The Avett Brothers Re-Define ‘True Sadness’

Stephanie Hernandez

It’s been three years since fans have heard from North Carolina folk rockers The Avett Brothers. Since their release of “Magpie and the Dandelion” in ‘13, the duo has been hard at work finding a way to expand their reach both lyrically and musically while still remaining true to their Southern Americana roots. The group’s challenge thus far has not been to create meaningful or memorable music, for their ability to do so has been made quite evident; but instead, how to continue to produce just as poignant a piece with enough variety to become readily distinguishable from the rest. Here on “True Sadness,” the brothers have released songs that are more than just catchy, they’ve effectively curated tracks that become memorable distillations of relatable human experiences.

The Avett Brothers has taken what could have been another set of brooding Americana and instead created something much more copacetic. The mere title of the record conjures up images of dreary, solemn and perhaps depressing facts of life: lost loves, loneliness, death, that sort of thing. However, The Avetts took this opportunity to produce tracks that split the record’s meaning apart, dissecting it in each and every way possible resulting in an equally intriguing and introspective album that is more uplifting than it is brooding. Switching up their meticulously constructed formula of storytelling lyricism meets Americana ballads and old school harmonics, “True Sadness” finds brothers Seth and Scott loosening the reigns, still in control but with more opportunities to get lost in the journey. Opening with the rich blues sound of “Ain’t No Man,” its arresting melody is powerful, sucking you in deep before you have a chance to think twice. The subject matter of the subsequent tracks fall more in line with the record’s title; from the confrontation of life and death on “No Hard Feelings” to the thundering ballad “Satan Pulls the Strings,” each song seems to grapple with just one more human fear but instead of being accented by the typical light acoustics and minimal percussion, the Avetts have seemingly learned to lose control. Old-timey crooning replaced by feverish guitars and reverberating vocals, these new tracks demand your attention instead of asking for it.

Continuing down the road less traveled, we find the brothers effectively separating melancholic lyrics from their supposed need to be attached to somber melodies. The record’s title track, an oddly uplifting example of this, explores themes of depression and alcoholism yet is underscored by bright calypso-like tones; the ease and execution of this juxtaposition in and of itself show that the brothers are indeed maturing and in the right direction. Not without its fair share of growing pains, tossed in are a few questionable choices, from the yodeling and Caribbean feel of “Divorce Separation Blues” to the odd space rock of “You are Mine.” It’s apparent the brothers are still experimenting and honestly, that’s okay.  While there are still inklings of their past identity – the lush acoustic guitar melodies and classic harmonies –it is still clear to see that “True Sadness” is entirely something new for both us and them.

An ode to finding strength when struggling, “True Sadness” allowed The Avett Brothers the space to share more of their inner demons with their audience. The shift in their sound was more than welcomed; The utilization of various genres and styles of music previously untouched led to an overall air of freshness to what could have been an otherwise stale album. Keeping their poetic lyrics and moving stories intact, the brothers were able to add a bit of energizing candor to the record, enough to ensure that past fans did not feel alienated but also to allow for them to experience another, more tenacious side of the brothers as well. It is clear The Avett Brothers will continue their command over the folk genre but perhaps this time with a bit more bravado.

“True Sadness” is available on Apple Music on June 24.