Customer Reviews

Mignonette

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I'm not quite sure exactly how to say what kind of music these guys play. It's sort of like punk played on old-time instruments. Their live show is nothing short of spectacular. The banjo and guitar players have a bass drum and a hi-hat which they pedal with their feet while picking their instruments. Their live harmonies are mind-blowing.... two of the guys can sing beautifully, and the third guy can essentially yell in tune, making for three-part harmonies that are loud, powerful, balanced, and a little bit gritty, just the way I like it.

These guys won't fit into tiny boxes, and verbal explanations don't seem to do them justice, so why not just listen to the album?

The Avett Brothers use an old-timey bluegrass format to display some of the most imaginative songwriting and harmonies around. They capture the flavor of the Old 97's with their lyrics, melody shifts in songs, and tunefulness, even when it seems like one of them is screaming his part of the tune. Somehow it works masterfully. "Swept Away" is the most memorable song on the album, and not just because it appears twice, in slightly different formats. Songs like "Hard Worker" will remind some of the great Hackensack Boys. And if you get a chance to catch them live, do it. They're funny and exciting performers.

If you see them you will love them. What are they? Alt-country? Punk Bluegrass? Piedmont stomp & roll? Truth is, they are a little of everything. You want to feel good for a long time? Buy this CD. Swept Away is a hit waiting to happen, Please Pardon Yourself is even better. This is a great CD and proves there is lots of good music out there that escapes the main stream. An earlier CD of their's, Carolina Jubilee, is not as polished but still very, very good. Whatever you do, see them live if you get the chance.
www.theavettbrothers.com

I typically reveiw books, not music, but I saw The Avett Brothers at Merlefest last weekend, and I was blown away (or should I say swept away?). They were by far the best and most memorable of the relatively unknown performers I saw at the festival. Their talent, virtuosity and sheer exuberance is hard to beat.

Mignonette contains some great songs. Swept Away, A Gift for Melody Anne, and Salvation Song are standouts. Others are good, though they don't quite rise to the level of great. There is some weirdness with sound effects and background talking on the album--the guys must have gotten a bit giddy in the recording studio.

Overall, I haven't felt so enamored of a group since I discovered the Jayhawks. Looking for good things to come from The Avett Brothers.

This album is the most refreshing CD I have bought in the past 5 years. Happy Bluegrass is the only title I could come up with. If you like their album you should really try and see them live. They will blow you out of the water!!!!

I saw these guys live in a little coffee shop and they brought the house down! I bought Mignonette and Live Vol 2 and they are both still in my cd player. Their original spirit sets them apart from other rockers, bluegrass singers, and wayfarers. Go to Merlefest and see them there. You won't regret it.

Heard these guys on the noon news in Raleigh recently and they impressed me so much I had to search out this disc. Why aren't we hearing this stuff on the radio?? Great stuff. "Swept Away", "The New Love Song", "Signs", and "One Line Wonder" are some of my favorites but there are no real duds here. I've played this cd every day since I bought it and find myself humming the tunes when I'm not listening to it. BUY THIS NOW (and tell a friend).

My friends and I refer to this album as the "starter CD". When exposing people to the brothers for the first time, we usually start them off with suggesting this album. Once they're hooked, they can handle Four Thieves and the earlier releases, and they get even more sick with it . . . just like us! You gotta love those boys!

A fine cd filled with lyrics easy to identify with. "Swept Away (Sentimental Version)" is a smart, slow paced song that evokes emotion. The vocals are clean and well paced. The highlight is the lovely and appropriate female solo toward the end of the tune. "At the Beach" is not a typical bluegrass song, but works extremely well. The string work here is marvelous and the lyrics, wonderous...."i have worries to give to the sea". This cd works! It reminds me of Guster with overalls!

I first heard of these guys when my cousin's band opened for them at the Soiled Dove Underground. I had no idea what I was in for, but they played about three hours of the most refreshing bluegrass I'd ever heard. Granted, they pretty much only know the chords C, G, and D (If you don't believe me, look up some tabs), but you'd be amazed at the variety of songs you can get out of those three chords. Their songs are all sweet without being sickening, and even a few tortured love songs thrown in. They played a concert so spirited that it left Scott bleeding from his chin... and then played a much anticipated encore. When someone from the audience shouted out, "What happened?" Seth shouted back, "Rock and roll, that's what happened."

These guys are going to save music.