Natives of Concord, North Carolina, there closeness to the North Carolina Mountains is apparent in the feel of their major label debut album. But not only is their mountain influence apparent but the influence of The Beatles, punk rock, bluegrass and for me, a very eerie similarity to Brandon Flowers and The Killers. With such an eclectic sound, you would think that they would fail to grab your attention because of the strange mesh of sounds. However, this is not the case. Never before have I heard these various sounds used in a more genius way. Most times when an artist is trying to create a new genre of music, which The Avett Brothers have achieved, the sounds comes out as trying too hard. With this album when you notice a similarity to a song, band or genre, before you have an oppurtunity to register the similarity, the song has moved on in a direction that isn't anticipated and remarkably refreshing. At the beginning of the album, the first visual that was running through my mind was a beautiful autumn day somewhere in New England. Honestly, it would have made a wonderful addition to the now cancelled "October Road". But as the album progresses, you no longer consider it just another folk album. It is much more than that. Surprise yourself and take the time to listen to this album. You will learn something about music if that is what you are looking for or if you are just wanting to relax and listen to a good record, this will accomplish that.
You know, I went to their cd release show back in August with a friend who happened to have an extra ticket. I had heard of them but wasn't really familiar with their stuff. Being a music snob/nerd (like yourself), I took my friend up on his offer...and ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS BAND! Though I love their studio stuff, I really must say that they are even better LIVE...which is hard to believe because their self-released albums are fantastic too.
ReplyDeleteIt says a lot too when they have the following that they do. I have been to my fair share of concerts (at huge arenas, amphitheaters, smaller music halls, clubs and even your average hole in the wall bars), but I have never seen an audience love the band on stage more than the Avett Brothers. I am pretty certain that I was the only person there that didn't know every single word to every single song that they played.
I am officially a fan of the brothers...and already have a copy of this great album. Glad you feel the same way I do.