Sophomore surprises
It's been two years since Californian band Augustana released its super-hit single Boston and marginally successful debut album All the Stars and Boulevards. Fans should be relieved to learn that while they've maintained their magic, they've evolved a more mature and refined sound.
Their sophomore album Can't Love, Can't Hurt is a surprisingly moving soft rock collection. From tone and music to vocals and lyrics, every aspect stirs your emotion, immersing you in the melancholy that prevails.
Not that there aren't dynamic moments. Opener Hey Now, which starts slow but soon wakes up with intense riffs and strings, has a catchy and thundering chorus. I Still Ain't Over You is an uplifting and fun love song.
However, Dan Layus' vocals give weight to each track. In the melodic violin and cello-heavy In Twenty Years and Where Love Went Wrong, Layus' sad voice is almost a whisper.
Dust is the darkest and most powerful track. The explicit lyrics 'Because I believed in the Lord / But he don't show up anymore' communicate the pain of disappointment and neglect. The heavy-handed drums and low-pitched bass line add further weight to the darkness.
Augustana may not be instantly recognisable or utterly original, but they deserve our attention.
