Left of the Dial
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The Avett Brothers: Emotionalism
by Donny Kutzbach
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(Ramseur Records)
The brothers Seth (vocals, acoustic guitar, hi-hat) and Scott (vocals, banjo, harmonica, kick drum) along with upright bassist Bob Crawford are behind a shaggy but wholly honest, hearty, hardy and real brand of modern bluegrass that adds to the staid mountain music’s soul the vigor of rock and roll and a particularly punk spirit with a “throw the rules out the window” attitude. This is an old-time string band—complete with the kind of harmonies that always sound best coming from siblings—that uses old ways as the jumping-off point for so much more. Including live recordings, Emotionalism marks the whopping 10th album in the band’s eight-year career and proves to be their finest. “Paranoia In Bb Major” is tunefully perfect pathos and angst (“There’s people throwing drinks/Telling me I don’t belong”); “Will You Return” matches the Avett’s beautiful boisteriousness with a feel of 1950s pop longing; and the suite “Salina” richly triptychs a journey in four different parts.
The Avett Brothers play this Saturday, October 6 at Town Ballroom with special guests Gypsy Dave and The Stumpjumpers.
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