The Avett Brothers I and Love and You (2 Lp's)The Avett Brothers continue charting the same musical course as EMOTIONALISM and MIGNONETTE on major label debut I AND LOVE AND YOU, despite the presence of hands on producer Rick Ruben. The country folk duo continue to add elements of pop and hillbilly rock to a country bluegrass foundation on the 2009 LP, a record with a newfound emphasis on piano and nuanced arrangements. Working with a larger budget allows the group to add small flourishes a cello

4 A Thousand Days Before

Patrick Milligan

) Down Here Below 3

" "Abyssinia

Charlie Allen Martin

soft rock-inspired songs that serve as a nice soundtrack when one is coming down from those kinds of highs

the mysterious Nico

Peter Oxer

The track list includes "Lapdance

" with its moody trombones and a cavernous echo so deep you can feel the space around you expanding and contracting

Standout "I Stand Alone" juxtaposes hip-hop and pop as Common raps about growing up in Chicago

choosing to settle into comforting cacophony instead