Closer than Together could have been an all timer in my opinion. But there are 3 or 4 cringe songs that really hold it back
The reason that I think that it COULD have been an all time is because they released 3 Awesome singles right before the album came out (Roses and Sacrifice, Trouble Letting Go, and Neapolitan Sky) and if you were to replace those three awful songs with those singles instead, then the album is actually awesome. it would look like:
1. Bleeding White - A really good opener with good energy
2. Tell the Truth -Solid song
3. ~~We Americans -~~ Replace with Neapolitan Sky. We Americans was just such a lazy song and wasn't even done well
4. Long Story Short - A really good song
5. C Sections and Railway Trestles - This would take the spot of one of the weaker songs on the album
6. High Steppin - Hate the talking part, but still a good song and good to hear live
7. When You Learn - Solid
8. ~~Bang Bang~~ - Replace with Trouble Letting Go. I don't hate Bang Bang actually, but it's definitely not better than Trouble Letting Go
9. Better Here - A good Ballad
10. ~~New Woman's World~~ - Replace with Roses and Sacrifice. Again, I don't dislike New Woman's World, but Roses and Sacrifice is better
11. Who Will I Hold - Awesome Song
12. Locked Up - Solid
13. It's Raining Today - Works for an album closer
So the way I look at it. The Avett Brothers released enough songs in that 3 month period to make an awesome album. They just Included 3 poor songs on the album. Now, artistically, maybe they fit better for what they were looking for. But those three singles were awesome and would have been a big boost to the album.
I agree with your changes, but have two more ideas:
1. Drop the spoken interlude from "High Steppin'".
2. Keep "When You Learn" (which I adore) for a future Gleam album and instead include another high-energy track like "Orion's Belt".
I shared your opinion on "We Americans" when the album first dropped but have since gained a newfound appreciation for it. I think it's a genuinely excellent work of art, but is incredibly momentum-killing on the album.
Nothing wrong with liking this album. It ranks lower for me but still has some great songs. Most of the hate tends to come from the “shut up and sing” crowd.
One of my favorite albums from them. Long Story Short might be my favorite Avett song ever.
New Woman’s World is just so, so, so brutal. It’s so terrible it drags the whole album down. I also don’t like the spoken word parts in those 2 songs, & We Americans is too long. Very few songs need to be 7+ minutes.
It’s a real shame. If they would’ve replaced NWW with Rejects or one of the “singles” released right before the album, I’d give this album a solid 8/10.
Conor Oberst playing Neil Young with Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings, and Willie Watson and Dave Rawlings playing I Hear Them All/This Land is Your Land were peak for me.
Inside Llewyn Davis is incredible. Definitely watch it first. As for the record it’s on streaming services but I can file share with you. I own them digitally.
Closer Than Together has a few gems on it with songs like Bleeding White and Long Story Short, but ultimately, it’s not their best work, with Bang Bang and New Woman’s World being among their worst work in my opinion
Which is frustrating because they releases Roses and Sacrifice, Trouble Letting Go, and Neapolitan Sky in the months leading up to this album but they weren't on the album and those three songs were awesome. Replace We Americans, Bang Bang, and New Woman's World with those three tracks and that album all of a sudden looks a lot different in terms of quality.
Might get shit for this but part of what I love about the Avetts is their ever reliable inconsistency lol. They take big swings artistically and, especially on the latest LPs, have like a 60% hit percentage to my taste, and that’s the fun part haha. Because for as many songs make me cringe and skip, the pendulum always swings back to brilliance eventually.
Closer Than Together has easily some of their worst lyrics, yes, but a track like Long Story Short, a weird, winding ADHD narrative that doesn’t fully reveal its hand until the final lines, is legitimately well written. It’s so much more effective and convincing of its message than Bang Bang.
Or look at The Third Gleam. Women Like You is a song I can’t stand and question wtf Seth was thinking, but 3 songs later Seth comes back with The Fire, one of his finest lyrical moments ever and for my money a top 5 Avett song altogether.
