Gleaming

Earlier this week, I was given a copy of the new Avett Brothers EP, The Gleam II. Although I recall hearing of this band via the greater message board periphery, I had never taken it upon myself to really delve into their material before this week. A quick Wikipedia search will tell you that these guys "combine old-time country, punk, pop melodies, folk, rock and roll, honkey tonk, and ragtime". That's a lot to digest, but hey, any band that can successfully meld punk with ragtime deserves a listen in my book. But be forewarned: if you are anticipating this odd musical marriage on their latest offering, you will be a little disappointed. At its core Gleam is straight-up folk. Led by brothers Seth and Scott Avett, this EP is as barebones as it gets -- no drums, no bass; just a pair of acoustic guitars and the occasional banjo/piano cameo. But for a band that has the reputation of creating such rollicking ramblers on their full-length releases, less is more on this six-song set. "Tear Down This House" meshes the sincerity of James Taylor with the spot-on storytelling of Bob Dylan. If it's modern comparisons you're looking for, album standout "Murder In The City" blends the compassion of Conor Oberst with Ryan Adams' penchant for painting a heartbreaking Southern opus. This band has been turning so many heads as of late, that even Rick Rubin has signed on to produce their major label debut. Before the cat gets let out of the bag, this is your chance to experience an independent folk band that is as pure at heart as it gets.

My Rating: 8.1/10