The Avett Brothers

When it comes to the Avett Brothers, namely how they leaped up from underdog status to become one of America's most buzzed-about bands, it's almost easier to explain what they're not. They're not musical illusionists hiding behind a wall of weird sounds — "The Ballad of Love and Hate" unfurls its Dylan-flavored, passion-packed poetry clothed only in some delicate acoustic fingerpicking. Despite what lazy listeners may say, they're not alt-country either — the banjo-and-guitar setup on "Will You Return" may seem bluegrass-ready, but the three-part harmonies and melodic moves are pure mid-'60s mop-top rock. Come to think of it, sometimes they're not even a guitar band — the shimmering, Band-like ballad to Brooklyn "I and Love and You" hits its heart-shaped target with little more than piano and cello pulling the strings.

So what exactly are the Avett Brothers all about, then? Look for more clues amid the shouting and stomping in Next Steps.

Sure, Seth and Scott Avett hail from the bluegrass country of North Carolina, shun amplification, and prefer the plunk of a banjo to the wail of a wild guitar solo. But for all their country/folk trappings, they're as much a rock 'n' roll band as anything. From its throat-shredding shouts to its central message — "Be loud, let your color show!" — "Colorshow" is all about getting your ya-yas out. Acoustic rave-up "Slight Figure of Speech" channels vintage Violent Femmes, and unleashes some tongue-twisting lyrics at pure punk velocity. That's not to say the Avetts' deep Americana roots don't show through — the harmonica-slathered, fiddle-fried stomp-along "Go to Sleep" could have fallen off the back of Dylan and the Band's dusty pickup on The Basement Tapes' way to the pressing plant.

You'll love 'em live, from psycho killers to lonesome lovers — all in our Deep Cuts.

If the measure of a truly great band is how hard they hit their mark onstage, then the Avett Brothers' place in rock 'n' roll history is assured — they built their rep on the relentlessly raging power of their live shows. Listen to them bust out the breakneck strum-and-holler of the blood-soaked murderer's lament "I Killed Sally's Lover" and indulge their inner goofball with a mess-around Merlefest version of "Distraction 74" to get an idea of just how well they can work a crowd. Of course, they can dig deep into a downhearted vibe live, too — lend an ear as they slow down the already-mournful "November Blue" to make room for the maximum amount of teardrop time, wringing out every last drop of dreamy desperation.

The Avett Brothers have gone from lo-fi D.I.Y. cult heroes to award-winning, Rick Rubin-produced, big-label buzz band . . . seemingly while no one was looking. They bring together folk and country roots, piercingly poetic lyrics, and soul-baring abandon, paring things down to the absolute essentials — songs that stick to our ribs, and a searing emotional honesty that lets us feel that beautiful burn on its way in. The thing is, even though these ex-underground upstarts have bubbled up only in the last couple of years, their story goes back to the beginning of the decade. So how do you decide where to jump in on their Americana adventures? Not to worry — from countrified Carolina twang to unplugged-but-undeniable rock 'n' roll, we've mapped the prime points of the Avett Brothers' rootsy, rockin' journey. All you have to do is join in.