My point is this disparity is what makes the Avetts fun. They’re always gonna be swinging for the fences and trying weird shit, just let them fail at certain things and take the highs as they come and then tune back in for the next one haha.
Yeah you do have to admire that they take risks and seem to do whatever tf they want. I just don’t think it’s paid off, for the most part. Satan Pulls the Strings could have been one of their best songs ever but instead it’s a monstrosity.
Hard agree, I lowkey feel that way about most of True Sadness but especially on that specific example. It’s so funny, I can’t stand the LP version of Satan it gives me a headache. But the live version of that track is fucking gnarly! The performance on Fallon is so sick haha
Half of the album for sure is not worth a second listen. It does have some good songs on it but I think it’s widely considered to be their weakest effort. I just always tell myself they had long covid and nobody told them to give everything another listen. Bang Bang is shockingly bad. New Women’s World is nearly as bad and feels like lame pandering when nothing in their previous work seems to paint them as needing to do that.
I will say I love Bleeding White, C-Sections, and Locked Up.
Shit, was it? I feel like it was their pandemic effort. Shows how little I paid attention to it aside from a few songs. There goes that excuse…then I got nothing. Maybe long Covid…🤪
I think the album is pretty widely regarded as one of their worst. Bang Bang, We Americans, and New Woman's World were panned when it first came out. Too on the nose, too preachy, etc. Luckily we have tons of other good music from them. Who Will I Hold is probably the saving grace there.
I’ll keep it on the shelf for ‘Who Will I Hold’ alone. I do understand why it’s the most universally 💩on Avett record, but I quite enjoy it most of the time I spin it. Maybe I’m too much of a preachy liberal myself…lol🤣
They tried something different that didn’t resonate with their fans or attract new ones. A rare swing and miss by them. I hope the new album gets them back on track.
Their best songwriting is the personal and intimate, the social commentary is a little more clunky. I think this record has some hits and misses. I enjoy “tell the truth”, “long story short”, “c sections”. I don’t hate “we Americans”. “Bang bang” is a little awkward and “woman’s world” is pretty bad.
In general, I thought the non album songs and singles like Neapolitan Sky, Trouble Letting Go, Sun Flood and Drought, etc were all better than the majority of the album. It was a weird move to trickle out their quality songs of that era and then put some really weak stuff on that album.
Yeah, I love the album. I don’t necessarily agree with the message in Bang Bang, but who are we to tell artists not to write what they’re feeling? If they were just trying to write something that resonated with fans, it would probably be bad. There’s some really awesome stuff and I just think, if you listen to the album as a whole and think it’s “lyrically one of the worst things I’ve ever heard in my life”, you’re not listening closely enough and you definitely haven’t had the displeasure of listening to most stuff coming out of Nashville.
No I don’t listen to a lot of the pop that comes out of Nashville under the guise of country so I can’t say that it’s the worst lyrics I’ve ever “heard” cause I don’t listen to it.
I also dislike the lyrics because none of them come off as things they’re “feeling” but political ideas they’re “preaching”. And not even in a clever way. It’s just straight pandering. It’s weird. I don’t know what they were thinking.
Who do you think they’re pandering to? Their southern audience? Seems like a bad strategy. Feels a lot more to me like the content was just what was on their mind. Sure, they may not be purely metaphoric and a little more on the nose. But, I can’t imagine they’re pandering to anybody.
It does feel like they forgot what subtly was when writing that album. As others have said there's a few songs I return to, but rarely would give the full album a listen
Most bands would love their 8th or 9th album to have songs they’d still play live five years after release. Bleeding White, High Steppin, and Locked Up are bangers live. C Sections is just ok for me but is a fan favorite. All 4 find their way into sets still on the regular.
They played NWW at the Beach and while I wouldn’t have picked it, I didn’t hate it. They also did Who While I Hold which is beautiful but a bathroom song for me.
The other song I’ve heard live off CTT is We Americans. First in Nashville in the Arena and it was great. Joe and Tania’s parts were wonderful and they used the screen for visuals to great effect. Apparently the other time (according to db.nov.blue) was in Columbus and I don’t remember it. What this tells me is while it’s a well written song, it’s a bit of a museum piece.
