After 2019's disappointing
Closer Than Together
,
the Avett Brothers
back off a bit on the political commentary and turn in a warm, reliable album that bears only their name for a title. After a decade-long stint on
Rick Rubin
's
American
imprint, the band left the major-label system, returning to
Ramseur Records
, their 2000s indie label. It's a bit of a homecoming and some of the songs, especially the energetic "Love of a Girl" and "Orion's Belt," hark back to that heyday, but the earnest folk-pop of their later years still dominates the set. Despite switching labels, they've retained
Rubin
's services; he has produced each of the band's albums since their 2009 breakthrough
I and Love and You
. Heartfelt and well-built songs like "Cheap Coffee" and "We Are Loved" help anchor the set, but there's an underlying banality that keeps it from greatness. Still, it's an improvement on its predecessor. ~ Timothy Monger