The Avett Brothers: Head Full of Doubt / Road Full of Promise Video

Here is the new video for 'Head Full of Doubt / Road Full of Promise' by The Avett Brothers.

It's an animated video which looks fantastic and the song is another fine exert from The Avett Brothers' latest album I and Love and You, one of the best, and most heart-felt, alt-country albums I've heard in a while; from any genre in fact. 

Intelligent lyrics, tremendous harmonious vocals and beautiful melodies make this album a must buy.  I would recommend the double vinyl as it's a beautiful piece of art: from the cover painting by Scott Avett to the written message from the brothers, it's a fabulous addition to any collection both sonically and visually.

There is also a live performance and interview with the band over at The Interface which is definitely worth a look.  Part of it - the title track from the album - is featured below.

Against Me!: White Crosses

The first time I listened to White Crosses, the new album from Florida's new age punk rockers Against Me!, great anticipation led to disappointment.

There was a feeling that the album was over-produced and the outcome was, somehow, a very 80's sounding record that was a little wet behind the ears.  However, one of the wonderful things about music is the effect repeated listening can have on your opinion and emotions, often causing you to re-assess your initial conclusions.

Not as raw and visceral as Searching for a Former Clarity and (during initial listening) lacking in the anthemic moments that graced New Wave, White Crosses still packs an almighty punch and could well be the band's most consistent album to date.

Lyrically, the old subjects still dominate: death, drugs, lost love, and politics form the core of the album's content with front man Tom Gabel's voice delivering these themes with conviction and intensity.  Personally, I think he has one of the best voices around with the power to make you stop and listen.

From a musical point of view, Against Me! pay homage to their punk roots on songs like 'Rapid Decompression' (Rancid) and 'Spanish Moss' (surely a reference to The Clash's 'Spanish Bombs').  There is even, dare I say it, something of British punk rockers The Wildhearts in the vocal reverbs the other band members shout-out in support of Gabel, a key feature of many of the songs on White Crosses.

I am aware that Against Me! are a band that split opinions; much of there original 'hardcore' fan base have deserted them in the wake of a more commercial sound that has attracted a mainstream audience.

It is a difficult position for a band to be in: whether to stick to your roots and continue to struggle financially or make some changes and actually make a decent living from what you love doing.  I can appreciate both sides in this argument but - and I'm sure I will be guilty of committing hypocrisy - if it's good enough for Bob Dylan then it's good enough for Against Me!.  At the end of the day, a band must strive to progress or risk extinction.  Anyway, they are hardly Green Day, are they? 

And, to be honest, as a fan of their earlier albums as well as their recent releases, I can find merit in all of their material even though, at times, it is difficult not to be blinkered.  It was exactly that way with White Crosses.  From an initial reaction of antipathy to one of unadulterated joy, I am pleased to say that Against Me!'s latest album, through its strong riffs and emotive lyrics, is fast becoming one of my favorite albums of 2010 so far.

Band Of Horses: Laredo

 

Above is the new video for 'Laredo' from the new Band Of Horses album Infinite Arms.  The video is available through itunes and Vevo in the US but, sadly, it is not available for fans outside of America, yet.

Therefore, I have taken the step to place it here so that BoH fans in the rest of the world can enjoy this great song and beautifully composed video.  If this is illegal or a problem in anyway, I apologise in advance and will remove the video upon request, but in this day and age, with the internet making our daily lives a truly global experience, surely everyone should have access to the same content.  To the content providers: by all means, stick an advert in front of the video, unique to the individual's country, but don't prevent people from having access to content they really want to see, and that is readily available to others, just because they live in a different country. 

If you are in America, you can watch the video on Vevo's youtube channel here in stunning high definition.

Band of Horses: Live from Grand Central Terminus

The interface, Spinner's showcase of live music, is currently featuring a performance by Band of Horses from Grand Central Terminus in New York.

BoH are one of my favorite bands and, at my recent wedding, my wife-to-be walked down the aisle to the title track from their new album 'Infinite Arms'.  I have embedded the live version of the song below.  Grand Central is an impressive place for a random gig and BoH do a great job of filling the vast Vanderbilt Hall with their unique alt-country sound.

The Interface is a great website and is also available as a podcast via itunes (or your preferred podcasting app).  It features unique live performances from bands as diverse as The Hold Steady, Surfer Blood, and Beach House.  It's definitely worth checking out. 



'Infinite Arms' by Band of Horses is available to buy now.