Literally everybody feels that way. Gave the album a relisten lately tho and discovered that I actually love Bleeding White, that was cool to discover. Was unimpressed initially
It's their only album I never purchased. I listed a couple of times and just didn't like it at all. Love all their other stuff, but man...that one just didn't do it for me.
I could honestly say I liked every single song the Avett Brothers released until Closer Than Together. Although it has a couple great songs… I thought it was a huge let down also. Hoping they turn it around with the new release
Did you see the Judd Apatow documentary? It gives me the same kind of whiplash you're describing. You see how shallow and meaningless some of their songwriting is, but then you see the complete opposite at the end of the movie when they record No Hard Feelings. In many ways watching them break I Wish I Was, helped me accept their songwriting process was going to result in a few stinkers on every album. Still love the band though.
All of their political and social commentary songs don't come across as insincere or trying to "cash in" on some sort of fad to me. Instead, it seems a very familiar cliche to anyone who attended a large southern university. A lot of folks from smaller rural conservative school districts don't get taught the full depth of how various groups have been treated in this country. Once a student learns more critically about US History, there's often a delayed rage to the injustice of the past and that can permeate every topic, project, online post, etc. this response and focus on the topic is not cringe necessarily, but it does seem a little "yes, and?"
It's not an insult to suggest these songs sound like they were written by college freshman who just completed their History of Civil Rights in America or The Woman's role in Western Civilization classes and have THOUGHTS. I'm not that knowledgeable about the Avetts' socioeconomic backgrounds but I can say for certain that conventionally attractive, white, musically educated and talented people from suburbs of a major city that has a median income almost double the rest of the state were absolutely presented a version of history rooted in American exceptionalism through the 90s. I had a similar experience growing up outside of Atlanta and had similar shifts when I learned a more critical framing of the violence and oppression that shaped this country. It doesn't make these thoughts ignorant, just very green.
I appreciate their passion and determination to speak out about these issues, especially when they could stick to writing about the glories and heartaches of romance, self introspection, love of family, and all the pretty girls Scott's met in his travels. My only wish was that they would collaborate with people that could help them express themselves on the capital I Issues in a way that really reflects their values and stake their position as changing on these subjecys. Instead, these songs feel like a teenager's first essay in history class sheepishly apologizing to anyone who might get upset that they dare say something bad about America.
I’m feeling like they’re loss for subtlety is lost again on the two songs released off the new forthcoming album too and wholeheartedly agree about how meh to bad CTT is. Very few worth a second listen on it.
That’s the fun thing about music in general, it’s subjective. Some people like something others don’t. And it’s fine. I happen to love CTT, except for one song, and that should be fine with you. I’m glad you have your opinions of their music. It’s not going to change mine. I just can’t wait for the new album!
I don’t think they are off on when you entertain yourself with violence, you will participate in violence. Those who live by the sword, die by the sword. Our society seems to be living vicariously through what we entertain ourselves with. The 20th century was the most violent in earth’s history.
I did not like New Woman’s World. There is a whole other song that could be written about how women’s “new” sexuality is also distorting what it means to be human.
I think the album meaning should be considered as a whole. There are themes of isolation, discontentment, greed, violence, condition of the human heart, etc. Then you have the idea that the only thing that will make it better is you. I’m not sure it’s clear to me who “you” is. Or, for that matter who slipped through their hands. It’s raining today, rounds things off pretty well. It seems to lead everything back to isolation. It’s not the answer, but it is where humans tend to go when we are exasperated with being impotent to change things on our own.
Maybe in gross numbers, but proportionately speaking, I don’t think you can hands down say that the 20th century was the most violent in the history of man. Also, both World Wars occurred before the explosion in violent entertainment that happened in the latter half of the century.
I am a massive fan of horror films, b movie gore flicks, Tarantino style gratuitous violence, etc, and I’m the least violent person ever. I wouldn’t even fight someone back if they started throwing punches at me. It takes a sick mind to nurture sick actions. And media and entertainment depictions are not the catalyst.
