With its full-bodied sound and rustic energy, 2007's
Emotionalism helped transform
the Avett Brothers into new icons of the progressive
folk scene. The album also reached some highly influential ears -- most notably those of veteran producer
Rick Rubin, who signed the trio to his own
American Recordings label in mid-2008. Before jumping to the big leagues, however,
the Avett Brothers issued one last recording with
Ramseur Records.
The Second Gleam is a short and sober affair, dominated by the
Avett siblings' songs about family, childhood, and death. Bassist
Bob Crawford is nowhere to be found, which draws a deep line between this sparse, poignant effort and
Emotionalism's sonic swell. But
The Second Gleam doesn't try to be the official follow-up to
Emotionalism, nor does it align itself with the ramshackle sound of the band's earliest work. Clocking in at 21 minutes, the six-song EP takes
the Avett Brothers' most basic elements -- banjo, acoustic guitar, melody -- and dresses them up with warm, simple production. Had it arrived several years earlier,
The Second Gleam would've been rife with mistakes and imperfect vocals, the product of a young band whose collective talents had yet to fully ripen. In 2008, however, it serves a nice reminder that
the Avett Brothers do, indeed, deserve all the hype. Perhaps this is what Mr.
Rick Rubin heard all along. ~ Andrew Leahey
