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Avg: 4.0 (399 ratings)
- Date Released: July 22, 2008
- Genre: Rock/Pop
- Style: Rock
- Label: Ramseur Records / Thirty Tigers
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We Say...
It’s almost redundant to state that on this release the Avett Brothers return to the slowed, stripped down sound of the first Gleam EP. The acoustic pickings and strumming accompany vocals in a way that highlights the perfection in their vocal imperfections. Avett’s voice strains as he laments that “not even the hands of God can hold me back from you,” on “The Greatest Sum.” This audible proof of his efforts makes his pain that much more real and relatable. Their inclusion of the electric rendition of “The Greatest Sum” serves as a good point of reference. While just as enjoyable, once the drums and electric reverberations cloud over vocals, the power of the longing and loneliness in the original version of the love song are lost. The decision to clip The Second Gleam at EP length keeps you from getting lost in a pit of emotions, but the lyrical prowess begs for each track to be played on repeat.
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They Say...
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.
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| 01. |  |
Tear Down the House |
3:03 |
|
| 02. | |
Murder in the City |
3:14 |
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| 03. | |
Bella Donna |
3:05 |
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| 04. | |
The Greatest Sum (acoustic) |
3:23 |
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| 05. | |
Black, Blue |
4:28 |
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| 06. | |
St. Joseph's |
3:26 |
|
| 07. | |
Souls Like the Wheels |
4:39 |
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| 08. | |
The Greatest Sum (electric) |
3:11 |
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08 Total Tracks, 28:29 Total Length
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Credits
- Greg Calbi - Mastering // Scott Avett - Performer // Scott Avett - Design // Seth Avett - Performer // Doug & Telisha Williams - Producer // Doug & Telisha Williams - Engineer
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