The Avett Brothers are my current favorite brothers (The Jonas Brothers, btw, are not) Scott and Seth Avett, the brothers, along with Bob Crawford on bass, are North Carolina choir boys who appear to be channeling Townes Van Zandt. They're the kind of band that other bands try to emulate and can't. I and Love and You is their first major label album and their first experience working with producer Rick Rubin (Johnny Cash, Tom Petty), who found these boys and signed them to his American Recordings label.

The title track is the kind of song that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up, It's exquisitely arranged with perfectly phrased vocals and raw earnest emotion. This was the song that drew me in but I also love "January Wedding" so much and "Kick Drum Heart" reminds me a bit of Vampire Weekend in it's catchy percussion and vocals. There's nothing on this record I don't like though. It's a rare thing when a band can combine musicianship with staggeringly good vocals and lyrics that you're compelled to commit to memory for your next love letter or your next Dear John Letter. I  really hope these boys keep doing what they do. I hope they know how beautiful is.