True Sadness
by The Avett Brothers
  • Record Label: Island
  • Release Date: Jun 24, 2016
User Score
5.5

Mixed or average reviews- based on 15 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 15
  3. Negative: 5 out of 15
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  1. Zaximus
    Jun 29, 2016
    0
    I literally created this account just to forewarn others away from this album. I've been listening to The Avett Brothers since Four Thieves Gone, around 2007. I LITERALLY PLAY THE BANJO because of Scott Avett. I've seen them 9 times in concert and I can honestly say I'll never purchase another ticket or another album if this is the direction they keep heading. I remember hearing "SatanI literally created this account just to forewarn others away from this album. I've been listening to The Avett Brothers since Four Thieves Gone, around 2007. I LITERALLY PLAY THE BANJO because of Scott Avett. I've seen them 9 times in concert and I can honestly say I'll never purchase another ticket or another album if this is the direction they keep heading. I remember hearing "Satan Pulls The Strings" live two years ago, I couldn't wait until I could own that track and listen to it over and over. Not now, it's complete pop garbage. There are hundreds of bands in the pop genre, it's literally in the name. They add a fiddle player then turn around and use more drums and electronic tones than they actually use their instruments. At least when Mumford & Sons decided to succumb to critics opinions they sold out 100%. For the life of me I cannot understand what these wonderfully talented musicians are sacrificing their soul and their identity for.… Expand
  2. jbledsoe
    Jul 20, 2016
    10
    I've been a fan of the Avett Brothers since 2006's "Four Thieves Gone," and I absolutely love this album. The Avett Brothers continue to write both beautiful, sad, deeply-felt songs (like "No Hard Feelings," a classic to add to a list that includes "Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise" and "Murder in the City" from previous releases) and upbeat, fun acoustic folk rock.

    Some    I've been a fan of the Avett Brothers since 2006's "Four Thieves Gone," and I absolutely love this album. The Avett Brothers continue to write both beautiful, sad, deeply-felt songs (like "No Hard Feelings," a classic to add to a list that includes "Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise" and "Murder in the City" from previous releases) and upbeat, fun acoustic folk rock.

    Some long-time fans are disappointed in the evolution of the sound seen with first single "Ain't No Man." Make no mistake, it's still your favorite band. "Ain't No Man" is fun, soulful, and a great song I can't wait to singalong with at the next Avett show I go to. The synthesizer experiment on "You Are Mine" is jarring at first, but ultimately the lovely song underneath shines through.

    In the end, these are Avett songs with typically thoughtful, wonderful lyrics. Some of the songs may sound different than you expect, but it's worth your time and more.    … Expand
  3. MisterShmi
    Jun 27, 2016
    0
    The Avett Brothers decline into superficial pop music continues with True Sadness. The album is aptly named - I never knew true sadness until I saw what Rick Rubin did the once great Avetts. Their heartfelt, raw folk music that made their original devoted fans like me has been replaced with soulless, overproduced garbage.

    Imagine a whole album filled with songs like "Paul Newman vs The    The Avett Brothers decline into superficial pop music continues with True Sadness. The album is aptly named - I never knew true sadness until I saw what Rick Rubin did the once great Avetts. Their heartfelt, raw folk music that made their original devoted fans like me has been replaced with soulless, overproduced garbage.

    Imagine a whole album filled with songs like "Paul Newman vs The Demons" and thats what you get here. I could still enjoy parts of The Carpenter and their other newer stuff, but this album only serves to agitate and make me angry when I listen to it. I legitimately hate this album and can't ever envision myself listening to it again. The only thing that made it worth the purchase is the absolutely fantastic track "Fisher Road to Hollywood."    … Expand
  4. Hildebranthony
    Jul 5, 2016
    7
    Preconcieved notions about their musical direction aside, The Avett Brothers have crafted a pleasant, country tinged pop rock record akin to some biscuits and gravy on a Sunday morning. My only gripe being that the music continues to sound happy amidst sad lyrics. But it works because the lyrics are so relatable, and the music is familiar enough drive them home. Don't expect to be blownPreconcieved notions about their musical direction aside, The Avett Brothers have crafted a pleasant, country tinged pop rock record akin to some biscuits and gravy on a Sunday morning. My only gripe being that the music continues to sound happy amidst sad lyrics. But it works because the lyrics are so relatable, and the music is familiar enough drive them home. Don't expect to be blown away by their creativity, instead expect a heart filled record that is more like a warm hug, and an, "I'm here for you," than an extravagant musical journey.… Expand
  5. Luddify
    Oct 4, 2016
    0
    Please, dear God, make this twangy-pop drivel go away. I understand from second-hand reports that these guys were once okay, but this album just smacks of calculated mega-label catering to the lowest common crossover denominator.
  6. avettfan
    Sep 10, 2017
    8
    I have been an Avett Brother fan for 7 years and seen them live 3 times. In my opinion this is one their most vulnerable albums. I love their sound, but most of all I love their lyrics. This is album is different than others. The sound is a little different which upsets some fans. In my opinion its about the lyrics which are no different. I would definitely recommend this album. TrueI have been an Avett Brother fan for 7 years and seen them live 3 times. In my opinion this is one their most vulnerable albums. I love their sound, but most of all I love their lyrics. This is album is different than others. The sound is a little different which upsets some fans. In my opinion its about the lyrics which are no different. I would definitely recommend this album. True Sadness is an amazing album and I look forward for what is next for the Avett Brothers.… Expand
  7. Rosemax
    Mar 31, 2020
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I really love this album. I can wake up, put this album on, and the whoosh, the day will disappear in the best way possible. There isn’t a single thing I would change about this album. This album is truly what made me, a fan of the Avett Brothers. I appreciated how some songs take a step in a modern direction by using more current beats or instrumentation (“Ain’t no Man”, “You are Mine”), whilst other songs held true to their roots in terms of instrumentation, style, and beats (“Divorce Separation Blues”, Mama, I don’t Believe”). I found this album had added to my taste in music in a very positive way, by redirecting me from some other genres of music into the more Soft Rock/Folk Music territory (The Lumineers, Hozier, etc). When listening to most albums, I found that there are things I like to call “three-track runs” in which the three best songs are back to back. Which causes me to enjoy some parts of the album a lot more than the others, and sometimes not even playing the other parts. A good example of this is in the Lumineers album, “III” I always find myself listening to the 1st three songs, “Donna, Life in the City, and Gloria”. With this album, I can just hit play, or shuffle, and find new meaning to the album, or just have a positive listening experience. I found this album wholesome in content, and truly loved it. I would 10/10 recommend this to anyone from any genre, and would put this album in my top 3 of all time.… Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
68

Generally favorable reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 17
  3. Negative: 1 out of 17
  1. Blurt Magazine
    Sep 6, 2016
    80
    Ultimately, True Sadness is a confessional set of songs, revealing in many ways and vulnerable in many others. However, honesty has always been an inherent element in their sound, so in that sense this album’s no different.
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  2. Magnet
    Aug 9, 2016
    70
    There’s True Sadness, whose songs touch lyrically upon all things sad but with various shades of unsubtle sound to guide them. [No. 133, p.54]
  3. PopMatters
    Jul 15, 2016
    80
    If Seth’s letter announcing its arrival prior to release has any overarching voice in this, their goal of developing a record that portrays itself as “multidimensional as its makers” has been thoroughly achieved.
    Read full review
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