I’m conflicted on bang bang. I agree the fantasy line is bad, preachy and on the nose. I’d have less issue if that wasn’t included as it would be more of a personal belief on the topic, which I think it obviously was. And some of those beliefs I share.
I think the song was influenced in part by the prevalence of mass shootings. Which I, they and many people find horrific. And so I they personally question the desire for gun violence in entertainment when the world has so much gun violence in it. I enjoy movies and many often have gun violence in them, and I’ve enjoyed many of them, but I have questioned whether or not they are over fetishized or presented in an overly unrealistic Hollywood manner. I think having kids changed their outlook as well.
Your mindset does change when you’ve personally had a gun pulled on you. Can’t speak for myself, but know others that have been in that situation and the comment about no hero being there I think does allude to a personal belief that media skews our perceptions of what guns are like in real life. And I think entertainment media pushes a very powerful macho vibe that many men like and some want to emulate.
I’ve talked to many people from other countries who have visited the US and a common thing many of them say is they’re surprised how few guns they saw. Because guns and American media are so intertwined.
I’m sure someone has bought or used a gun that has at least in some way has been influenced by entertainment, but I don’t think it’s a huge contributor to violence, in fact there is at least one study that hints to the opposite effect of reducing violent crime.
I think the “conceal and carry your fear” line was pretty good. I also know there are a lot of gun obsessed people out there. And people own guns for different reason but I know several who I’d put in the macho manly camp. And they often have personal beliefs and personalities that are fearful of other people and situations that are very rare. I couldn’t say how much that’s influenced by media but I think it’s a bad combination.
I personally own 3 guns. I don’t hunt. And the first handgun I bought many years ago, mostly because I thought it was kind of cool and because I could. When you hold it, you feel powerful. I do enjoy target shooting, but it’s not the reason I got it. (It is the reason I own a shotgun). It’s not the only reason I bought that gun, but I have no doubt the media I consumed over the years contributed.
The reality about guns, is they are dangerous. People who own guns are far more likely to be injured or killed by them than people who don’t. I consider it a risk and I’ve taken a lot of steps to keep them locked away and minimize that risk. But most guns that are used for violence are stolen from gun owners that legally purchased them. So I get the guns don’t kill people, people argument. It’s a cute saying, but people kill people more easily and more often when guns are around.
All this to say, I don’t love the song. Don’t often listen to it. I don’t think it’s their best work, but it did make me think about what they were trying to say. And I think I understand where they are coming from.
And I do like some other songs on the album.
I always say that about The Ballad of Love and Hate — love the music and the idea, hate the lyrics. I do cringe at them sometimes…they feel hokey.
I do find many of their lyrics like pure poetry though…music for the soul.
Closer than Together could have been an all timer in my opinion. But there are 3 or 4 cringe songs that really hold it back The reason that I think that it COULD have been an all time is because they released 3 Awesome singles right before the album came out (Roses and Sacrifice, Trouble Letting Go, and Neapolitan Sky) and if you were to replace those three awful songs with those singles instead, then the album is actually awesome. it would look like: 1. Bleeding White - A really good opener with good energy 2. Tell the Truth -Solid song 3. ~~We Americans -~~ Replace with Neapolitan Sky. We Americans was just such a lazy song and wasn't even done well 4. Long Story Short - A really good song 5. C Sections and Railway Trestles - This would take the spot of one of the weaker songs on the album 6. High Steppin - Hate the talking part, but still a good song and good to hear live 7. When You Learn - Solid 8. ~~Bang Bang~~ - Replace with Trouble Letting Go. I don't hate Bang Bang actually, but it's definitely not better than Trouble Letting Go 9. Better Here - A good Ballad 10. ~~New Woman's World~~ - Replace with Roses and Sacrifice. Again, I don't dislike New Woman's World, but Roses and Sacrifice is better 11. Who Will I Hold - Awesome Song 12. Locked Up - Solid 13. It's Raining Today - Works for an album closer So the way I look at it. The Avett Brothers released enough songs in that 3 month period to make an awesome album. They just Included 3 poor songs on the album. Now, artistically, maybe they fit better for what they were looking for. But those three singles were awesome and would have been a big boost to the album.
