While long time fans of The Avett Brothers have been waiting almost two-and-a-half years for the band’s sixth full-length album release, I and Love and You, chances are most who purchase this record will be new to the group’s music. With this album, the trio moved from their management’s label, Ramseur Records, to American/Columbia as well as teamed up with well-known producer Rick Rubin (Beastie Boys, Slayer, Red Hot Chili Peppers).

But for those who have followed this North Carolina band since their formation in 2001, this album seems like a fairly natural progression. However if newcomers to the group listen to I and Love and You and then listen to some of their earlier albums, it would be a bit of a shock. This is a band that used to strictly be classified as bluegrass. In this album, listeners will find those roots that led Avetts to this point in their career, while still seeing their growth and musical evolution.

This is best displayed in the album’s opening title track. The simple sound of piano and cello display the foundation the band has possessed the past eight years, yet due to the production of the track, it has a new vibrancy not seen in previous albums. This same musical progression can be seen throughout the album.

For the band that normally sticks to their three-piece set of a banjo, guitar and a kick drum, listeners will hear an instrumental maturity.

The organ makes re-occurring appearances in several songs, such as “Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise” and “Ill With Want”, serving as a subtle backdrop and adding a bit of Memphis Blues.

One of the highlights of the album is “Kick Drum Heart”. Here, the band makes use of a glockenspiel (similar to a xylophone). This small instrument completes this song. Without it, it would not feel nearly as upbeat. It is impossible to listen to this track without tapping your foot. Try it.

Lyrically, the Avetts have a way of speaking to the core of the human heart in a very honest and refreshing way that many artists today lack and there is no shortage of these lyrics in this album. Continuing with their overall themes of love and human frailty the band is quick to offer up one-liners that leave listeners thinking. “The more I have, the more I think I’m almost where I need to be”, sing the brothers.

Referring to always wanting a little bit more, these are words, nearly everyone can relate to. Their move to a major label as well as gain of a new producer, allowed access to marketing and publicity the band previously had not seen.

After almost a month of partnering with music websites and magazines to post video preview clips of the release, album anticipation reached an all time high. While this kind of build up typically leads to disappointment for more mainstream musicians, this isn’t the case for the Avetts. I and Love and You certainly lives up to its hype.