Song Review: The Avett Brothers, pt. 1

It's time to introduce you to the other part of my musical interests: folk and country music! Yeah, I completely forgot to mention that in my intro, so sorry about that. I'll try to mix these roots-ish bands into my Song Review repertoire once every so often so that you get a full view of what music I enjoy. In addition to classic rock, I also love listening to old-style country (Johnny Cash, John Moreland, Dwight Yoakam.) What's the difference between old and current country? Well, old isn't meaningless (sorry, I have strong feelings about current country artists; specifically, their music is identical to every other song about women, drugs or drinking that modern artists release right now.) I also like folk music, but what does that mean? To me, it's that acoustic guitar, slight country influence but not so Down-South stereotypical country; more indie, roots, alt. rock, etc. Bands I listen to in this category include Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, M. Ward, Mumford & Sons, Sturgill Simpson (tentatively), The Tallest Man On Earth, and The Avett Brothers, who I will be showing to you today.

You probably haven't heard of The Avett Brothers, so here's my take on them: they sing soulful folk music about life. They aren't super popular, but they have gained recognition for recent albums. My favorite song by them will be my first on this post, which is...

1. Ten Thousand Words (2009)

Ten Thousand Words is a ballad about how so many thoughts are going through Scott Avett's head. Scott and his brother Seth head up the band, with Scott mainly singing, although Seth does appear on some songs. This song shows what is going through his head.

Before I continue, a heads up: I can't rate these songs like I do the classic rock songs. They don't rely so heavily on instrumentation, and more on lyrics and storytelling. I'll talk about the components of the song, but I'm not going to rate each instrument.

Anyway, Ten Thousand Words begins with soft guitar and no percussion. There is no percussion through the entire song. The guitar seems to be singing its own ballad alongside Scott. Multiple guitars begin playing different, complex rhythms. Scott kicks in with the lyrics:

"Ten thousand words swarm 'round my head

Ten million more in books written beneath my bed

I wrote or read them all when searchin' in the swarms

Still can't find how to hold my hands"

By this he means that he has filled his mind with so many deep thoughts, and despite this he can't deal with life's simplest issues, like figuring out how to "hold my hands." He is pensive, but he still can't deal with the world around him. Next is another thought:

"And I know you need me in the next room over

But I am stuck in here all paralyzed

For months I got myself in ruts

Too much time spent in mirrors framed in yellow walls"

This means that he knows that his friends and family need help, but he is too caught up in his thoughts to do anything. Now we get to the chorus, which is repeated throughout the song many times:

"Ain't it like most people? I'm no different

We love to talk on things we don't know about"

I think the simplest way to describe Scott's thoughts behind this lyric is that we love to gossip and talk about things we don't understand. This is an inherent human flaw, but also a trait that helps us attempt to understand the world around us.

After the chorus, more verses, and in order to picture what is happening, picture this: a man a band sitting in a room, playing a song, with two guitars, a banjo, two singers, a pianist and organist. Slowly, as the song rises, and the organ joins in the background, more and more people stream in. Then, they leave, and the song returns to simple guitar and voice. It's a beautiful thought, and I love to imagine songs this way. Ten Thousand Words, especially, works well for me this way. I listen to this song when I'm considering the thoughts in my head, and what it means for us as a race. Every thought could be important, or it could be mindless rambling that only makes things worse.

So as you can see, analyzing these songs can be a long ordeal because of the thoughts contained in them. So let's pick up the beat with a fast, fun song, which is another one of my favorites...

2. Slight Figure Of Speech (2009)

This song, like Ten Thousand Words, is off of I And Love And You, probably The Avett Brothers first popular album. Slight Figure Of Speech is about fame and whether it is actually what they wanted. Here's the chorus:

"A slight figure of speech

I cut my chest wide open

They come and watch us bleed

Is it all like I was hoping now"

This shows that he has reached that level of fame he desired for, but Scott questions whether that is actually what he wanted. Next, a verse:

"They said "I hope that you will never change"

I went and cut my hair

They said "Don't take your business to the big town"

I bought us tickets there"

This is about opposites. He does the opposite of what "they" say to do. I don't know who they is, but Scott clearly doesn't care about what they say.

Now take a deep breath; what comes next is a lot...

"What did you expect

And what did you forget

That to live you let go of me with each step

It becomes a progression I won't let regret manifest

To aggression

Are you to assess what I've been? What I am? Or become?

Did you stop to accept how pathetically dumb

It can be to

Attack those around 'cause you're

True to color, a town, a time, or a place?

It's not you, it's not mine

And besides it is gone

And you never will find it again

But I don't want to fight

I just ask let me be

I won't give the chance to be my enemy

So go home

Think it through"

Yeah, sorry. In reality Scott says all of this really quickly, like he is yelling at someone. He's talking about how people should think about what they're doing and how they're judging people.

Then a verse, then it closes. It's a fun song to listen to that also has serious meaning behind it. In this song there is a lot of guitar behind the vocals, and drums. It goes fast, with the lyrics taking center stage.

3. Satan Pulls The Strings (2016)

Satan Pulls The Strings is very different from the previous two songs. It's more recent, appearing off of the 2016 hit True Sadness, which overall features much more computerized effects and sounds. This certainly rings true for Satan Pulls The Strings, which relies on computer effects and a drum machine for the whole song. Again, however, the message is in the lyrics:

"Baby's in the cradle

Mama's in the bed

Sparrows on the window sill

And the devil's in my head

Devil's in my head, mama

The devil's in my head

Baby's in the cradle

And the devil's in my head"

I think this means that everything is proceeding normally in the world, but Scott is wrong in many ways. The rest of the song conveys the same message, with special effects paired with piano and fiddle helping the song rise to its peak. It ends with a drum machine leadingit out with a simple beat.

4. The Once And Future Carpenter (2012)

Off of The Carpenter, this song is back to the roots of the Avett Brothers, with just guitar, cello, bass, and light drums. Here's the chorus:

"Forever I will move

Like the world that turns beneath me

And when I lose my direction

I'll look up to the sky

And when the black cloak drags upon the ground

I'll be ready to surrender

And remember we're all in this together

If I live the life I'm given I won't be scared to die"

By this he means he's going to live life to the fullest, and when it is time to give in and pass away, he will surrender willingly. This song, to me, is motivational because it encourages me to live a full life despite whatever is going on around me. I love the message of this song, as I do with all of The Avett Brothers songs.

I'll be back with pt. 2 at some point, probably once I finish Aerosmith. If you want to know when my next post comes out, feel free to subscribe. You'll receive an email when my article is ready. Stay tuned!