THE CARPENTER
The Avett Brothers
By: Padraig Smith
The Avett Brothers are a small indie folk-rock band formed in the year 2000 in North Carolina. The band was formed by two brothers Scott and Seth Avett along with various other members who contribute with different instruments and tones. The band is composed of elements of folk, bluegrass, rock, and country creating a unique blend of genres. Their music often features heartfelt lyrics, emotional performances, and a combination of electric and acoustic guitars. Over the years they’ve gained a strong following from a loyal fanbase for their emotional storytelling through song.
The Carpenter is the band’s sixth studio album released on September 11, 2012. The release marked an important moment in the band’s musical evolution with a more finished and complete sound compared to earlier albums. But they never lost their roots and kept true the emotional quality that made them so beloved. The album covers themes of family, love, mortality, and personal conflict maintaining the band’s reflective tone.
Creation of the Album
The band at this point had been through several major personal changes including becoming husbands, and fathers and losing the presence of loved ones. These newfound experiences heavily impacted the themes of the album, particularly in songs like “Life” and “The Once and Future Carpenter”. The Avett Brothers would work with producer Rick Rubin for the second time on this album. They had previously collaborated on The Avett Brother’s critically acclaimed I and Love and You. While The Carpenter at its core is acoustic-styled folk it also incorporates rock and even orchestration. The song features beautiful instrumentation, blending banjo, fiddle, piano, and drums with occasional sting instruments thrown into the mix. The two brothers’ voices complement each other and there’s a notable focus on the lyrics and their delivery. The Avett Brothers are known for their heartfelt lyrics and The Carpenter is no exception. Many of the songs reflect on life, death, and emotional growth. The opening track itself “The Once and Future Carpenter” is an exploration of the passage of time.
Legacy
The Carpenter was well-received by both critics and fans. It debuted at No.4 on the Billboard 100 chart and earned a large amount of praise for its lyrical depth and musical composition. The album helped push the band into the public spotlight leading them to gain a larger audience while still being loyal to their devoted fanbase. The album’s success helped to solidify the band as one of the best indie folk/country. Ultimately, The Carpenter remains a key album in The Avett Brothers’ discography.
Review
The Avett Brothers The Carpenter is an incredible exploration of folk, bluegrass, and rock. The blend between country and indie rock is almost unheard of and yet this group pulls it off flawlessly. The band’s distinctive heart-wrenching lyrics and uplifting melodies truly help it stand out amongst the crowd. The album is a beautiful testament to personal afflictions like love, loss, and the inevitable experience of change as time passes by.
As someone who normally jumps away when they hear the word “country,” this album comes as a pleasant surprise. Normally I fear hearing stereotypical lyrics of the Midwest pickup trucks and solo cups, but this album is a breath of fresh air. This album is quite touching and emotionally compelling that combines traditional folk instruments with a contemporary sound to it. The honesty and vulnerability of the lyrics with their meanings help create a cohesive narrative. All of this together helps make The Carpenter an excellent and ingenious mesh of music genres into a wonderfully crafted album.
“The Once and Future Carpenter”
The album’s opening track sets the tone for what’s to come with its reflective and meaningful lyrics. “The Once and Future Carpenter” serves as a meditation on time, mortality, and the cycle of life. The lyrics touch on being a creator (a poet) and a laborer (a carpenter). The song’s tender and smooth acoustic guitar intro leads into a warm almost welcoming musical arrangement. Everything begins to build, and the lyrics grow more and more introspective. The entire song in its entirety captures the song’s mediative theme while evoking a sense of longing for the past, while at the same time accepting the passing of time in the present. The song’s soft percussion and vocal harmony create an enveloping sound. This potent opener introduces the album’s overarching themes of love, mortality, and change.
“Live and Die”
In contrast to the reflective theme of the opening track, “Live and Die” brings a burst of energy with its lively tempo and driving rhythm. It’s a message about living in the moment, and embracing life’s fleeting moments. The song’s upbeat instrument with the banjo, bass, and steady line of percussion carries an infectious quality of flow and rhythm. The Avett Brothers inject the track with a contagious energy that speaks to their ability to blend country with indie rock. Despite the song’s upbeat nature, the lyrics reflect a deep recognition of life’s temporality.
