Product Description

The Avett Brothers release The Second Gleam; six new songs offered with the natural lyrical clarity and honest delivery that has become synonymous with their name. With this addition to their growing body of work, Scott and Seth Avett establish a series, while further separating their writing from the modern landscape of music, popular or otherwise. Following in the initial footsteps of the first Gleam recording, this second installment sings to the uncommon senses of the common man. The record walks calmly and powerfully among fragile and hard-learned themes of life and song, passing through loss, change, hope, death, dedication to family, late nights in the hospital, love as always and much more. At once plain and poetic, simple and complicated as those who will give their time to hear it, we find: The Second Gleam.

Track Listing

1. Tear Down the House
2. Murder in the City
3. Bella Donna
4. The Greatest Sum
5. St. Joseph's
6. Souls Like the Wheels

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2561 in Music
• Released on: 2008-07-22
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: EP

Customer Reviews

Just as bright as the first Gleam, maybe brighter, The Second Gleam shines again
The Second Gleam shines again. Since I first read that this was coming, I've been trying to contain my anticipation and excitement for the new album. The Avett Brothers shine so well that words can scarcely express. The lyrics on the Second Gleam are deep, insightful and heart-felt. They combine perfectly with the finely crafted instrumental work.

Buy this EP now! You will be pleased!

+1/2 - Low-key, stripped-down acoustic country-folk
As the Avett Brothers pack their bags for the big time of American Recordings and Rick Rubin, they've left this six-song EP as a capstone to their five years on the indie Ramseur label. Unlike the fuller, rock-inflected country-folk productions of last year's "Emotionalism," their latest is pared back to just the brothers, their guitars and a banjo. Bassist Bob Crawford is absent, the vocals are mostly solo and the lyrics are pushed up front, with instruments providing a setting rather than active elements of the songs. The result is more like a songwriter's circle than a studio recording, leaning more heavily on the tunes than the performances. The six songs (clocking in at just under 21 minutes) are thoughtful, direct and personal, covering themes of growing up and letting go, romantic desire, brotherly considerations of family, and some philosophical wonderings. The brothers finger-picking is particularly fetching on "Bella Donna," a song of innocent teenage longing that winningly brings to mind Alex Chilton's "Thirteen." The Avett's capture a frankness, in their writing, singing, playing and production that's startling in its quiet power. 4-1/2 stars, if allowed fractional ratings. [©2008 hyperbolium dot com]

The Gleam P2
As a rule I avoid sequels. I can name only a handful of movies, books or albums that have succeeded artistically as a "sequel". While THE GLEAM PTII, does not rate as high in my opinion as the original, it's still a pretty strong piece of work. The concepts of both albums are the same, Scott and Seth Avett, minus bassist Bob Crawford facing off solo with spare, acoustic ballads. The original GLEAM gets the nod mostly due to IF IT'S THE BEACHES; perhaps the Avett's shining moment on record. Still, PART II does deliver some first class material, especially the opener TEAR DOWN THE HOUSE.

The quiet tunes featured on both GLEAM sets are a far cry from the raucous intensity of the Avett's live shows, but these guys are such great songwriters that it's still some essential listening. It will be interesting to see where they go on their next album that will be produced by fellow bearded Svengali, Rick Rubin. In the meantime it will be fine with me to enjoy these amazing, honest, heartfelt performances.