The Avett Brothers: CD Review & Thoughts

The Pitt News Link Is Here. Grade: B+

"Indie roots. Folk-punk. Grunge-grass. Call it what you want, but The Avett Brothers mix rock and folk like few others.

The band’s acoustic origins lie in experimental songs that Scott Avett played with friends while the band Nemo was still together. Seth Avett joined in the experimentations briefly before Nemo disbanded, and the two brothers continued with their ideas.

During the last eight years the band has released eight albums, with the newly released EP hitting the shelves earlier this year. The Second Gleam is truly the middle child — it’s longer than a single but shorter than a full album, with only six acoustic songs occupying a grand total of just over 20 minutes of playing time.

The only other instruments in the group are the occasional piano, drums and a banjo. A cello joins them in concert. But this lack of hard rock sound shouldn’t dissuade potential listeners. In fact, the quiet, relaxing music is perfect in that it works with the lyrics rather than distracts.

The lyrics themselves are more advanced than the average “emotions only” song — the words are quite poetic and even take on a slight scripture feel as they flow together. The entire composition overall sounds a bit like a Simon and Garfunkel work with updated instruments.

The EP launches off with “Tear Down The House,” an account of losing one’s house. That almost sounds like one recent situation in America, doesn’t it? Except our houses weren’t scheduled for demolition. As his house is considered for destruction, the narrator remembers his childhood and all of the memories he made within his old home’s walls.

There’s a touch of civility with the stanza: “Ever since I learned how to curse / I’ve been using those sorry old words / But, I’m talkin’ to these children / And I’m keeping it clean / I don’t need those words / To say what I mean.”

A handshake ought to be offered to the Avett Brothers for reminding society that the young don’t have to be brought up in a sea of low-quality language.

Tranquility and peace occurs two times over because “Murder in the City” is nothing more than a will and remembrance as the singer says his feelings to those he would leave behind if he were murdered. Not only that, but the first two lines are a blatant plea for revenge to stop and for people to live peacefully even if one of the Avett Brothers die.

And no hippie setting is complete without a sense of love to go with the peace. “Bella Donna” is the love song all albums must contain somewhere on their track listing — and this one has the singing Avett Brother begging a young girl to listen to what one man has to say. “The Greatest Sum” follows “Bella Donna” in that it preaches to a loved one about how nothing could hold the singer away from her.

However, the setup and words used to describe the story in both songs is different than the usual whiney boy in pop mainstream. It’s much more mature, and this is what makes the Avett Brothers’ music better than average.

Twenty minutes of listening are well spent on this album. In an age when lyrics are more often than not mindless repeats of simple human emotions, the depths that the Avett Brothers explore is indeed a blessing."

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I won't lie, I had never heard of The Avett Brothers before I picked this CD up off of our meeting table, and they still aren't dominating my iPod.

Wikipedia says the following - The Avett Brothers combine bluegrass, country, punk, pop melodies, folk, rock and roll, honky tonk and ragtime to produce a sound described by the San Francisco Chronicle as having the "Heavy sadness of Townes Van Zandt, the light pop concision of Buddy Holly, the tuneful jangle of the Beatles, the raw energy of the Ramones."

Me talking again.
I wasn't b.s.ing when I wrote my review. The CD I now have is indeed a meaningful EP; it has quite the calming and eye opening experience, although it doesn't exactly hold the mysterious aura of the infamous "Sounds of Silence".

So for the older folks - say, older than college party days and reminiscing said days - it's a worthy purchase and a band to look into. Sadly, there are very few teenagers I know that are ready to slow down and listen.

So depending on your age, the Avett Brothers retains a grade anywhere from a B- to a B+. Maybe an A- for the real folk lovers.