“Winter in My Heart”
The third track shifts into a more somber tone, exploring feelings of loneliness and heartache. It’s a beautiful, slow ballad that reflects the emotional coldness that people can feel during rough times. With its toned-back instrumentation, mainly just piano and guitar, the song conveys a sense of isolation evoking a deep emotional chill. The song’s melody is haunting and mournful, reflecting the bleakness of winter as a metaphor for personal loss and emotional numbness. The emotional depth of this track is undeniable and is one of the album’s most raw and affection moments.
“Pretty Girl from Michigan”
After the emotional depth of “Winter in My Heart”, “Pretty Girl from Michigan” provides a brief welcome burst of subtle joy undertones by hints of frustration. The track is an upbeat and charming love song that takes a more playful approach. The lyrics are much more lighthearted and livelier than the rest of the album. The Avett Brothers deliver a catchy, almost carefree melody. It’s a moment of levity on an otherwise introspective album, offering a moment of reprieve. “Pretty Girl from Michigan” stands out from the rest of the album for its warmth and joyful tone making it a nice palette cleanser from the more somber moments.
“I Never Knew You”
“I Never Knew You” is one of the simpler tracks on the album. It’s a sharp change from everything so far and almost has a live-like sound. Similar to a live recording from a concert or show. The soft acoustic guitar provides a light foundation for the raw almost unpolished vocals. There’s a strange beauty in the simplicity of the song as it’s more of a subtle message of love and understanding someone for who they are. The track is also one of the shortest making its impact even more potent than some of the longer tracks.
“Through My Prayers”
This track offers a small glimpse of spiritual yearning and personal self-reflection. The lyrics convey a sense of longing for divine guidance in times of hardships. It’s a prayer for guidance in hard times. The instrumentation is sparse but deep, with lush harmonies and subtle strings. The Avett Brothers are vulnerable on this theme and the song makes you stop and think about the big questions. It’s a prayer-like song with repeated phrases that create a meditation.
“Down With the Shine”
“Down With the Shine” is one of the most aggressive and defiant songs on the album, with a gritty energy that contrasts with the introspection that came before it. The up-tempo and stomp along rhythm is perfect for the band’s commentary on societal expectations. “Down With the Shine” is about defiance and frustration and the lyrics challenge the idea of perfection and surface level beauty.
“A Father’s First Spring”
This song is an emotional journey through the overwhelming experience of fatherhood. The lyrics capture the tenderness and wonder of having a new child, the joy and the weight of responsibility. The Avett Brothers sing with love and the song’s slow build mirrors holding something precious for the first time.
“Geraldine”
At 1:57 “Geraldine” is a short but sweet moment on the album. The song is a simple beautiful ballad with an understated arrangement that focuses on the Avett Brothers’ harmonies and acoustic guitar. The brevity makes it all the more powerful as the lyrics are so longing and nostalgic.
“Paul Newman vs. The Demons”
This shifts the tone again and gets darker and more introspective. “Paul Newman vs. The Demons” is about the internal battles we have with our fears, doubts, and demons. The Avett Brothers are raw and emotional, and the song builds as it goes. The title referencing the actor Paul Newman is a metaphor for the battle between good and evil or between personal strength and internal struggles.
“Life”
The last song “Life” is a happy ending. The melody and lyrics will leave you feeling complete and new. It’s a reminder that no matter what life throws at you and no matter how uncertain things are there’s beauty in the struggle and in just being.
Final Synopsis
Overall, “The Once And Future Carpenter” is an extremely well put together blend of country and indie rock while also having such a unique rhythm to it. Very few artists can be successful in two genres let alone be good at an experimental blend of two. I would highly recommend this album to anyone who is looking to try something new or that like an emotional journey through the country.
TRACKLIST:
The Once and Future Carpenter – 4:53
Live and Die – 4:32
Winter in My Heart – 4:55
Pretty Girl from Michigan – 2:47
I Never Knew You – 2:57
February Seven – 4:16
Through My Prayers – 4:11
Down With the Shine – 4:05
A Father’s First Spring – 4:06
Geraldine – 1:38
Paul Newman vs. The Demons – 4:43
Life – 3:43
FAVORITE LINES:
“And my life is but a coin, it’s pulled from an empty pocket. Dropped into a slot with dreams of sevens close behind” – “The Once And Future Carpenter”
“I found as I regained my feet. A wound across my memory. That no amount of stitches would repair. But I awoke and you were standing there” – “February Seven”
RATING:
5/5 – When it comes to country and indie rock this is the most unique and well-made product, you’ll find out there.
