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.
09. sorrow boy
Akron/Family Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With so much mind
You look so tired
With glassy eyes
Your quiet pain
I feel the hum
Beneath the surface
A steady drum
When you've been wronged
You heart is aching
But you're still strong
Come back alive
When stars collide
You can feel the universe
Behind your eyes
And you find your body
In between the waves
A sonic haven
For the lonely days
Your mood so mellow
How your colors bloom
You steal the evening
From an empty room
And I might not of seen you
If I looked too hard
But I just gave up
And here you are
You'll sweet the sound
And break the melody
That was already broken
Now it's fixed for me
Not everyone's the way you are
You are a blood star
The opening lines of Akron/Family's Sorrow Boy express empathy and understanding towards a person struggling with a troubled mind. The boy is exhausted, his eyes glazed over, and he carries the weight of untold pain on his shoulders. Despite his suffering, there is a sense of resilience emanating from him - like a child who has been wronged but still stands tall. The song seems to address the struggles of mental illness, and the loneliness and isolation that comes with it.
However, the song's message isn't entirely bleak. There are moments of hope that shine through the melancholy. When the stars collide, the universe behind the boy's eyes becomes apparent, and he discovers a sonic haven within himself. Here, he can be at peace and find comfort in the melodic sounds that he creates. The song shows the beauty in the darkness, and through music, we can find solace.
Overall, the sorrow boy is portrayed as a person who is complex and multi-dimensional, with a rich inner life that is full of contradictions. Through the use of vivid imagery and poetic language, Akron/Family presents an empathetic and nuanced portrayal of mental illness.
Line by Line Meaning
Sorrowed boy
Addressing a boy who appears troubled and sad
With so much mind
Admiring the boy's intellect and deep thoughts
You look so tired
Observing that the boy seems exhausted and weary
With glassy eyes
Noticing that the boy's eyes appear watery and unfocused
Your quiet pain
Acknowledging that the boy is experiencing hidden emotional distress
I feel the hum
Sensing the underlying tension and unease in the boy
Beneath the surface
Referring to the boy's inner turmoil and struggles
A steady drum
Comparing the boy's anxiety to a rhythmic beat
You're like a child
Noting that the boy's reactions to hurt are reminiscent of a young kid
When you've been wronged
When someone has hurt you
You heart is aching
Indicating the pain and sadness in the boy's heart
But you're still strong
Appreciating the boy's resilience and strength despite his struggles
Come back alive
Encouraging the boy to revive and feel alive again
When stars collide
In powerful and unexpected moments
You can feel the universe
Suggesting that the boy can sense the bigger picture and cosmic events
Behind your eyes
Within the boy's thoughts and perceptions
And you find your body
Realizing the physical sensations in your body
In between the waves
Amidst emotional and mental highs and lows
A sonic haven
A place of refuge and comfort
For the lonely days
During moments of isolation and solitude
Your mood so mellow
Describing the boy's calm and serene demeanor
How your colors bloom
Appreciating the boy's vibrant personality and unique qualities
You steal the evening
Commanding attention and capturing the atmosphere
From an empty room
Creating life and energy in otherwise quiet and dull space
And I might not of seen you
Acknowledging that the boy may have gone unnoticed
If I looked too hard
If you searched too intently
But I just gave up
Stopping the search and accepting the boy's presence
And here you are
Grateful for the boy's existence and impact
You'll sweet the sound
Enhancing and enriching the music and melody
And break the melody
Disrupting the status quo or norm
That was already broken
Emphasizing that the previous melody was already flawed
Now it's fixed for me
Imagining that the new sound is better and improved
Not everyone's the way you are
Noting that the boy is special and unique
You are a blood star
Complimenting the boy's brilliance and radiance
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Rebecca Pound
I love this, thank you.
allyson schultz
wow very breathtaking
djbirdbath
this song feels like the end of my life
Willie G
what are the chords in this song?
Fröken Keke
Not everyone's the way you are, you are a Blastoise.
Dru123
i like