From the opening track’s giddy chorus of “Die, Die, Die”—a mix of upbeat Buddy Holly pop charm and progressive Morrissey introspection—The Avett Brothers’ Emotionalism strikes shady deals in personal contradiction, musically, intellectually and most of all emotionally. The album title alone, like the political buzzword “Truthiness,” implies feelings are gray, not black and white, and each offering spins the color wheel on another weighty topic—shame, death, paranoia, deceit; joy, love, compassion—all without a single song sounding drearily depressed or disgustingly happy. Part of it is the music itself, as the Avetts mine the depths of acoustic guitar, banjo and bass to unearth still more philosophical questions: Am I Country? Am I Indie? Am I Folk? (One track goes as far as to blend laidback bluegrass, Latin tango and livid punk, bridged by a dismissive voicemail from a cold ex-love interest.) Meanwhile, the lyrics march down an endless trail of Socratic selfexamination, using symbolism, cynicism and insight to ensure every poetic oxymoron makes perfect sense. (“I like to think I’m faithful, but it may not be true.”) Heavy topics that somehow feel light? Old-school instrumentation that turns suddenly edgy? Is there any way this album deals in absolutes? Just one: it sure sounds good.