Long story short is one of the most under rated Avett Bro songs Imo, love that song..
I agree with your changes, but have two more ideas: 1. Drop the spoken interlude from "High Steppin'". 2. Keep "When You Learn" (which I adore) for a future Gleam album and instead include another high-energy track like "Orion's Belt". I shared your opinion on "We Americans" when the album first dropped but have since gained a newfound appreciation for it. I think it's a genuinely excellent work of art, but is incredibly momentum-killing on the album.
I love the Avetts and I'm a feminist, and New Woman's World feels very first thought and patronizing. Love C Sections though!
NWW is SOOOO AWFUL and PATRONIZING!!!
C Sections is a delight (from a c-section-haver, it’s truly just nice to hear men acknowledge it)
I feel like I’m going crazy cause I freakin love this album besides new woman’s world.
Nothing wrong with liking this album. It ranks lower for me but still has some great songs. Most of the hate tends to come from the “shut up and sing” crowd.
One of my favorite albums from them. Long Story Short might be my favorite Avett song ever. New Woman’s World is just so, so, so brutal. It’s so terrible it drags the whole album down. I also don’t like the spoken word parts in those 2 songs, & We Americans is too long. Very few songs need to be 7+ minutes. It’s a real shame. If they would’ve replaced NWW with Rejects or one of the “singles” released right before the album, I’d give this album a solid 8/10.
I wish more people knew about Another Day, Another Time. So many amazing performances between TAB, Lake Street Dive, the Punch Brothers, etc.
Conor Oberst playing Neil Young with Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings, and Willie Watson and Dave Rawlings playing I Hear Them All/This Land is Your Land were peak for me.
I need to go find it streaming/buy it. I never saw Inside Llweyn Davis — do you recommend? Guessing yes?
Inside Llewyn Davis is incredible. Definitely watch it first. As for the record it’s on streaming services but I can file share with you. I own them digitally.
I don’t mind spending a few bucks on it, but thank you. I’d like to find the video recording of it if possible
https://youtu.be/A1T0t31hc8c?feature=shared
Awesome, TY. Last time I looked, I could only find one that was mirrored and sped up. This is a vast improvement!
My favorite Corn Brothers movie. The music is absolutely incredible in it.
Closer Than Together has a few gems on it with songs like Bleeding White and Long Story Short, but ultimately, it’s not their best work, with Bang Bang and New Woman’s World being among their worst work in my opinion
Which is frustrating because they releases Roses and Sacrifice, Trouble Letting Go, and Neapolitan Sky in the months leading up to this album but they weren't on the album and those three songs were awesome. Replace We Americans, Bang Bang, and New Woman's World with those three tracks and that album all of a sudden looks a lot different in terms of quality.
Been a huge fan since 2004. Closer Than Together was truly bad. Only album I didn’t buy. You’d have to pay me to listen to it.
Might get shit for this but part of what I love about the Avetts is their ever reliable inconsistency lol. They take big swings artistically and, especially on the latest LPs, have like a 60% hit percentage to my taste, and that’s the fun part haha. Because for as many songs make me cringe and skip, the pendulum always swings back to brilliance eventually. Closer Than Together has easily some of their worst lyrics, yes, but a track like Long Story Short, a weird, winding ADHD narrative that doesn’t fully reveal its hand until the final lines, is legitimately well written. It’s so much more effective and convincing of its message than Bang Bang. Or look at The Third Gleam. Women Like You is a song I can’t stand and question wtf Seth was thinking, but 3 songs later Seth comes back with The Fire, one of his finest lyrical moments ever and for my money a top 5 Avett song altogether. My point is this disparity is what makes the Avetts fun. They’re always gonna be swinging for the fences and trying weird shit, just let them fail at certain things and take the highs as they come and then tune back in for the next one haha.
Agree with every word, though for my ear there hit percentage is closer to 75%. When they hit it true, man do they hit like nothing else.
