I and Love and You — Music Reviews

This trio have been building a strong following in the USA through some strong live performances and an increasingly sophisticated set of albums. They have brought their music from it's acoustic string band roots to a full sound that has seen erroneous comparisons to the likes of Coldplay. The foundation of these songs is still rooted in their original intentions but has, in the studio, been expanded and built on to the point where now with a major label and having their album produced by Rick Rubin has brought them wider attention (and criticism) for what they do. The piano and percussion are all much more in evidence on this album, which, not unexpectedly, has a greater sonic footprint within it's sound than on previous albums, although it's immediate predecessor the indie Emotionalism is not that far behind in terms of overall direction. The trio are multi-instrumentalists and also employ a team of additional players to give this album it's layered and textured range. What has been apparent all along is that these guys can write a good song and give it a good lyric. There is a sense of a set of songs that have a high lyric content that are both literary and likable. From the title song to the telling Ten Thousand Words to percussive dynamic of the more upfront Kick Drum Heart. Then there's the sibling harmonies which grace many of the their melodic and memorable songs. Many of these songs will find a place on rock radio as they are filled with hooks and choruses that lodge with the music memory cells. The word is spreading and it won't belong before they start to play in bigger venues and many more will know who the Avett Brothers are in the way the Kings Of Leon built on their original inspirations to reach their own sound and audience. The Avett Brothers are coming from a different place but could end up standing on the same stages but you getting the feeling that whatever way it turns out that these guys will continue to their music. As the song says It Goes On and On.