I and Love and You

I and Love and You by The Avett Brothers

The Avett Brothers, a folk rock group from the town of Concord, NC, made their major label debut with I and Love and You and fittingly it is definitely their best album to date. The band, formed in 2000, has had a large and devoted fan base for quite some time and it is very easy to understand why when one listens to "I and Love and You". The band has headlined big North Carolina events such as Shakori Hills festival and even opened for Dave Matthews this year on his North American tour. The band has been under the radar of many for quite some time and now is their time to shine, with Rick Rubin producing the major label debut. The Avett Brothers create a unique sound with their seemingly easy blend of folk, bluegrass, and punk which provides a little something for everyone.

"I and Love and You" begins with the title track which is absolutely mind blowing. The track initially opens with just piano and builds up to something massive with a chorus that you can truly feel in your chest, "Oh, Brooklyn, Brooklyn, take me in/Are you aware the shape I'm in?/My hands they shake, my head it spins/Oh, Brooklyn, Brooklyn, take me in". The second verse has violins kicking in and begins the gradual build of the song. The part that really hits you in the song is when it kicks right back to just piano with the lyrics "Three words that became so hard to say/I and Love and You". The song is brilliantly constructed and definitely one of the best I've heard this year. The album continues with it's greatness, the next track being "January Wedding" a very typical sounding folk/bluegrass song which is what The Avett Brothers do best. The album continues trucking on with a perfect mix of softer, damn near heartbreaking songs, and high paced songs such as "Kick Drum Heart" which ends with a brilliant kickdrum simulating the sound of a heartbeat and the "The Perfect Space" which goes from a soft Avett Brothers song and halfway through turns into a rocking piano song with a riff that sounds vaguely reminiscent of "Werewolves of London". The song doesn't rely solely on it's swift dynamic change but also has the lyrics that The Avett Brothers are known for "I wanna fit in to the perfect space/Feel natural and safe in a volatile place/And I wanna grow old, without the pain/Give my body back to the earth and not complain". The album continues to bring both ballads and a couple of quick paced songs such as "Slight Figure of Speech" which features the Avett Brothers always amazing technique of spitting out lyrics at such a fast pace in a punk style. The album closes with another piano ballad "Incomplete and Insecure"

The album is such a huge leap for the Avett Brothers, not in terms of music seeing as the only different thing featured on this album is a heavy emphasis on piano, unlike their previous records, and an added orchestral sound to the songs, but more in terms of popularity. The only problem with this record is that it IS very similar to the previous albums, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. This album is very easily accessible for those looking to get into The Avett Brothers but it continues on the classic Avett Brothers style which brings back their die-hard fans who are bound to love this album just as much as I did. The bands major label debut was essentially classic Avett Brothers, proving that this folk rock trio from Concord can still rock just like they used to on a major label. Do yourself a favor and buy this album...now.

Rating; 9/10
Standout Tracks: "I and Love and You", "The Perfect Space", "Kick Drum Heart", "Tin Man", "Slight Figure of Speech"