There is no harmony like brotherly harmony. Something indelible in the weave of voices and play of sensibilities is stamped into the fraternal DNA and also stems from a lifetime of shared experiences. You can hear it in cl... more »assic brother acts across the musical spectrum, from the Louvin Brothers to the Everly Brothers and on down the decades through the Wilson brothers (Beach Boys), the Davies brothers (Kinks), the Allman Brothers and even the Brothers Gibb (a.k.a., the Bee Gees). You can clearly hear fraternal magic at work in the songs of Scott and Seth Avett, better known as the Avett Brothers, as well. That magic is abundantly evident on I and Love and You, the Avett Brothers' big-label debut, produced by Rick Rubin. Its 13 songs are delivered in a style that defies pigeonholing but might be described as a rootsy amalgam of folk, country, bluegrass, rock and pop - even a jab of punk-style dynamics here and there. With I and Love and You, The Avett Brothers have taken a giant step forward.« less
There is no harmony like brotherly harmony. Something indelible in the weave of voices and play of sensibilities is stamped into the fraternal DNA and also stems from a lifetime of shared experiences. You can hear it in classic brother acts across the musical spectrum, from the Louvin Brothers to the Everly Brothers and on down the decades through the Wilson brothers (Beach Boys), the Davies brothers (Kinks), the Allman Brothers and even the Brothers Gibb (a.k.a., the Bee Gees). You can clearly hear fraternal magic at work in the songs of Scott and Seth Avett, better known as the Avett Brothers, as well. That magic is abundantly evident on I and Love and You, the Avett Brothers' big-label debut, produced by Rick Rubin. Its 13 songs are delivered in a style that defies pigeonholing but might be described as a rootsy amalgam of folk, country, bluegrass, rock and pop - even a jab of punk-style dynamics here and there. With I and Love and You, The Avett Brothers have taken a giant step forward.
Michelle S. (Chelly10s) from W HOLLYWOOD, CA Reviewed on 7/7/2010...
This album is solid on its own. But when you listen to the vast library of The Avett Brother's music, it seems this album is leaps and bounds above the others in terms of maturity. They are no longer a band of troubadours, while they are known best for their wildly energetic live shows (especially when performing in their home state, NC). With this album, they mark their place as professional musicians who can hold their own on a skillful studio album. As a long time fan, I feel like a proud mom watching my babies grow up! :)
2 of 2 member(s) found this review helpful.
CD Reviews
Wonderful Songs of Longing and Love
David Ross | Rochester, NY USA | 09/29/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I am entranced by both the musicality and the clever and thoughtful lyrics of "I and Love and You." Consider the title song lyrics: "Three words that became hard to say: I and love and you." As a whole the album considers the nature of love, loneliness, longing and desire. The vocals and instrumentals are both energetic and polished as one would expect from a major label debut produced by Rick Rubin.
The Avett's overall style on this album is a charming blend of folk-country and rock. My favorite songs include the sweet and soulful "January Wedding" and "Ten Thousand Words" which describes the danger of paralysis by introspection. Then there is the wise and wonderful "The Perfect Space" which states "I wanna have friends that I can trust. .... that love me for the man I've become, not the man that I was." Perfect Space has an engaging shift from slow to up-tempo midway through the song. Other songs such as the joyous "Kick Drum Heart," "Slight Figure of Speech," and "It Goes On and On" exhibit this same wonderful level of foot stomping punk rock overdrive throughout.
"I and Love and You" is an album that makes me think and makes me happy at the same time. NPR has described the Avett Brothers as "Moving and smart, catchy and warm, it's a band -- and an album -- that anyone could love." I agree and suggest you get and listen to the album as soon as you can.
TheAvettBrothers Dotcom also has a stream of all the songs from I and Love and You. You call also see the NPR video and audio streams of the Avett Brothers including their performance at the 2009 Newport Folk Festival, Song of the Day and tiny desk concert. Wonderful!
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Are There More Than Five Stars?
