Closer Than Together
The Avett Brothers · 2019
55 min · 13 tracks · alternative country
A heartfelt blend of folk-rock melodies and introspective lyrics, anchored by rich harmonies and acoustic instrumentation.
Top tracks — play these first
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We Americans — This track serves as a poignant commentary on national identity and unity, blending personal storytelling with broader social themes.
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Long Story Short — With its reflective lyrics about the passage of time and life's uncertainties, this song encapsulates the album's introspective nature.
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Bang Bang — A vibrant exploration of personal struggles and resilience, this track stands out for its energetic delivery and emotive vocal harmonies.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases solid songwriting and vocal harmonies but lacks a strong cohesive flow throughout.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album features a consistent mid-tempo pace, while the second half introduces more varied tempos and dynamics.
- Several tracks incorporate layered vocal harmonies that build in intensity, particularly in the choruses.
- The lyrics often reflect personal and social themes, with a storytelling approach that connects across multiple songs.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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6/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady pacing with emotional peaks
- introspective lyrics for deep reflection
- rich melodies for thoughtful listening
- journey-like flow through tracks
Maybe skip if you
- prefer instant gratification tracks
- seek standalone singles experience
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Late Career Highlight — Shows continued vitality and relevance in their discography.
- Career context
- Closer Than Together is The Avett Brothers' ninth studio album, released in 2019 after their previous record, True Sadness, which marked a commercial peak for the band. At this stage in their career, they were navigating a balance between mainstream appeal and their rootsy, alternative country sound, further exploring themes of personal growth and societal reflection.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Mumford & Sons· The Lumineers· Trampled by Turtles
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Bleeding White 3:36
- 2 Tell the Truth 3:22
- 3 We Americans 6:23
- 4 Long Story Short 4:05
- 5 C Sections and Railway Trestles 4:33
- 6 High Steppin’ 3:21
- 7 When You Learn 4:06
- 8 Bang Bang 4:12
- 9 Better Here 3:50
- 10 New Woman’s World 4:04
- 11 Who Will I Hold 4:22
- 12 Locked Up 3:18
- 13 It’s Raining Today 6:10
What to play next
The Third Gleam
2020
Continues the introspective themes with a stripped-down, acoustic focus.
True Sadness
2016
Sets the emotional tone and lyrical depth that leads into Closer Than Together.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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