Sub Verses offers such a disciplined sense of exploration, multivalent nuance, and commitment in its production and performance; it stands out in an already very distinguished catalog.
Sub Verses may initially scare off the casual listener, but the album reveals itself to be an accomplished work once given time.
These songs are anthemic, like courtside music for weekend warriors of off-the-grid living, though they reveal Akron/Family as a surprisingly typical rock troupe, rallying around cutting guitar figures and frenzied drum work.
The explosion continues here, infused with a bit more darkness than these guys typically conjure up-heaviness, even.
'Sub Verses' is an album in acceptable disorder. The instrumentation, vocalist and mood change from one minute to the next, which makes for a wobbly but addictive listen.
They clearly want to sound big, but they lose some much-needed intimacy in attempting that.
While their stylistic shift towards pop works, on their discordant tracks, you wish they wouldn’t have half-assed the darkness.
There’s a stability at the heart of these songs, one we haven’t seem from Akron/Family ever, not even in their acoustic-leaning early days.
Due to that cratered impact, everything on the album sounds urgent, an exhilarating feeling that takes a while to escape.
Once more, this record is less folk and more experimental and pop. But this time it is executed really well. It is psychedelic in a way and as the album went on it actually got better. It is gentle, soothing, and a really relaxing album that I recommend. The last four tracks are great.
Best Track: When I Was Young