Album Review: The Avett Brothers - True Sadness

There's an odd confusion to the Avetts' albums now — caught between the traditional plaintive voices of the eponymous Seth and Scott, and wanting to be more modern/commercial — which here just seems to mean throwing on some generic synth noises and few more electric guitars.

Things get muddled: Ain't No Man starts with a We Will Rock You-type stomp before heading to off to gospel territory. Songs like the more restrained Smithsonian offer hope, but Divorce Separation Blues — referencing Seth's recent messy marital issues — comes across as a pastiche of old 'I done her wrong' country than anything genuine. True Sadness is more a true frustration, just not reflecting their real capabilities.