Though each member of the band — Miles Seaton, Seth Olinsky, Dana Janssen and formerly Ryan Vanderhoof — can be relegated to loosely defined roles (drummer, guitarist, bassist, vocalist), all of them play several instruments and sing, as evidenced by their shows and recorded material. When playing live, the band makes prominent use of improvisation and vocal harmonies. On their self-titled debut record, field recordings of a creaking chair, thunderclaps and the white noise of a television find their way alongside psychedelic and electronic elements, guitars and a glockenspiel.
In addition to their solo debut in 2005, the band played behind Michael Gira on his Angels of Light project as well as splitting a full length CD with Angels of Light.
In 2006, the band released an EP, “Meek Warrior,” a collaboration with master drummer/hero Hamid Drake which contained both more traditional folk music such as the lovely "Gone Beyond" and a pair of throbbing electric guitar monsters in “The Rider (Dolphin Song)” and the epic “Blessing Force,” which ends with an exploration into free jazz.
Sometime between the completion of [2007 release] Love Is Simple and Akron/Family’s 2007 U.S. tour, Vanderhoof left Akron/Family to live in a Buddhist Dharma center in the Midwest.
The band has also released several tour EPs featuring demos and other recordings. In May of 2009, the trio released Set 'em Wild, Set 'em Free. This album serves as a blend of the previous albums with more acoustic-folk songs like "Set 'em Free," to fusion freak-outs like "Gravelly Mountains of the Moon."
In January of 2011 they released their album, "S/T II: The Cosmic Birth And Journey Of Shinju TNT ."
Akron/Family's sixth studio album, Sub Verses, was released on April 30, 2013 on Dead Oceans. The band toured for the album from January 29 to December 8, 2013. After the tour the band decided to focus on personal projects, leaving the door open for a possible reunion in the future.
[untitled]
Akron/Family Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lost and left to die
Raise your head for love is passing by
Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus and live
Now your burden's lifted and carried far away
So sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus and live
And like a newborn baby, don't be afraid to crawl
And remember when we walk, sometimes we fall
So fall on Jesus
Fall on Jesus
Fall on Jesus and live
Sometimes the way is lonely
It's deep and filled with pain
So if your sky is dark and coursed with rain
And cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus and live
Oh, and when the love spills over and music fills the night
And when you can't contain your joy inside
And dance for Jesus
Dance for Jesus
Dance for Jesus and live
With your final heartbeat, kiss the world goodbye
And go in peace, and laugh on glory's side
And fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus and live
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus and live
The lyrics to Akron/Family's (untitled) embody themes of redemption, faith, and finding solace in Jesus's love. The opening lines present a vulnerable and broken individual, someone who is weak and wounded, and abandoned to their own demise. However, the lyrics offer a glimpse of hope as love passes by, urging the listener to raise their head and embrace it.
The chorus repeatedly calls for the listener to come, sing, and fall on Jesus. This signifies an invitation to turn to Jesus and find salvation, as though Jesus is the solution to their pain and struggles. The image of a newborn baby crawling without fear suggests that even when starting from scratch, without any knowledge or experience, it's essential not to be afraid to begin the journey of faith.
The song acknowledges that the path may sometimes be lonely, filled with pain, and accompanied by dark and stormy skies. However, it emphasizes the power of crying out to Jesus during these difficult moments. The lyrics convey the message that by reaching out to Jesus, one can find comfort and strength even in the midst of their darkest experiences.
As the song progresses, it shifts to a more joyful and celebratory tone. The music fills the night, and the lyrics encourage the listener to dance for Jesus, expressing their overwhelming joy and gratitude. The final stanza signifies the end of life, suggesting that when the time comes, the listener can face death with a sense of peace, knowing that they will reunite with Jesus in glory.
Overall, the lyrics of (untitled) convey a message of hope, redemption, and the transformative power of Jesus's love in the midst of life's trials and tribulations.
