At the center of every album is a musical thesis. For the Avett Brother's latest release, "True Sadness," this thesis focuses on the end of love. At its core, this album sounds like a break-up album but set against a folk rock backdrop. Of course, as they do on every album, the brothers and their band experiment with their sound. For me, this is an effort that pays off in the end. It may strike some as too pop or too far removed from the earlier material but for me, it works. 

A part of knowing when a love is over is knowing when to leave. For me, it has always come when I looked in the mirror or spoke with others and came to the conclusion that I could no longer recognize myself. My identity was lost. I was no longer an independent person. This has always been a clue. For all this album's focus on the end of love, it also focuses on the moments leading up to the end. I think these moments are just important and often overlooked in music. 

REM once sang that "It's easier to leave than be left behind." This may be true and I am never one to disagree with Mr. Stipe but that first step out the door is daunting. It takes everything you have to change the direction of your life. It takes every ounce of strength to potentially hurt someone you once cared for in an effort to improve your own life. None of this is an easy lift. For their part, The Avett Brothers acknowledge that part too. For exploring the entire process, they deserve to be commended and this album deserves a listen. 

Be good to each other, 

-Nathan