Library Gaga | North Carolina | 09/29/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I admit I'm biased and would listen to anything The Avett Brothers wanted to record, including conversations while broken down by the side of the road. That's a testament to their charisma, honesty, and straightforward talent. The new CD is packed with fantastic songs. My favorite so far is "Ill With Want" (what a title!) and if you aren't crying by the time you finish listening to those words you may not be human. Others that concert fans are already familiar with include Laundry Room (the passion will wow you, although I think it comes across better in concert), Tin Man, and the title song. Another standout among standouts is "Road Full of Promise Head Full of Doubt". I'm looking forward to a long relationship with these songs and sentiments. Oh, I almost forgot "January Wedding"! How could I forget that jewelbox?
For people new to The Avett Brothers, I urge you to also get their earlier CDs. These are the songs the rabid fans first knew them by, and they are different that the songs on I&L&Y. You need to know the other facets of the best band in the world."
One of the best CDs this year
William Merrill | San Antonio, TX United States | 09/29/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"With their major label debut, the Avett Bros. should hopefully be receiving even more attention than before, and well deserved it will be. The new album, I and Love and You, contains all of the good things that the Brothers represent, musically. There are satisfying harmonies, some great playing of instruments (primarily acoustic), and most of all, a very good baker's dozen of new tunes. Style-wise, the band's music is often considered New Folk, or Americana, or another roots-based category. For me, I prefer to just put them in a "favorite songs" category and leave it at that. So we do get a fair share of 6-string, banjo, piano, and even the occasional tuba, but the instrumentation is in service of the good songs. (It's not all acoustic. A few cuts such as "Kick Drum Heart" and "Slight Figure of Speech" have a more standard rock sound.) Perhaps one fear Avett fans had about the jump to a major was that they would be paired up with a producer who would water down their music, but Rick Rubin did a terrific job with I and Love and You. In this day of so many overproduced recordings, it's nice to hear a pure and clean version of the Avett Brothers that allows all of their joy in the music to come out."
No Disappointment Here
S. Finefrock | Raleigh, NC | 12/11/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"With me it was love at first listen with the Avett Brothers. Their scrappy brand of American roots music coupled with strong songwriting was a refreshing aural tonic. I enjoyed watching them expand their musical pallet and continue to grow as songwriters and thought that their last album EMOTIONALISM was nothing short of a masterpiece. But, I became nervous when I saw that the band had signed with a major label and spent the spring touring with the Dave Matthews Band. With trepidation I purchased I AND LOVE AND YOU, afraid that I would be bitterly disappointed with their new work. Well, I was wrong. The new album not only matches the much heralded EMOTIONAISM, but to my ears, surpasses it.
While I miss the feral sound of their earlier work and live shows, I feel that this is their most consistent set of songs. Their open and honest lyrics have been honed to an even sharper edge on this set. While expanding their sound with more percussion, strings and keyboards, the Avetts have not forgotten how to write drop-dead gorgeous tunes. 10,000 WORDS, AND IT SPREAD and JANUARY WEDDING are beautiful songs that have a timeless quality. The title song which seemed a little weak when I first heard it leaked as a single now seems like a mission statement and sets the tone perfectly.
The plain truth is that this is a great album, full of unforgettable songs, strong melodies and crystal clear instrumental and vocal performances. Fans of the band's previous work should find much to love here, while it's a perfect place for the uninitiated to start. The Avett Brothers have hit their stride and are a true musical treasure. Enjoy them
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Heartfelt, Accomplished Music
J. H. Baker | Shelbyville, KY | 09/30/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Having followed the band since the small bar North Carolina days, I can say that they have done their fans proud with this major label debut. Having been around a while, I expected a change in sound after the record deal and work with Rick Rubin. Yes, things are different, but it will still leave you smiling. Rubin and company have distilled the essence of the band, and it works.
The difference between this band and others is that they're not just telling you a story, they actually MEAN every word, and that still comes across on this album. It's the reason so many of us became instant fans when seeing them live. They connect with you and sing about places you've been in your life, and you just know they get it.
While every song is great, Kick Drum heart, Tin Man, January Wedding and Laundry Room are stand outs. This album, I believe, will help them connect with new listeners, and if one of those is you, they have a stunning back catalogue. Start with Emotionalism and the Gleam EPs. Thank you Avett Brothers, for continuing to produce genuine art, where so many others fail."