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Jul 08, 2016 The Avett Brothers By Zach Hollwedel

The Avett Brothers’ ninth studio album, True Sadness, is a 51-minute collection of a dozen beautifully and brilliantly crafted tracks. From the opening chords of “Ain’t No Man” to the final notes of “May It Last,” the record marks the continued progression of a group whose sound has been evolving for 16-years and counting.

In a March 2016 letter that accompanied the album’s announcement, founding frontman and brother Seth Avett declared True Sadness a “patchwork quilt” with elements of Tom Petty, Nine Inch Nails, Gillian Welch, and more. The description is undeniably apt. True Sadness is very much a musical olio (it’s easy to pick up on countless other influences, as well), but as a whole, the album envelops the listener, like the embrace of a comfortable blanket. True Sadness is an album easy to get lost in, an experience that ends all too soon. From “Smithsonian” to “Victims of Life” to “Divorce Separation Blues,” it’s an examination of life, love, and loss (as much of The Avett Brothers’ output is) that, no matter how heavy its themes might get, retains an uplifting hopefulness that warrants revisiting it time and again. (www.theavettbrothers.com)

Author rating: 7.5/10