North Carolina’s The Avett Brothers (Scott and Seth) initially developed a reputation as a raw, almost emo heart-on-their-sleeves energetic folk/bluegrass group, but after connecting with acclaimed producer Rick Rubin starting with 2009’s I and Love and You, their sound began to change. Since then, the Avett Brothers experimented with adding more instrumentation (electric instruments and keyboards) to their music while progressively moving to a folk-pop sound which appealed to wider audiences. The pop-folk sound continued with last year’s Closer Than Together – a collection of well-intentioned semi-sociopolitical songs that kind of fell flat with fans and critics. Perhaps in response to a tepid reaction to their last album, the Avett’s decided to go back to their stripped-down roots with The Third Gleam (the first Gleam since 2008). A few album highlights include: the contemplative, fingerpicked “Victory”; the poignant “Should’ve Spent the Day With My Family”; the redemptive third single “Back Into The Light”; the hopeful “Step Into the Night”; the gospel-tinged “Prison to Heaven”; the love ballad “Women Like You”; and the hard-living album closer “The Fire.” At The Avett Brothers’ finest moments, they are gifted songwriters with the ability to reach deep into one’s soul while delivering perfect musical symmetry and beautiful harmonies. Third Gleam largely reminds us of the best qualities that The Avett Brothers can bring to the table and is in my opinion one of their stronger contemporary releases. – Written by JFelton
SIMILAR | The Everybodyfields, Langhorne Slim, Old Crow Medicine Show, Trampled By Turtles