SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE AVETT BROTHERS – CLOSER THAN TOGETHER

The Avett Brothers
Closer Than Together
Republic Records

It will sound very intense when I state that these poets from North Carolina are making some the most important music of their careers right now.  Now, The Avett Brothers have released their 10th album, Closer Than Together,a fifth collaboration with producer Rick Rubin.  It is a folk masterpiece that comments on the current sociopolitical landscape.

The band released a mission statement prior to its release, outlining the intentions of Closer Than Together to be more personal than political,  obviously informed by what is happening now on a grander scale all around us.  Songs like “We Americans” and “Bang Bang” tackle hot topics like southern history and gun control, while “New Woman’s World” speaks to the passing of a male driven society.

While all of these songs deal with important topics, the strongest ones are those that deal with the subtlety of life.  I am unsure when the last time that a song made me tear up.  “Long Story Short” is a glimpse into the lives of the people in one room.  It is sad and honest poetry that pulls on the heartstrings.  Another strong track is “C Sections and Railway Trestles”,a tune recounting the birth of Seth’s son.  It is a rhyming retelling of the events taking place in an operating room.  It bounces and delivers on all fronts.

Although I am a big fan of the band, I have felt that the past recent releases haven’t hit the strong chords of earlier work.  I am very confident to announce the return of brilliance.  This album is a grand piece of Americana that speaks honestly through lyric and harmony.

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