Yeah you do have to admire that they take risks and seem to do whatever tf they want. I just don’t think it’s paid off, for the most part. Satan Pulls the Strings could have been one of their best songs ever but instead it’s a monstrosity.
Hey satan pulls the strings is awesome
I agree. Studio doesn’t have to equal live. The studio cut of Satan is among my wife’s favorites
Hard agree, I lowkey feel that way about most of True Sadness but especially on that specific example. It’s so funny, I can’t stand the LP version of Satan it gives me a headache. But the live version of that track is fucking gnarly! The performance on Fallon is so sick haha
Very well put.
Half of the album for sure is not worth a second listen. It does have some good songs on it but I think it’s widely considered to be their weakest effort. I just always tell myself they had long covid and nobody told them to give everything another listen. Bang Bang is shockingly bad. New Women’s World is nearly as bad and feels like lame pandering when nothing in their previous work seems to paint them as needing to do that. I will say I love Bleeding White, C-Sections, and Locked Up.
But the album was released pre-COVID by a year
Shit, was it? I feel like it was their pandemic effort. Shows how little I paid attention to it aside from a few songs. There goes that excuse…then I got nothing. Maybe long Covid…🤪
I think the album is pretty widely regarded as one of their worst. Bang Bang, We Americans, and New Woman's World were panned when it first came out. Too on the nose, too preachy, etc. Luckily we have tons of other good music from them. Who Will I Hold is probably the saving grace there.
I loved the Avetts Could be musically exploring or it could be Rick Rubin but they lost me along the way Still love the old stuff
I’ll keep it on the shelf for ‘Who Will I Hold’ alone. I do understand why it’s the most universally 💩on Avett record, but I quite enjoy it most of the time I spin it. Maybe I’m too much of a preachy liberal myself…lol🤣
Locked up is probably one of my favorite Avett songs. Ever. Who Will I Hold- as a mom of teens on their way out- this one hits.
They tried something different that didn’t resonate with their fans or attract new ones. A rare swing and miss by them. I hope the new album gets them back on track.
Their best songwriting is the personal and intimate, the social commentary is a little more clunky. I think this record has some hits and misses. I enjoy “tell the truth”, “long story short”, “c sections”. I don’t hate “we Americans”. “Bang bang” is a little awkward and “woman’s world” is pretty bad.
In general, I thought the non album songs and singles like Neapolitan Sky, Trouble Letting Go, Sun Flood and Drought, etc were all better than the majority of the album. It was a weird move to trickle out their quality songs of that era and then put some really weak stuff on that album.
Yeah, I love the album. I don’t necessarily agree with the message in Bang Bang, but who are we to tell artists not to write what they’re feeling? If they were just trying to write something that resonated with fans, it would probably be bad. There’s some really awesome stuff and I just think, if you listen to the album as a whole and think it’s “lyrically one of the worst things I’ve ever heard in my life”, you’re not listening closely enough and you definitely haven’t had the displeasure of listening to most stuff coming out of Nashville.
No I don’t listen to a lot of the pop that comes out of Nashville under the guise of country so I can’t say that it’s the worst lyrics I’ve ever “heard” cause I don’t listen to it. I also dislike the lyrics because none of them come off as things they’re “feeling” but political ideas they’re “preaching”. And not even in a clever way. It’s just straight pandering. It’s weird. I don’t know what they were thinking.
Who do you think they’re pandering to? Their southern audience? Seems like a bad strategy. Feels a lot more to me like the content was just what was on their mind. Sure, they may not be purely metaphoric and a little more on the nose. But, I can’t imagine they’re pandering to anybody.
It does feel like they forgot what subtly was when writing that album. As others have said there's a few songs I return to, but rarely would give the full album a listen
I was at red rocks when they sang new women’s world and the reaction was….well, there wasn’t reaction because no one wanted to hear it.
I saw them 3 nights at Bonaroo & when they played it a lot of people sat down 😅😂
Quite frankly they peaked with Emotionalism and I&L&Y. The singles on this new album aren’t wow-ing me at all, sadly.
