Every year I make a summer playlist and I was going to write about this year's version, but it's nothing special. I haven't found the perfect song this summer to build this year's list around. I did include some Michael Jackson, of course, and the Stevie Wonder songs he so beautifully performed at MJ's memorial. And I included some songs to mark our trip to Paris, and "Easy To Be Hard" from the soundtrack of "Hair," which we saw on Broadway. And I included some De La Soul to mark the 20th anniversary(!) of "Three Feet High and Rising" (and the 20th anniversary of my move to SoCal).
But the best song I've heard all summer didn't fit on that playlist. It's not sunny or carefree and it's not something you can dance to. Nevertheless, I can't get "I and Love and You" out of my head. It's by The Avett Brothers, an alt-country trio from North Carolina that consists of siblings Scott and Seth Avett and Bob Crawford. Their new album, produced by Rick Rubin, isn't due until Sept. 29, but the title track is available now (on iTunes or FREE! on this NPR playlist: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106427862).
"I and Love and You" is a plaintive ballad that reminds me of something The Band might've done. In fact, one of their song titles is referenced in the chorus:
Oh Brooklyn, Brooklyn take me in
Are you aware the shape I'm in?
My hands they shake, my head it spins
Oh Brooklyn, Brooklyn take me in
And after the chorus repeats for the second time, a Garth Hudson-like organ part pops in and you swear that Levon Helm is going to chime in next. Get thee to this song and on one of these warm summer nights when you're alone, pop open a cold one, listen to "I and Love and You" and contemplate the shape you're in. I hope you're not as sad as the singer of this song.
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