Avetts show their "True Sadness"

The Gleam III

Usually, albums kick off with a sonic banger. And one might assume such is the case with The Avett Brothers' "The Gleam III," which begins with the promising song title, "Victory." However, the chorus to this sadly reflective opener states, "From victory, I accept defeat." That sure dulls the gleam. You can call The Avett Brothers (Seth and Scott Avett) Double Downers, but this sibling act's honesty – even when seriously sad – is refreshing. ...

True Sadness

The Avett Brothers shows oftentimes offer some of the best bluegrass-inspired instrumental music around as brothers Seth and Scott surround themselves with highly skilled players. Albums, on the other hand, can sometimes be a significantly different matter. Songs on the new "True Sadness," for instance, reveal this act's well-developed introspective side. Sonically, "True Sadness" finds the group exploring beyond its rootsy, Americana expectations. ...

The Carpenter

If songs give us glimpses into the songwriter's soul, then love and death weigh heavy on the minds of Scott and Seth Avett, the primary pens behind the music of The Avett Brothers. The evidence is written all over the 12 songs on the North Carolina-based trio's latest album "The Carpenter." Death plays a prominent role in The Once And Future Carpenter, the lead-off track, which offers an unconcerned look at the inevitable end of life with lines like: "And when the black ...