The group announced the new project in a letter from Seth Avett, posted on the quartet’s website. Avett calls the new project “a patchwork quilt, both thematically and stylistically.” 　　 　　“Wherein a myriad of contrasting fabrics make perfect sense on the same plane, this album draws upon countless resources from its writers and performers,” Avett writes. “… Sonically, the album is as multidimensional as its makers. The same could be said of its long list of influences. 　　 　　“… There are moments of undeniable celebration and camaraderie, others of quiet and lonely exhalation. Throughout the album, we stitched together the boldest red and the calmest green, polka dots and stripes, the roughest denim and the smoothest velveteen,” he continues. “… We made this record as people who have made records together before — with experienced hands, appreciative hearts, renewed focus and the knowledge of our good fortune to make music once again.” 　　 　　A complete track listing for True Sadness has not yet been announced, but the Avett Brothers have revealed the first single’s title: “Ain’t No Man.” 　　 　　“I feel like “Ain’t No Man,” kind of, there is a higher level to it; I’m trying to avoid the word religion and spiritual, but there is something about finding your place in the universe or being able to put your finger on where you sit in this life, whatever your religion is or your worldview is,” Bob Crawford tells Consequence of Sound. “I feel like, if you take the catalog of songs that we have from 2001 to the past 15 years, there is this, this song is almost like the star on top of the tree in a way.” 　　 　　For True Sadness, the band worked with Rick Rubin once again. They have worked together on every disc since I and Love and You, the Avett Brothers’ major-label debut, released in 2009. 　　 　　“I think this was — every record we’ve done since I and Love and You, the process has gotten more enjoyable, and that may be because we’re just getting so familiar with each other and familiar with Rick, and we’re happy to do it, we’re lucky to do it, and I think that whole vibe and atmosphere, it get on the recording,” Crawford tells The Boot. “I hope it gets — I’d like to say ‘onto the tapes’ — I hope it gets gets into the Pro Tools, and that it can be picked up by the listener.” 　　 　　The Avett Brothers will kick off their spring/summer tour in early April. The trek includes their fifth stop at Mountain Jam, the annual festival at which they have already played four times since 2010.