Augustana...All The Stars and Boulevards...
Augustana may take you to Boston, Los Angeles, the midwest and back to California, but their music is unlikely to take you anywhere but to great disappointment. Granted, in a strange way, this is a compliment for their first effort, All the Stars and Boulevards, an album that starts out with great promise, but ends in a formula that becomes noticeable early in their writing.
Their writing is predictable, with the chorus building, the verses being more laid back, finally building into a bridge that soars higher than the verse or chorus. It is the same formula that many bands have used to bring much commercial success (see Coldplay, Creed, and Nickleback). Unfortunately, as a lover of music, it leaves me bored, which is so disappointing because tracks like "Mayfield," "Bullets," and "Boston" are good songs, a great start to what I believe is a promising career for Augustana.
However, after Boston, things take a drastic turn for the worse, where it seems that the same thing is being sung over and over and over...and over again. Dan Layus apparently is focused on failed relationships which have turned him to loneliness and alcohol. And artistically speaking, this is not necessarily a bad thing, because for many artists, these moments lead to soul searching, to asking the basic questions of life, to finding meaning or finding none. It is these situations when art transcends into being able to speak into people's lives in a profound way, something Augustana is simply unable to do.
So, what is my recommendation for Augustana? It is hard to say. Because I am glad I picked up their album, because their potential is limitless. However, this is just another pop/rock album that will make them money but is really nothing artistic. Having said that, this is not a bad album to pick up, but do not expect too much.
Here is a run down of the tracks:
"Mayfield": A great start to the album, a track that deals with growing up, and dealing with a failed relationship wondering..."Are we gonna make it?" A song that I am sure they will be playing for years to come. (ITunes Rating: 3 stars)
"Bullets": More proof that Layus can write great songs, even if lyrically the songs are not that deep or lacking. His spacing and voice make Bullets a much better song than what it would have been. (ITunes Rating: 3 stars)
"Hotel Roosevelt": Again, lyrically the song just lacks. Plus, it is now the third song about a relationship, and it is starting to get a little old at this point in time. There is some good music potential here, but the finished product is all I have to go on. (ITunes Rating: 2 stars)
"Boston": No doubt their strongest song on this album, despite the Coldplay'ish style. Finally, the lyrics are going somewhere that could connect people with this song. Lines like "In the light of the sun, is there anyone?" and "You dont' know me/You don't even care/You don't wear my chains" could very well connect with a younger generation that very much feels broken off from any type of true community. Vocally the song soars, and there is a lot of good to take from this song. (ITunes Rating: 4 stars)
"Stars and Boulevards": This is where you begin to wonder when Layus is going to realize that he is writing the song over and over again. He is in some disconnected relationship where he hopes it will work out but probably knows that it will not. (ITunes Ratins: 2 Stars)
"Feel Fine": This is where I began to wonder, "Was 'Boston' really just two tracks ago? If you want to see what this song is about, look at any of other songs I listed. (ITunes Rating: 1 star)
"Wasteland": A very dark song with lines like "Here we're nothin more than fools and whores and sad highs/through the summer sand we're living in the wasteland." Again, the music here is really good stuff, and Layus brings you into the darkness of the world, the darkness of sin. (ITunes Rating: 3 stars)
"Lonely People": At this point I was really tired of the drinking references (like 6 or 7 now). Not just because I think drinking should not be sung about, but because it is a cop out from really thinking through issues, something an artist should do. There is no doubt in my mind that there are many people in this world that drink away their nights, never thinking about anything besides that. However, as an artist, Layus should not fall into that trap with his songwriting, and unfortunately he does. Artists should always seek to ponder the question "Why..." a question Layus has not gotten to yet. (ITunes Rating: 1 star)
"Sunday Best:": More good music, but the formula has been put in place, and because of that, by now the album is not what it could have been. (ITunes Rating: 1 star)
"California Burning": More isolation and having broken from any type of community. Layus writes "and I'm here, wondering where the sun has gone/driving through a midwest storm/asking why there's no one home." Layus sounds like one longing for something real, and if he thinks a little deeper, he could have some good stuff, but he has not yet, which leaves songs like 'California Burning' as more or less having great potential, but not possessing any. (ITunes Rating: 1 star)
"Coffee and Cigarettes": Not much here. (ITunes Rating: 1 star)
Augustana could become something great, the same thing I once thought about Coldplay (and still do). Augustana could move beyond the surface level lyrics into something deep, and if they do, this could be a truly great band some day.
Their writing is predictable, with the chorus building, the verses being more laid back, finally building into a bridge that soars higher than the verse or chorus. It is the same formula that many bands have used to bring much commercial success (see Coldplay, Creed, and Nickleback). Unfortunately, as a lover of music, it leaves me bored, which is so disappointing because tracks like "Mayfield," "Bullets," and "Boston" are good songs, a great start to what I believe is a promising career for Augustana.
However, after Boston, things take a drastic turn for the worse, where it seems that the same thing is being sung over and over and over...and over again. Dan Layus apparently is focused on failed relationships which have turned him to loneliness and alcohol. And artistically speaking, this is not necessarily a bad thing, because for many artists, these moments lead to soul searching, to asking the basic questions of life, to finding meaning or finding none. It is these situations when art transcends into being able to speak into people's lives in a profound way, something Augustana is simply unable to do.
So, what is my recommendation for Augustana? It is hard to say. Because I am glad I picked up their album, because their potential is limitless. However, this is just another pop/rock album that will make them money but is really nothing artistic. Having said that, this is not a bad album to pick up, but do not expect too much.
