by Christina Spencer
You know those songs that seem to capture your soul and before you know it your toes are tapping and your head is swaying? Well, the Avett Brothers has mastered the mysterious art of connecting listeners to symbolic meanings much deeper than a mere scramble of lyrics. I’d call it an erratic mixture of emotions that somehow all flow together. Know what I mean? It’s like one moment you’re singing along to a melancholic verse, and the next your heart is pounding to the upbeat and synergistic chorus.
Scott and Seth Avett have been into music ever since they were young and once played in a rock band named Nemo. Eventually, in 2000, the band became The Avett Brothers (Bob Crawford was added as Bass guitarist) and it was not until two years later that they hit the road running and released their debut album “Country Was.”
The band’s music is a combination of country and folk, and has a modern day Beatles vibe mixed with the blues of Doc Watson. I saw the Avett Brothers live this summer at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Denver, Colo., and their passion flowed out from their voices and collective instruments in all directions; all coming together to create this magical noise.
The Avett Brothers released their newest album, “The Carpenter,” on Sept. 11. Once again they have hit the target with the overarching goal of music: relating to their audience and capturing the pure, simple peace that music brings.
Similar to previous albums, this one is so very real, and when you really listen to the words they pull you towards a conundrum of pensive thought. Every song is a story, one that pulls you in and makes you feel at home with the melodic folk beat. And in each is several lessons that we can all connect with.
In the song “Once and Future Carpenter,” Scott Avett sings, “Well we’re all in this together, If I live the life I’m given, I won’t be scared to die.” How many of us are constantly wishing for something better than the circumstances we’ve been given instead of simply living without fear of the future. Motivational, right?
Looking at the band’s big success album, “I and Love and You,” the Avett Brothers’ new album returns to the rebellious arrangements and whimsically jaunty lyrics of that and earlier albums. As is seen in their song, “Through My Prayers,” the contagious background humming of the cello and the elevating picking of the banjo chime perfectly through their song’s mixtures of light and dark, comedy and tragedy, and fast and slow. Check out “The Carpenter” and get ready for a roller coaster wave of emotional enrapturement.
Contact Christina Spencer at cspencer15@my.whitworth.edu.