This album gives me goose bumps
I love this new direction they're headed in, the sound of this record is just so beautiful. Can't wait to see what comes next.....

i am so excited to recieve my box set i cant wait. great album guys. keep it up. prob my favorite album yet.

This album shows the musical genius of the The Avett Brothers. Yes, it is a different sound but the meaning and lyrics are still there. You still get the same euphoria when listening to this album as you do during Mignonette or Emotionalism. Also after seeing the songs live this past summer, I would have to say the songs can rock hard too! I think this album shows hows the Avett Brothers can grow and mature and I applaud it!

I haven't stopped listening to this album today. The insight portrayed in these lyrics are beyond words. Yes, the sound of this album is much different than all of the others, but that's the point. They've grown up, and their music has as well. "I want to have friends, that accept me for the man that I am, not the man that I was." I can't wait to see how far these guys go! Just don't forget about all the fans that loved you before Columbia Records

I have been waiting all year for this day! I had been listening to it on the npr site, but having it on my itunes just makes it so much better. Now at the click on the button, i have the long awaited glory of I&L&U. I think that The Perfect Space and Ten Thousand Words are my primary favorites. And January Wedding is reminiscent of the earlier albums. GO BUY THE ALBUM!!! DO NOT ILLEGALLY DOWNLOAD!!!!
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if your love laughs at your dreams
its not as bad as it seems
either way one of them has got to go

breaking news: kanye just interupted Paramore's press conference to tell everyone that the Avett Brothers album is the best album to come out today....and everyone agreed!!!!!

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Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense...Buddha

...I feel like it’s just another beautiful step on what’s already been a staircase of artistic integrity and splendor. The songwriting is still richly exposed; the musicianship is as strong and refined as ever.
The word that keeps coming back to me with “I and Love and You” is “refined”. It’s everything you want from and Avett album refined and polished to a beautiful solid piece of craftsmanship. To those true blue fans out there don’t worry…there are still very raw moments with some waling, punk rock screaming and even an old school bluegrass breakdown...

(this is an exerpt from my little review found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/icahla/3967228384/)

There are very very beautiful songs on this album but I have to agree with a previous commenter Tylerreed50. It just lacks something and I believe it has a lot to do with the mainstream label. I'm still going to listen to it simply due to the fact that I love these guys and they are awesome and the reason I still listen to music. I'm just a little disappointed in the country/pop sound I get from this album. I don't mind the added instruments I think it's great to branch out. Can't wait to see em live again because I know the original emotion I got from them will come out in the shows because they always have been and will be my favorite performers.

P.S. I miss the banjo/screaming/exciting songs/and the folk indie sound. I just hope they can redefine themselves again and branch away from sounding like everything else.

But I still retain the utmost respect for the Avetts!!!

I don't take the time to check in here, well, ever really, but I wanted to see what other fans were thinking. I also have to agree with some of the recent posts, that this is a pretty disappointing album, for the Avett Brothers at least. It is pop/country, and while most of it is pretty good compared to the bulk of that genre, it's not pretty good for these guys. And some of it is downright sappy. Ugh.
I can see blaming the label and Rubin, but he has produced raw and powerful bands in the past with some amazing results (Slayer, for example). Frankly, if the goal they set was to be more commercially viable, then so be it. I understand that the strength of the Avetts is in their live sets, and I would have to assume the songs will be way better live (looking forward to finding out on Halloween!). And even with that being said, they have already given us a fleet of outstanding studio albums and eps, including one of the best 3-album runs (Mignonette-Emotionalism) that any band has ever had.
Hopefully they hit it big...

a sidenote- I got the LP a couple weeks ago, and I have to ask, what is the point of putting it on 2 discs if its still going to be 33 rpm? This could have fit on one record. I thought that the point of doing that is so they can be played at 45 speed, which most people agree produces a richer sound. Seems silly to me.

This entire CD is absolutely amazing. It makes you want to listen over and over. Way to go guys! Keep on making good music!

New CD is pretty good, but nothing like what attracted me to them. I know they are growing up, and how proud we are all of them.....but, where the hell did the banjo and guitar go? The lyrics and emotions are rockin, but I miss the older sound. I hope they understand that the original fans are here to back them 100%. We were here well before the others and will be around a hell of a lot longer. I hope once they establish themselves with the "IN" crowd, they will come back to their grassroots. Best of luck friends. I still play my banjo to every song!!!!

Solid release. I'm extremely satisfied with this album and can't wait until the band comes through SoCal again. It's been such a treat hearing all these songs live before the release and I'm even happier about the recorded versions!

Meaning "I was a mess after finally picking up the CD today".

After seeing the Brothers for the first time at the Orpheum in Los Angeles on Sept. 5th, I was blown away. Having listened to them for a bit now, I was treated to the show (after hearing so much about their incredible stage performances).

Being a transplant Nebraskan, with a deep and abiding love for the heartfelt accompanied by banjos, Hammonds, and pedal steel, I was left in literal tears after hearing, for the first time at the Orpheum, "Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise". This didn't change when driving up Highland to my apartment today. It's been on repeat most of the afternoon.

The entire album is a beautiful work, and the addition of production by Rubin hasn't cut loose the beautiful rough edges we fans are accustomed to. The raw, the rich. It's an incredible addition to your body of work.

Please, please continue to bring your truth. I'll continue to spread the gospel.

Brenton

I have read a few of the complaints...I agree with some, that I love the raw banjo and guitar from previous albums...but just relax...put the headphones on and give I and Love and You a spin...WOW, its a powerful album, well written, mature, and just a great listen....I do like the demo of Tin Man much better than the studio album though...But these are the same guys that we have loved for so long...I can't wait to see the live again and watch them rock these songs too. Remember these are THEIR songs for US to enjoy...Keep it coming guys!

you guess still keep blowing my mind with new music keep up the good work

Though I feel that a large majority of the record is amazing, january wedding(i swear to god even though I'm not getting married or even engaged this song had to have been written just for me), and it spread, perfect space, ten thousand words, laundry room; need i say more? Like others i'm slightly confused by the drums and piano but i was anticipating a different sound in some ways. After all this was a completely different method of recording for them, their first time this way. The avett's ability at song writing continues to amaze me. In this sense I and Love and You is right on par with all of their albums. They have an ability to speak and move me with their lyrics like no other band has ever done. I'm not disappointed with the record...except for one tiny thing. I'm very sad to say that it does, within it's 13 tracks, contain the first ever avett song that I have to admit that I don't like. It pains me to write those words. Someone else commented on exactly what really bothers me about slight figure of speech, the effects put on the vocals...I really dislike it. The song sounds like someone trying to rip off talk on indolence and doing a terrible job at it. I'm no expert but isn't this rick rubin's doing?
I know that in order for the avetts to grow and continue upon their journey things will have to remain mutable with them. I'm not alone in my reservations regarding my favorite band becoming more mainstream...while you hope for their success it hurts to share them with the world. I wish for everyone in the world to have the good fortune of listening to, living by, and loving them as I do...and yet I want to keep them all to myself. Thankfully I have no fear that they will become the proverbial sellouts because we all know that they came for all that's good and that's how they'll walk away.