Hooray for finally doing Part 2 in this series! I've compiled a ranking of my top 15 favorite covers by my favorite band. They've covered many great artists and songs very well. Read Part 1 here if you missed my personal favorites list.
15. bye bye love (with langhorne slim) - the everly brothers
Bye bye happiness? More like hello happiness when you hear this (even though the lyrics are sad haha). I don't know why, but I like the combination and contrast of the happy tune and melancholy lyrics. I also love hearing modern artists sing songs from several decades ago. And although this isn't a post about Langhorne Slim covers, I think his voice is great for this song (obviously so is Seth's).
I'm through with counting the stars above | |
13. i'll come running back to you - sam cooke
I had never heard of Sam Cooke until I found the brothers covering "Cupid" and Seth covering "A Change is Gonna Come", which you should also check out even if they don't end up on this list because they are just as amazing. I love it when Seth sings in this '50s R&B style.
| I've got my pride, but deep down inside |
14. the girl i left behind (traditional folk song)
This song has been said to date back to the 1600's in Ireland and it gained popularity in America around the time of the Civil War. The original version is just fife and drum music for the battlefield. I've searched for these specific lyrics and found slightly different ones each time but never found any mentioning marriage or animals like in this version, so that's interesting. I love the way the Avett Brothers sing it and Bob's fiddling is a great addition. Oh, and SETH IS ON BASS. WHAT. I repeat: WHAT.
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12. country blues - dock boggs/doc watson
I LOVE THIS. From Paul's keys to Scott's voice and banjo to Seth's guitar. I love it when they jam out and this song is amazing live.
| At home I cannot stay |
11. marriage - bombadil
I recently started loving this one. It's so beautiful.
Would you still find me pretty | |
10. fish & bird - tom waits
I like Seth's version much better than the original. With his softer voice, it almost sounds like this is already a Timothy Seth Avett as Darling song rather than anyone else's. And the steel-bodied guitar gives it a great unique sound overall. Sometimes Seth's voice makes me want to cry--this is one of those times. I love it.
| You can live in my heart |
9. i flew over our house last night - tom t. hall
I love how the Avett Brothers can be practically anywhere and just sit down and play a song (like this one, in a hotel room a day before the 2011 Grammys). Tom T. Hall is known for his storytelling in songs and Seth takes this one and makes it his own excellently.
Thirty thousand feet above I almost stopped to weep | |
8. i love - tom t. hall
Another Tom T. Hall. I didn't know this existed until about a week or two ago, but I am so glad I found it. I love how the brothers each sing their own verses and then harmonize together for the last verse and chorus: "And I love you, too". It's such a simply beautiful and sweet song.
| I love winners when they cry, losers when they try, |
7. the prettiest thing - david childers
I'm pretty sure the Avett Brothers made this song more popular than its original artist and I personally think this cover is better than the original. I love the banjo, vocal harmonies (especially the a Capella ones), and the prominence of Bob's voice for a change.
Do you remember what we talked about? | |
6. the way it is - nicole atkins
Seth sings this song with as much raw emotion as Nicole does. It. Is. Amazing. He sings directly to my soul. And it's nice to hear him on piano.
| (S)he's the only one I've ever wanted |
5. in the aeroplane over the sea - neutral milk hotel
Like many of the artists that the Brothers have covered, I had never heard of Neutral Milk Hotel before. Now, because of this, I love them and have In the Aeroplane Over the Sea on vinyl. I find it interesting that although Scott is present, he doesn't sing or harmonize with Seth. BUT PAUL DOES. PAUL.
How strange it is to be anything at all | |
4. save part of yourself - brandi carlile
This stripped-down version with only Seth and his acoustic is incredible. He's just so dang good! I can't believe that none of the people walking by stopped to listen. They clearly had no idea what was up.
| You taught me how to love someone |
3. no one's gonna love you - Band of horses
!!! Holy holy holy this song is already immensely beautiful, but Seth made it even more so. The lead singer of BOH saw this, was honored, and then covered the Brothers' "Live and Die" which I'll link here if you're interested, but of the two, Seth's cover is stunning.
Anything to make you smile | |
2. Being around - the lemonheads
The lyrics are entertaining and sweet--like Scott. I love it. My only complaint is that this song is too short. I want more. "I'm just tryin to give myself a reason for being around".
| If I was the front porch swing, would you let me hang? |
1. for today - jessica lea mayfield
TEARS. This song is so pretty and sad and mature--Jessica wrote it when she was only about 14--whaaat. And then to hear the Brothers cover it--GAH! I'm speechless.
I can see clearer and I'm getting closer | |
bonus: In the garden, amazing grace - gospel songs
I love it when the Avett Brothers sing gospel songs. They even helped their dad with a Jim Avett and Family gospel album in 2008. I'm hoping there will be another one like that coming. Or maybe an Avett Christmas album. That would be awesome. I wanted to include these two songs because they sound amazing (And I got to hear "In the Garden" live--so lovely).
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o m g How embarrassing
I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT I FORGOT RANDY TRAVIS'S "FOREVER AND EVER, AMEN". I was on YouTube just now looking for a song to play while I finish up this post and I found it again and thought, What the heck have I done?!?! My list is incomplete without this one. But I'm not going to delete any other song on this amazing list, so I'm just adding it down here as a double bonus, I guess. I love Randy Travis (especially this song) and the Brothers cover it so well. They've also sang with him onstage before ("Forever and Ever, Amen", "Three Wooden Crosses", "Deeper Than the Holler", "January Wedding", "I and Love and You", "February Seven", "Murder in the City").
"They say that time can play tricks on a memory, make people forget things they knew." Yeah, but I'm not gonna forget this ever again hahaha.
"They say that time can play tricks on a memory, make people forget things they knew." Yeah, but I'm not gonna forget this ever again hahaha.
| You're not just time that I'm killing |
So there is my definitive ranking of my current favorite Avett covers. I'm sure there will be more as time goes by. Crackerfarm (Mike, their friend/photographer/videographer) uploads new videos pretty regularly and posts hints on Instagram, so there's always something to look forward to between shows and recording.
One thing I love about the Avett Brothers is that they can practically take any song out there and make it their own and sing it flawlessly. I encourage everyone to listen to other Avett covers beyond this list because there are so many great ones. Keep on the lookout for Part 3 coming in a few weeks....it'll be a "pretty" one. ;)
As for now, I'm working on a full review of True Sadness, which should be out by the end of this week. Thanks for reading!
~Say Love <3
One thing I love about the Avett Brothers is that they can practically take any song out there and make it their own and sing it flawlessly. I encourage everyone to listen to other Avett covers beyond this list because there are so many great ones. Keep on the lookout for Part 3 coming in a few weeks....it'll be a "pretty" one. ;)
As for now, I'm working on a full review of True Sadness, which should be out by the end of this week. Thanks for reading!
~Say Love <3