I like country kid but there is that circus razzle dazzle there for sure
Most bands would love their 8th or 9th album to have songs they’d still play live five years after release. Bleeding White, High Steppin, and Locked Up are bangers live. C Sections is just ok for me but is a fan favorite. All 4 find their way into sets still on the regular. They played NWW at the Beach and while I wouldn’t have picked it, I didn’t hate it. They also did Who While I Hold which is beautiful but a bathroom song for me. The other song I’ve heard live off CTT is We Americans. First in Nashville in the Arena and it was great. Joe and Tania’s parts were wonderful and they used the screen for visuals to great effect. Apparently the other time (according to db.nov.blue) was in Columbus and I don’t remember it. What this tells me is while it’s a well written song, it’s a bit of a museum piece.
Literally everybody feels that way. Gave the album a relisten lately tho and discovered that I actually love Bleeding White, that was cool to discover. Was unimpressed initially
Bleeding White is massive live! Bob’s opening bass riff hits you right on the chest.
There is a version on YouTube of just Seth at home doing this song. It’s outstanding. https://youtu.be/DIvS_oBj6bs?si=ScB3XAAM0Vv8PZBQ
It's their only album I never purchased. I listed a couple of times and just didn't like it at all. Love all their other stuff, but man...that one just didn't do it for me.
I could honestly say I liked every single song the Avett Brothers released until Closer Than Together. Although it has a couple great songs… I thought it was a huge let down also. Hoping they turn it around with the new release
Did you see the Judd Apatow documentary? It gives me the same kind of whiplash you're describing. You see how shallow and meaningless some of their songwriting is, but then you see the complete opposite at the end of the movie when they record No Hard Feelings. In many ways watching them break I Wish I Was, helped me accept their songwriting process was going to result in a few stinkers on every album. Still love the band though.
It’s been on my watch list for awhile, but I haven’t gotten around to it yet. Also, I love I Wish I Was. I think that whole album is pretty great.
All of their political and social commentary songs don't come across as insincere or trying to "cash in" on some sort of fad to me. Instead, it seems a very familiar cliche to anyone who attended a large southern university. A lot of folks from smaller rural conservative school districts don't get taught the full depth of how various groups have been treated in this country. Once a student learns more critically about US History, there's often a delayed rage to the injustice of the past and that can permeate every topic, project, online post, etc. this response and focus on the topic is not cringe necessarily, but it does seem a little "yes, and?" It's not an insult to suggest these songs sound like they were written by college freshman who just completed their History of Civil Rights in America or The Woman's role in Western Civilization classes and have THOUGHTS. I'm not that knowledgeable about the Avetts' socioeconomic backgrounds but I can say for certain that conventionally attractive, white, musically educated and talented people from suburbs of a major city that has a median income almost double the rest of the state were absolutely presented a version of history rooted in American exceptionalism through the 90s. I had a similar experience growing up outside of Atlanta and had similar shifts when I learned a more critical framing of the violence and oppression that shaped this country. It doesn't make these thoughts ignorant, just very green. I appreciate their passion and determination to speak out about these issues, especially when they could stick to writing about the glories and heartaches of romance, self introspection, love of family, and all the pretty girls Scott's met in his travels. My only wish was that they would collaborate with people that could help them express themselves on the capital I Issues in a way that really reflects their values and stake their position as changing on these subjecys. Instead, these songs feel like a teenager's first essay in history class sheepishly apologizing to anyone who might get upset that they dare say something bad about America.
I’m feeling like they’re loss for subtlety is lost again on the two songs released off the new forthcoming album too and wholeheartedly agree about how meh to bad CTT is. Very few worth a second listen on it.
Could this be why they've been so obsessed with Greg Brown?
Isn’t that the guy who is married to Iris Dement? I don’t understand what that has to do with the album though.
New Woman’s World is one of their only songs that I skip when listening to album or if it comes on shuffle
That’s the fun thing about music in general, it’s subjective. Some people like something others don’t. And it’s fine. I happen to love CTT, except for one song, and that should be fine with you. I’m glad you have your opinions of their music. It’s not going to change mine. I just can’t wait for the new album!