Line by Line Meaning
Weak and wounded sinner
A person who is feeble and emotionally damaged
Lost and left to die
Abandoned and without hope
Raise your head for love is passing by
Look up because love is coming your way
Come to Jesus
Seek salvation in Jesus
Now your burden's lifted and carried far away
Your troubles have been taken away and no longer weigh you down
Precious blood has washed away the stain
The sacrifice of Jesus has cleansed you of sin
So sing to Jesus
Sing praises to Jesus
And like a newborn baby, don't be afraid to crawl
Do not fear starting anew and taking small steps
And remember when we walk, sometimes we fall
We should keep in mind that we may stumble along the way
So fall on Jesus
Rely on Jesus for support and guidance
Sometimes the way is lonely
At times, the path can be isolating
It's deep and filled with pain
It can be intense and accompanied by suffering
So if your sky is dark and coursed with rain
If your life feels gloomy and filled with hardship
And cry to Jesus
Cry out to Jesus for comfort and solace
Oh, and when the love spills over and music fills the night
When love becomes overwhelming and joyous melodies surround us
And when you can't contain your joy inside
When you are unable to hold back your happiness
And dance for Jesus
Express your joy through dancing for Jesus
With your final heartbeat, kiss the world goodbye
When your life comes to an end, say goodbye to the world
And go in peace, and laugh on glory's side
Depart peacefully and find joy in the afterlife
And fly to Jesus
Ascend to Jesus in heaven
Fly to Jesus
Fly towards Jesus
Fly to Jesus and live
Approach Jesus and find true life
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: CHRIS RICE, CHRISTOPHER M. RICE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Rowffy
Don t bother looking for a chair
Just throw your coat down anywhere
I m sorry I m so poorly dressed
I gave up hoping for a guest
Whoa-oh-oh
You say you got a weight to bare
A cross you carry everywhere
I said I know and it ain t fair
I tell you you can leave that here
Whoa-oh-oh...
And I always wondered
How you carried all that grief
I know it wasn t right to saddle you with mine
My life, my identity I lay them at your feet
And stand here broken in the mirror of your eyes
'Til the morning...
The old prayers written on your skin
They're singing mass out in the yard
They heard that you re the one I want
That I want...
And I m about to burn alive
You still won t look me in the eye
I'll turn the light out if you want
If you feel safer in the dark
Whoa-oh-oh...
I came to you an orphan
But I m living here a thief
If I can only find the door I ll go tonight
My life, my identity I lay them at your feet
In just the hope that you d let me come inside
Richard Nicholls
My very best to Miles' family, especially to Will.
liviaontheroad
what a beautiful music you left us with, Miles! thank you
Ryan Cooke
RIP Miles. Thank you for the amazing records. Akron were one of the best/if not the best live bands I've seen in 25 years of going to shows. Miles was an immense, joyous, profoundly inspiring performer.
The Lord of Entropy
RIP Miles. Thank you all for making music that has meant so much to me since I first heard Awake/Moment.
Fathoms2004
this music is the human spirit distilled to it's essentials.
Bill Cole
To the cat who posted this....you seem to always hit the nail on the head with good stuff! Keep it up!
Rowffy
Don t bother looking for a chair
Just throw your coat down anywhere
I m sorry I m so poorly dressed
I gave up hoping for a guest
Whoa-oh-oh
You say you got a weight to bare
A cross you carry everywhere
I said I know and it ain t fair
I tell you you can leave that here
Whoa-oh-oh...
And I always wondered
How you carried all that grief
I know it wasn t right to saddle you with mine
My life, my identity I lay them at your feet
And stand here broken in the mirror of your eyes
'Til the morning...
The old prayers written on your skin
They're singing mass out in the yard
They heard that you re the one I want
That I want...
And I m about to burn alive
You still won t look me in the eye
I'll turn the light out if you want
If you feel safer in the dark
Whoa-oh-oh...
I came to you an orphan
But I m living here a thief
If I can only find the door I ll go tonight
My life, my identity I lay them at your feet
In just the hope that you d let me come inside
Geo Orobo
I've only just discovered Akron/Family. Such a tragic loss!!
Eugene Chappuis
I miss you Miles. it been too long brother! this is amazing!!!
715CREEKS
I had always wondered how you carried all that grief I know it wasn't right to saddle you with mine My life, my identity, I lay them at your feet And stand here broken in the mirror of your eyes Until the morning,