Banjo's revenge
The Avett Brothers
It could be the pretty little snow falling slow and quiet, bringing back the smell of wood smoke, one-piece long johns and musical-saw lessons by the sauna. That, or I’m finally getting old enough to revisit and embrace my childhood home’s bluegrassy vibes, rife with mandolin riffs and Appalachian harmonies.
Whichever the case, I’m delighted. Switching up my usual diet of banging hip-hop and reggae anthems for songs infinitely more introspective, organic and bushy-bearded this week (speaking of beards, I think Iron and Wine‘s Samuel Beam wins), I’ve taken a serious appreciation for The Avett Brothers, a North Carolina trio made up of two brothers, Scott and Seth Avett, and their stand-up bass player, Bob Crawford.
Yes, their songs are a wee bit depressing side. Paste Magazine, who ranks The Avett Brother’s latest album I and Love and You (Columbia) number 1 in their “25 Best Albums of 2009“, quote in their review a colleague who said he was worried he’d start crying while listening at work, so he waited till he got home. It’s that sort of stuff. No jumping party jams.
And no, they’re not fresh off the block either. The brothers have been rolling their washboards, guitars and banjos since 2000, producing many bittersweet albums along the way. There was Mignonette in 2004, Gleam and then The Second Gleam in 2008, all brimming with distressingly beautiful song about the only game in town – slipping in and out of love.
Technically, this isn’t music I should like at all. And it sure isn’t music I should have on repeat, as I go about my day, working, cooking and watering the plants. I mean, bearded boys with suspenders and banjo cases? Seriously?
At least I’m not alone. The sultry bros were named “Artist to Watch” of 2009 by Rolling Stone magazine. And Rick Rubin himself (Def Jam cofounder and original Beastie Boys DJ, who’s beard seems totally genre-appropriate for once), produced I and Love and You, the Avett’s latest opus.
But despite the hype, on the one hand, and the counterintuitiveness of it all on the other, I, Carolyne Weldon, ended up liking that album so much I bought it on iTunes today. “Bought it” meaning like I purchased it for money. And I think that, in our day and age, is the supremest of endorsements and compliments.
Self-portrait by Scott Avett