The Avett Brothers

A mere 13 months after releasing “The Carpenter,” North Carolina folk rockers The Avett Brothers have released “Magpie and the Dandelion,” the eighth installment in the group’s discography.  

Scott and Seth Avett have never been keen on following the standard formula of folk music: nice harmonies over banjo riff after banjo riff. Instead, the brothers, along with bassist Bob Crawford, cellist Joe Kwon, and others, have consistently produced romantic, swoon-worthy songs accompanied by smooth acoustic guitar and the perfect hint of banjo.

As opposed to the band’s early records of unyielding energy and raw vocals, “Magpie and the Dandelion” takes a step back and focuses on simpler melodies and compositions.

However, this is not to say the lyrics are lacking in the slightest. Per usual, Seth and Scott pour their inner thoughts and struggles into songs that sound like a live diary. In fact, their whole discography can be read and listened to as a guide to their lives, or a sacred text to which we should live our lives.

“Never Been Alive” kicks off the ballad-heavy theme of the album. The guitars and drums mold together like a dream, producing a sound reminiscent of a Neil Young ballad in his prime. Young’s influence continues into “Bring Your Love to Me.”

Classic Avett Brothers style returns in “Good To You,” where the brothers croon about life on the road and the acceptance of love when they return home.

“Magpie and the Dandelion” is a product of the group’s evolving mix of folk and rock. It’s an 11-track album of easy listening and lessons to be taught and learned from. It’s the kind of album you play while falling asleep in a hammock and wake up feeling revitalized by the glory that is Scott and Seth Avett.