#17: Akron/Family

Akron/Family: Akron/Family
Magical stuff, this. I liken these neo-hippies to a more rurally-inclined Animal Collective (though I have no idea where they are from, except that it's not Akron) , and their first self-titled album is worthy of that comparison. The album starts out with a set of pastoral interludes, but then gets into more traditional song structures. "Running/Returning" is definitely one of the best songs of the year, and "Lumen" and "Shoes" are gems as well. I have yet to get a copy of their recent disc with Angels of Light, but am certainly looking forward to it, and much bigger things from Akron/Family...