Four Thieves Gone: The Robbinsville Sessions

Every music lover has those moments of transcendance when the song or album that they are listening to just jumps out and strikes them like a bolt of lightening. Some of mine include hearing the Kinks YOU REALLY GOT ME for the first time, watching Rick Danko sing IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE in THE LAST WALTZ, Elvis Costello's MY AIM IS TRUE, the first VIOLENT FEMMES album and a handfull of other moments as well. I can now add listening to this album for the first time to the list.

This is real music made by people interested in expressing themselves rather than trying to get fame and fortune. It's honest and timeless. These songs could just have easily been written in 1906 as 2006. What makes it special is the passion, sweat and humor that these guys pour into their performances. I may hear a better album this year, but I doubt it.

The music of the Avett Brothers takes old time influences like blugrass, gospel and folk, then injects it with an energy...Read more

Close your eyes and try to imagine the musical dynamics of the Beatles "White Album" but played by a trio using bluegrass instruments. Try to imagine the Clash's distant cousin from North Carolina stomping away on the porch of a mountain cottage. Think of the most heart-wrenching Hank Williams song and place it in present day Manhattan. The truth is, you can't really imagine how any of these odd combinations might sound, but wouldn't it be neat if you could? Well, there's no need to imagine. All you have to do is buy "Four Thieves Gone" and strap yourself in for a musical ride that is sure to enrich even the richest of cd collections. Each song is its own unique experience, from the frantic screaming and instrument-banging in the opening song "Talk on Idolence" to the haunting and stratospheric harmonies of the second track "Pretty Girl from Feltre" the Avetts show their mastery of songwriting and proficiency of capturing live energy in a recording. "Colorshow" is a hard hitting,...Read more

Yes, no recording can capture the feel of their live performances (especially outdoor performances) but this CD is nothing less than classic. Almost every song is memorable as the more you listen to it, the more and more you come to appreciate just what this CD accomplishes. It is very difficult to pin down their sound (they won't do it), but I would describe it as a mix of punk rock and folk. They are now officially my favorite group and this is my favorite CD of theirs.