening song, “Blessing Force,” starts with an infectious drum beat being belted out with gusto. The band chop and change style and direction all over the place with the volume well and truly turned up. “The Rider (Dolphin Song)” is another up tempo and noisy jam that is probably the best thing Akron/Family have put out on CD so far. It sounds a little cheesy at times but I think that adds to its charm.
A good chunk of the album consists of the gentle country influenced songwriting that their debut showcased. However, I found the softer songs on Meek Warrior slightly less inviting than expected. They’re far from bad songs but after the excitement of the first track they seem a little safe. However a couple of them stand out as being treasures like the title track which sounds like it was recorded on a sunny beach along the Mediterranean, the clapping and joyous rhythm brings a smile to my face each time I hear the song. The closing song “Love and Space” is also worth mentioning which is a perfect way to end an album. The primarily vocal-led song again captures a lot of warmth and shiny feelings but doesn’t become a schmaltzy campfire sing- along.
The album is definitely a slow burner but thanks to it being quite short, giving it multiple listens doesn’t take too long. At 35 minutes it ends almost before it begins, it seems especially short due to two of the tracks taking up nearly half the running time. Apart from its brevity, Meek Warrior is another delightful album from Akron/Family. It is a natural progression for them but hopefully their next release will be both louder and longer.
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