The Avett Brothers & Mike Patton- AVTT/PTTN
Label: Ramsuer/Ipecac
Producer: Scott Avett, Mike Patton, Dana Nielson
Well, this was surely not on anyone’s 2025 bingo card! AVTT/PTTN represents a collaborative side-project between folk-rock heroes, The Avett Brothers and Mike Patton, the growling lead vocalist of 80s/90s rap-metal group Faith No More, and a seemingly endless list of other bands and projects that have shaped the veteran singer’s winding, avant-garde-leaning career. There are surely more disparate pairs of acts to unite in the musical sphere, though it’d take some time to think of any off the top of one’s head. These off-the-beaten-path albums are usually the makings for either some of the most rewarding surprises in popular music, or the most infamous misfires. But regardless of which side of the aisle AVTT/PTTN ultimately falls on, the initial curiosity and fascination is devoted to uncovering what sorts of whiplashing detours it will lead to for both artists.
Frankly, out of the gates, there’s nothing drastically different to be found as it relates to the Avetts themselves. The opening pair of “Dark Night of My Soul” and “To Be Known” feels like fairly standard Avett fare–i.e. classic Americana catnip–with Patton merely serving as a featured guest. On paper, his gruff vocals feel like an unlikely companion for the rich, folksy harmonies of Scott and Seth. However, the respective sonic flourishes of the Willie-recalling harmonica and the plucky banjo serve as the perfect musical heartbeat to allow us to soak in the combination, and quickly go from head-scratching to hooked.
But, the positioning of those two openers proves to be an intelligently strategic choice to slowly lure in the listener. Because on track #3 (“Heaven’s Breath”), it’s where Patton’s presence and influence really kick in, leading his collaborators into the dark and spooky dimension of hard rock that resembles not nary a lick in the rest of their discography. This is the stop on the route where a lot of listeners will get off the bus, but those that are open-minded enough to stay will be rewarded. It’s bizarre and jarring to be sure, but yet you don’t feel like you’re suddenly listening to a different record. Besides, to hear Scott’s lead vocals lean into the hard-rock distortions of the proceedings is ear-popping in a splendidly shocking way.
With their two vast styles now seemingly gelled into one in the aftermath of “Heaven’s Breath”, the record really starts to take flight. Subsequent track “Too Awesome” layers Beatles-esque harmonies over some stripped but grungy guitar riffs, and it makes for a ruggedly beautiful expression of romantic adoration. It’s an intriguing blend that bounces gloriously between the whimsical magic of the Avetts and the booming presence of Patton, and it captivates you through tracks like “Disappearing” and especially “Eternal Love”, which feels like the most fully realized of this stylistic combination, and proves to be a movingly bittersweet and excellent single. From there, the trio throws all caution to the wind with an almost indescribable sonic adventure through a blindsiding but insatiably trippy cover of the Pete Seeger folk standard, “The Ox Driver’s Song”, of all things. And then, while we’re all surely still in shock over that performance, they slowly pare back the gonzo-vibes with the still-hazy “The Things I Do”, before landing back on Earth with “Received”. It’s a finale far more glowing and resonant than anyone could have expected a few minutes earlier. All I can say is that, somehow, it all works.
Heretofore, I’d been very satisfied with the overall creative and sonic arc of the Avett Brothers’ catalog. I loved that they revisited their more country-oriented roots on last year’s self-titled effort, after likely taking their adventurous and increasingly socially-outspoken 2010s vision as far as they probably could. However, in retrospect after listening to the drastic left-of-center turn of AVTT/PTTN, I suddenly realized that they were in vital need of a swerve and a potentially cult-level refresh on the fringes of everything they’d ever done. AVTT/PTTN is a certifiable musical roller-coaster, y’all. But for me, it’s the thrilling, dare-devel kind you get right back in line for, rather than one that leaves you screaming in horror, or indicting it for its lameness. And frankly, getting in line multiple times is probably what’s most needed to let it soak in and appreciate it. It’s the kind of late-year surprise we didn’t know we needed, and a surging shot in the arm as the new release schedule slams to a halt in advance of the holidays.
Track Listing:
- “Dark Night of My Soul” (Scott Avett, Seth Avett, Mike Patton)
- “To Be Known” (Avett, Avett, Patton)
- “Heaven’s Breath” (Avett, Avett, Patton)
- “Too Awesome” (Avett, Avett, Patton)
- “Disappearing” (Avett, Avett, Patton)
- “Eternal Love” (Avett, Avett, Patton)
- “The Ox Driver’s Song” (Pete Seeger)
- “The Things I Do” (Avett, Avett, Patton)
- “Received” (Avett, Avett, Patton)
The 706 
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