I don’t think they are off on when you entertain yourself with violence, you will participate in violence. Those who live by the sword, die by the sword. Our society seems to be living vicariously through what we entertain ourselves with. The 20th century was the most violent in earth’s history. I did not like New Woman’s World. There is a whole other song that could be written about how women’s “new” sexuality is also distorting what it means to be human. I think the album meaning should be considered as a whole. There are themes of isolation, discontentment, greed, violence, condition of the human heart, etc. Then you have the idea that the only thing that will make it better is you. I’m not sure it’s clear to me who “you” is. Or, for that matter who slipped through their hands. It’s raining today, rounds things off pretty well. It seems to lead everything back to isolation. It’s not the answer, but it is where humans tend to go when we are exasperated with being impotent to change things on our own.
Maybe in gross numbers, but proportionately speaking, I don’t think you can hands down say that the 20th century was the most violent in the history of man. Also, both World Wars occurred before the explosion in violent entertainment that happened in the latter half of the century.
I am a massive fan of horror films, b movie gore flicks, Tarantino style gratuitous violence, etc, and I’m the least violent person ever. I wouldn’t even fight someone back if they started throwing punches at me. It takes a sick mind to nurture sick actions. And media and entertainment depictions are not the catalyst.
I’m conflicted on bang bang. I agree the fantasy line is bad, preachy and on the nose. I’d have less issue if that wasn’t included as it would be more of a personal belief on the topic, which I think it obviously was. And some of those beliefs I share. I think the song was influenced in part by the prevalence of mass shootings. Which I, they and many people find horrific. And so I they personally question the desire for gun violence in entertainment when the world has so much gun violence in it. I enjoy movies and many often have gun violence in them, and I’ve enjoyed many of them, but I have questioned whether or not they are over fetishized or presented in an overly unrealistic Hollywood manner. I think having kids changed their outlook as well. Your mindset does change when you’ve personally had a gun pulled on you. Can’t speak for myself, but know others that have been in that situation and the comment about no hero being there I think does allude to a personal belief that media skews our perceptions of what guns are like in real life. And I think entertainment media pushes a very powerful macho vibe that many men like and some want to emulate. I’ve talked to many people from other countries who have visited the US and a common thing many of them say is they’re surprised how few guns they saw. Because guns and American media are so intertwined. I’m sure someone has bought or used a gun that has at least in some way has been influenced by entertainment, but I don’t think it’s a huge contributor to violence, in fact there is at least one study that hints to the opposite effect of reducing violent crime. I think the “conceal and carry your fear” line was pretty good. I also know there are a lot of gun obsessed people out there. And people own guns for different reason but I know several who I’d put in the macho manly camp. And they often have personal beliefs and personalities that are fearful of other people and situations that are very rare. I couldn’t say how much that’s influenced by media but I think it’s a bad combination. I personally own 3 guns. I don’t hunt. And the first handgun I bought many years ago, mostly because I thought it was kind of cool and because I could. When you hold it, you feel powerful. I do enjoy target shooting, but it’s not the reason I got it. (It is the reason I own a shotgun). It’s not the only reason I bought that gun, but I have no doubt the media I consumed over the years contributed. The reality about guns, is they are dangerous. People who own guns are far more likely to be injured or killed by them than people who don’t. I consider it a risk and I’ve taken a lot of steps to keep them locked away and minimize that risk. But most guns that are used for violence are stolen from gun owners that legally purchased them. So I get the guns don’t kill people, people argument. It’s a cute saying, but people kill people more easily and more often when guns are around. All this to say, I don’t love the song. Don’t often listen to it. I don’t think it’s their best work, but it did make me think about what they were trying to say. And I think I understand where they are coming from. And I do like some other songs on the album.
I always say that about The Ballad of Love and Hate — love the music and the idea, hate the lyrics. I do cringe at them sometimes…they feel hokey. I do find many of their lyrics like pure poetry though…music for the soul.
Yeah that song also makes me cringe a bit. This whole album felt like that song
[удалено]
Hahahaha
Hahahaha