On June 24, the Republic label released The Avett Brothers’ new album, True Sadness. While some are upset that it’s more mainstream than past records, the electronic instruments are truly just an expansion from a band that likes to play around with their sound.
If you’re a fan of the Brothers’ past albums, you may find this album is a little different. “You are Mine” features a synthesizer and drum machine with a galactic feel and “May It Last” has spacey vocals and an orchestra behind it. However, the Avett Brothers still weave their brand of Americana into almost everything. While “Ain’t No Man” sounds a little more conventional, it still has the Brothers’ feel-good lyrics. “Mama, I Don’t Believe” relies on western guitar and piano above the orchestration and “Satan Pulls the Strings” becomes electronic bluegrass.
Other songs sound decidedly like themselves. Matter of fact “Smithsonian” has their traditional banjo picking and fiddle player. “Victims of Life” bounces along with the ukulele and “Divorce Separation Blues” is a humorous blues tune complete with a yodelling chorus. The only song that really disappoints is the album’s namesake, “True Sadness.” The song could have easily been improved with real percussion instruments rather than the drum machine.
True Sadness is undeniably a more mainstream record. However, that’s not always bad. Let the boys experiment a little and expand their sound. While there are hits and misses, overall it’s still an enjoyable album.