Akron/Family

The departure of Ryan Vanderhoof reveals he may have held the keys to his band's spaceship and forgot to make copies before leaving. Newly trio-ed and moved to Dead Oceans, A/F reintroduce themselves with first single "Everyone is Guilty," which sounds like they may have spent some time clubbing with !!! between albums. The sharper focus and abundance of new instruments definitely mark a new chapter in the band's history, but this is one of those rare cases where more accessible isn't synonymous with diminished. "The Alps & Their Orange Evergreen" signals that Vanderhoof wasn't the only hippie in the group and "Gravelly Mountains of the Moon" takes the trademark A/F shout-along to new heights of ecstasy. It's not as risky a record as we're used to from the band but while their more astral tendencies broke through boundaries, they could also test patience. This is a new family with their eyes to the stars, feet on the ground, fire in their belly, ready to dance.