Many a baseball prospect falters on their way to the Big Show. Promise sours. Yet anyone that saw the Avett Brothers play knew they had the tools. The songwriting’s sharpened with each outing, but it jumped several levels on 2007’s Emotionalism, which showcased even heftier pop craftsmanship. Now their Rick Rubin-produced major-label debut, I And Love And You, delivers their breakout performance. Rubin adds layers of depth without crowding the canvas, while the Avetts fashion their richest slice of rootsy pop sophistication. A year’s-best-list lock, the album gives off beauty and intelligence that reach an apotheosis on the stunning “The Perfect Space.”
Sat., Oct. 31, 8 p.m., 2009
Sat., Oct. 31, 8 p.m., 2009
