Albums for parents: The Avett Brothers, Emotionalism

The Avett Brothers are fronted by 2 brothers, Scott and Seth Avett who share vocals equally, and haven’t publicly feuded with each other at some point or another like many other sibling band pairings. Some have never reconciled like The Everly Brothers, Creedence Clearwater Revival, or Oasis, while others have turned the corner and put ugly spats behind them like The Kinks and The Black Crowes. The Avett Brothers have never held themselves in such distinct company, performing together for nearly 20 years while their strong bond still comes across in the figurative and literal harmony in their music.

As a husband and a father, few current bands capture the emotion and turbulence of life quite as dutifully as the Avett Brothers. Several of their albums are relevant to the lives of adults, but Emotionalism, an album recorded ironically before they had families of their own, grabs onto certain themes any adult or parent could relate to. “Nobody knows what lies behind the days before the day we die,” they sing in the morbidly titled album-opener “Die Die Die,” their upbeat delivery making it easy to digest and revisit. This isn’t the first or last time The Avett Brothers have you rewinding and repeating lyrics in your head to decode their wisdom and relevance.

Discomfort is a recurring theme, the album is called Emotionalism after all. Their mechanic harmonies on the next track “Shame” make you think they don’t just share parents, but a mind also. Another upbeat delivery eases the hard truth of their lyrics.

The time I discovered this album was in that post-college, early adult era before I was married or had kids, and over time it’s become a sort of sonic manual or at the very least a loose narration on life before and since. “I’ve got secrets from you, you’ve got secrets from me, because you’re so worried about what I’m gonna think, baby I’m worried too. But if love is a game girl, then you’re gonna win, I’ll spend the rest of my life bringing victory in, if you want me to.” Not exactly what you’d expect from a song called “Paranoia in B Major,” and another one you’ll replay over again wondering if these guys have been following you around observing your every move for years. They get down to the battles waged inside most of our heads with a delivery that’s welcoming and easy to follow.

This album helps you see where you’ve been, where you are, and maybe where you’re going. What helps is their incredible melodies, harmonies, and lyrics, and the emotion that’s rarely matched by any other bands in this era. “The Weight of Lies” is a song as heavy as its title implies, and “The Ballad of Love and Hate,” is one of the most innovative and honest love songs ever written, showing the yin and yang of optimism and pessimism within unions bound by unconditional love. “Will You Return” is a story of the insecurity anyone can relate to from the nascent era of a relationship to one many years down the road. Any parent can easily turn their jangly “Go to Sleep” into a mantra for the restless nights never in short supply.

Certain songs and albums are perfect for a time in your life and I don’t think my adolescent self would have appreciated or fully comprehended the Avett Brothers as I do now. I’m fortunate this album and band came along when they did or it may have passed me by. “All My Mistakes” is one of the best modern day “dad” songs, even if it wasn’t written that way, and “Living of Love,” could have been a great folk love song 50 years ago or now, a timeless tune, lyrically rich.

Their subsequent albums were likely written more from a matrimonial and parental perspective as they started families of their own, especially their rich stories on I And Love And You, The Carpenter, Magpie and the Dandelion, and True Sadness, but Emotionalism was their first venture into the headspace of people trying to make their lives, love, and families work amongst the outside static always in the ether.

The Avett Brothers continue to be one of the best current live performing bands out there. They still play many of these songs, and I still enjoy listening to them, they’re relevant in any phase of your life.

Favorite tracks:

”Die Die Die”

”Shame”

”Paranoia In B Major”

”The Weight of Lies”

”Will You Return”

”The Ballad of Love and Hate”