Here is a run down of the tracks:
"Mayfield": A great start to the album, a track that deals with growing up, and dealing with a failed relationship wondering..."Are we gonna make it?" A song that I am sure they will be playing for years to come. (ITunes Rating: 3 stars)
"Bullets": More proof that Layus can write great songs, even if lyrically the songs are not that deep or lacking. His spacing and voice make Bullets a much better song than what it would have been. (ITunes Rating: 3 stars)
"Hotel Roosevelt": Again, lyrically the song just lacks. Plus, it is now the third song about a relationship, and it is starting to get a little old at this point in time. There is some good music potential here, but the finished product is all I have to go on. (ITunes Rating: 2 stars)
"Boston": No doubt their strongest song on this album, despite the Coldplay'ish style. Finally, the lyrics are going somewhere that could connect people with this song. Lines like "In the light of the sun, is there anyone?" and "You dont' know me/You don't even care/You don't wear my chains" could very well connect with a younger generation that very much feels broken off from any type of true community. Vocally the song soars, and there is a lot of good to take from this song. (ITunes Rating: 4 stars)
"Stars and Boulevards": This is where you begin to wonder when Layus is going to realize that he is writing the song over and over again. He is in some disconnected relationship where he hopes it will work out but probably knows that it will not. (ITunes Ratins: 2 Stars)
"Feel Fine": This is where I began to wonder, "Was 'Boston' really just two tracks ago? If you want to see what this song is about, look at any of other songs I listed. (ITunes Rating: 1 star)
"Wasteland": A very dark song with lines like "Here we're nothin more than fools and whores and sad highs/through the summer sand we're living in the wasteland." Again, the music here is really good stuff, and Layus brings you into the darkness of the world, the darkness of sin. (ITunes Rating: 3 stars)
"Lonely People": At this point I was really tired of the drinking references (like 6 or 7 now). Not just because I think drinking should not be sung about, but because it is a cop out from really thinking through issues, something an artist should do. There is no doubt in my mind that there are many people in this world that drink away their nights, never thinking about anything besides that. However, as an artist, Layus should not fall into that trap with his songwriting, and unfortunately he does. Artists should always seek to ponder the question "Why..." a question Layus has not gotten to yet. (ITunes Rating: 1 star)
"Sunday Best:": More good music, but the formula has been put in place, and because of that, by now the album is not what it could have been. (ITunes Rating: 1 star)
"California Burning": More isolation and having broken from any type of community. Layus writes "and I'm here, wondering where the sun has gone/driving through a midwest storm/asking why there's no one home." Layus sounds like one longing for something real, and if he thinks a little deeper, he could have some good stuff, but he has not yet, which leaves songs like 'California Burning' as more or less having great potential, but not possessing any. (ITunes Rating: 1 star)
"Coffee and Cigarettes": Not much here. (ITunes Rating: 1 star)
Augustana could become something great, the same thing I once thought about Coldplay (and still do). Augustana could move beyond the surface level lyrics into something deep, and if they do, this could be a truly great band some day.
8 Comments:
hey umm tom spanburg, you spelled could wrong "Augustana cold move beyond the surface level lyrics into something deep, and if they do, this could be a truly great band some day." better fix that. and i LOVE augustana. so you can go die in a very very deep hole
Thanks for word on the type, it's fixed. And as for dying in a very, very deep hole, I don't have plans on that quite yet. And I must say, that seems like a bit of a strong response considering the fact that I was pretty positive for the band. They do have unlimited potential. But come on, this CD is not worth asking people to go die in holes, is it?
So what do you think about their CD from a Christian perspective?
From a Christian perspective, I was disappointed, but not because they don't talk about Jesus, but just because the lyrics don't take you anywhere. It just sounds like some 20 year old dudes aren't sure about themselves and can't put it in anyway that really makes you want to listen.
I have never thought that just because a band says "Jesus" or "God" in their lyrics makes them good. What makes them good is when they ask questions that we all wrestle with. Doubt, pain, frustratin, joy, etc.
In that place, the artist takes us to what saves us, or what we try to have save us. Like alcohol, drugs, girls, God, or whatever. That is what resonates with people, things that people can find release with. Unfortunately, Augustana just doesn't do that.
but dont you think that their videos, photographs, and style show way more artistic talant than any other band. for example, their "short video" found on Yahoo Music videos presents a mood and idea other groups dont show. i think they are great!
Am i the only one who thinks they sound like a poor attempt at being the band "Dakona"? If you dont know what i'm talking about, look them up. i'de have to agree with this article, this album was kind of predictible and a lot of the same, but thats what i enjoyed about it. They're sound isn't very unique, most of the time while i listened to this album was spent thinking "this is augustana? they sound just like..." but despite that i still enjoy listening to them.
I think that you didn't give them the credit they should be getting. Their songs are poetic and beautiful you have to think about what they mean to you. I don't think music should be given a reveiw because every one has a different feel for music. To me the song boston wasn't just the same words writen over and over again to me it was about someone who was hurt and seaching for a way to get away from all the pain. And wants to "to leave this all behind" it is a metaphor. The actual music it self was so easy to listen to and relaxing. It just has the right combination of notes. I do respect that you said that they have lots of potential but i think that it is great the way it is.
Augustana is my favorite band!!I've met them twice at their concerts...they are very down to earth and very very attractive.:-) About the album...its great! I don't know much about how to write proper lyrics...i prefer enjoying songs than to constantly analyze every song i listen to. Its either you enjoy it or you don't! I love their style and Dans vocals! I will continue to support them all the way! I LOVE AUGUSTANA!
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