Folk. Rock. Country. Oldies. The Avett Brothers’ new album “Closer Than Together” was released on Oct. 4, and its songs could be categorized into any of these genres.
While I listened to the songs featured on “Closer Than Together,” there were some reoccurring elements that popped up: storytelling, political and religious views, speaking in rhythm, harmonizing vocals and groovy instrumentals.
The musical styles that The Avett Brothers have incorporated in their songs are diverse and can appeal to a large variety of people. I would definitely recommend this album to some of my friends who I know would enjoy what The Avett Brothers have to offer, but I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it to everyone I know.
There are four songs on the album that really stuck out to me, and I could listen to on a regular basis.
“Bleeding White” opens with some strong and cool bass and guitar riffs that grabbed my attention right away. The lead vocals are raspy but clear. In the middle of the song, the dynamics and tempo change between upbeat and slow. The transition is smooth ,and the contrast works well. As I was listening to this song, I could imagine myself trying to master playing it on Guitar Hero.
The next song that caught my attention was “Tell the Truth.” At first, this song sounds like it’s an oldies song straight from the ’60s. I think this is what drew me in since I am a big fan of ’60s music. There was definitely a bit of The Beatles coming through. Later on, the vocalist started speaking in rhythm which made the song switch to a country vibe like Johnny Cash.
The song “High Steppin’” starts with a synthesizer that has an ’80s feel along with a bit of a country flavor. Once again, the vocalist has a part where he speaks the lyrics in rhythm. A violin is also featured in this song which lends to the country flavor even more. Toward the end of the song, I started thinking of some similarities to the song “Black Water” by The Doobie Brothers, a rock band from the ’70s. This song has a lot going on, but it all meshes and works well together.
The last song that really drew me in was “Locked Up.” This song has a strong, constant beat which is perfect for me because I love being able to bop my head and dance along to songs. Out of all the songs on the album, this song is probably the fastest and most upbeat song. There is a smooth transition from a fast to a slow tempo in the middle. The tempo then picks up again and the song returns to its upbeat nature. There are some comical lyrics as well which are fun to listen to.
Each song was different and there were several genres incorporated throughout the album. I am glad I now know who The Avett Brothers are because I enjoy their collection of styles. The type of music they are creating isn’t for everyone, but it can appeal to a lot of different people. Their lyrics have powerful messages and their instrumentals are groovy and captivating. Four stars.
