The Avett Brothers – Mignonette
Once again, I prove myself to be unbearably slow when it comes to picking up on a great many bands that everyone else already knows and loves, and here is yet another example. The Avett Brothers used to be on Ramseur Records, home to the superlative Bombadil and Samantha Crain, but have recently signed with a big shiny label, namely Colombia.
I don’t have their Colombia release yet (buy here if you fancy) but I am exploring their older Ramseur stuff and absolutely loving it, as you probably all knew I would. When I first heard it I though ‘oh, so it’s basically just a bit of a mix of country and bluegrass’ and didn’t listen too carefully. It only took a couple of listens to realise how good this stuff is though, although it’s nothing that I would describe as ground-breaking. In fact, I would probably say that it is incredibly fucking simple actually; in many ways there seems to be nothing to it.
That’s the genius though, in a sense. How can you make music this basic and familiar sound quite so good? I love this album. Writing basic, straightforward songs is a hell of a knack. Many bands dress it up a bit, try and twist things a bit too much, but it always comes back down to this: can you write songs that stick in people’s heads, and these lads can, with almost effortless ease.
I am just getting into their other stuff too, which tends to be a little more melancholy, but this is a bubbly, enjoyable album with a sort of easy, confident charm to it. It’s almost as if the band were winking at you.
The Avett Brothers – Nothing Short of Thankful
The Avett Brothers – At the Beach
The Avett Brothers – Pretty Girl at the Airport
and to think….only yesterday I said to myself, “I wonder if Mr.Toad would appreciate the Avett Bros? and should I speak up from my little closet in order to introduce him to their amazing stuff? Gleam II is on constant replay here. “Weight of Lies” runs through my head morning, noon, and night. I missed the chance to see them at a very small venue this past summer – did send the daughters off though. Actually, it was the teen of them who brought them to my attention. She now rolls her eyes at my obsession…thanks you for further illumination which I will toss back at her.
-it’s nice to be out.
s.twist
They’re absolutely fantastic. Americana at its best.
I’m pretty new to these guys too. I really like ‘Gimmeakiss’, ‘Swept Away’ and ‘Pretty Girl From Chile’ – that one is almost like three songs all rolled into one. Beautiful stuff. Normally though I don’t like music that’s described as “Americana”, but I heard these guys before I heard them labelled as such. So I guess I don’t mind Americana that much after all. Either that, or labels don’t mean a thing. I prefer to believe the latter.
Congratulations on the discovery. I saw the Avett Brothers at a gig in Alexandria, Virginia, back in late June with the incomparable Alela Diane in support, and although I hadn’t really heard much of their stuff at the time (I was there to see Alela Diane) I was amazed at their presence on stage. They honestly seemed to levitate. I have never been to a gig where the crowd was more enthusiastic. Have you heard their Second Gleam EP? It came out in August on Ramseur and is absolutely gorgeous.
That, my friend, is what I am listening to right now.
C&B recommended these guys to me back when I was doing my caretaker manager stint here at the Hotel Toadifornia, and I had a little listen back then. I enjoyed what I heard, but struggled to find much of their stuff online. However, that probably says more about me than The Avett Brothers’ web presence.
If I recall, C&B made some preposterous claim about taking Alela Diane on a date to see these guys; but, even allowing for any mildly deranged fantasist tendancies C&B may suffer from, I do believe he’s onto something with this particular band.
Check out The Ballad of Love and Hate from their 2007 album Emotionalism. What a beautiful, slightly cracked song it is. Dylan, how dare you question my sanity?! I am an American. I make my own reality. Now if you’ll excuse me, Alela has just baked one of her famous peach cobblers and is calling me to table. Coming, Alela!
I second C&B’s rec of “The Ballad of Love & Hate” and the Emotionalism album in general.
And since you like The Avett Brothers and Felice Brothers, I insist that you check out Old Crow Medicine Show’s Big Iron World album. Best tracks: “Down Home Girl”, “Minglewood Blues”, and “New Virginia Creeper”. Those 3 CDs are my backwoods boys trifecta.
Cobblers indeed, C&B!
I’ve been meaning to listen to some Old Crow Medicine Show but something’s always held me back. Big Iron World you say? Aha! And I see that it’s available on eMusic. Done and done.
I was sent a promo of the new OCMS but it just didn’t tickle my fancy.
two things….first…i’ve just found out about ‘LastFM’…..second….listening to The Avett Brothers on it right now….love it….thanks
Cheers mate. Glad you’re enjoying it, and glad someone else is as late to the party as I am!
I was listening to Simon Mayo’s radio show about a fortnight ago. He was in the US covering the election. They had a bluegrass band on. I thought it was… well I want to say ‘amazing’, but that word is so overused that it just washes over everybody (including myself). One sec, thesaurus calls…
Yeah, as I was saying, this bluegrass band. They were stupendous. Awe-inspiring. And it led me to thinking: couple that talent and a similar sound with a modern direction and I’d love to hear it.
Looks like The Avett Brothers thought faster. Wonderful stuff.