On The Avett Brothers’ New Album: Magpie and the Dandelion

It’ pretty typical to claim that a band evolves over the length of it’s career. But many times these “evolved” bands have simply released a different kind of new album, not gradually adjusted their style.

But with  The Avett Brothers it’s actually true.  Seth and Scott have played together since they were kids, and the band released its first full album in 2002.  This isn’t “throw-out-the-playbook” evolution.

It is impossible to encapsulate an album in any number of words, let alone 400.  But this album represents a kind of soul search.  Gone are the days of the foot-stomping, folksy numbers of the old Avett Brothers (although they make welcome reappearances in live concerts).  Indeed, Bob Crawford, the group’s bassist describes the album as follows: “This is the heaviest thing we’ve ever done. It’s dark, it’s edgy, it’s a little more middle-aged, it’s anxious and it’s unresolved.”

The band has never shied away from discussing anything, including death.  “Morning Song” explores an aunt’s death, prompting the band to express that “there are things on this record that for that reason and many others could never be repeated.”

The album searches for answers, yet does not provide many of them.  A quick scan of the song titles reveals as much.  “Open-Ended Life” presupposes that they have not found their true purpose, so they are keeping their minds open.  “Never Been Alive” depicts a moment of finding (perhaps fleeting) meaning.  “Another Is Waiting” implies that something has ended and the “other” has not been found yet.  “Souls Like the Wheels” suggests a kind of motion and search for purpose. Finally, “The Clearness is Gone,” as the band describes it, represents a recognition that you thought you had it all figured out, but you don’t.

I can’t analyze each song in depth (unfortunately), but I think “Vanity” provides the broad outlook from which many of the album’s ideas take shape.  This song clearly references the Biblical book of Ecclesiastes.  The Preacher, whom most believe to be Solomon, is searching everywhere for meaning on this earth.  He parties, he has wives and concubines, he has astounding wisdom.  Yet it does not satisfy: “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity.”  The Avett Brothers have “something to say” and a “plan for the day,” but it is all vanity.  They describe this futile search as follows: “their heads are chopped off / they’re running in circles.”  Yet they fail to reach the crucial conclusion of Ecclesiastes.  These earthly things cannot satisfy on their own, but only through God.

Life has more questions than answers.  And what should an album express, but that?

The Avett Brothers’ new album came out on last Tuesday, October 15.