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Augustana, 'Can't Love, Can't Hurt'

Rock balladeers behind the hit ‘Boston’ return

By Jeff Miller

Special to Metromix
April 28, 2008

Critic's Rating:

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Backstory: This lightweight pop-rock five-piece surprised everyone—including, probably, themselves—when their major label debut, “All the Stars and Boulevards,” became a sleeper hit in 2006, going on to sell over 300,000 copies. Their second effort for Epic Records finds them exploring more ways to get jangly pop melodies stuck in your head

Why you should care: Augustana issues no apologies for its sometimes-schmaltzy songs; besides, who has time to worry about being cool when you're too busy singing along?

Verdict: Singer Dan Layus' musical heroes are written into the very fabric of his songs: it's impossible to listen to anything here without thinking of the Counting Crows, or Coldplay, or the Wallflowers. But it’s exactly that unabashed adherence to formula that makes Augustana’s music work. Whether it's the stripped-down acoustic track "Rest, Shame, Love" or the anthemic sweep of "Hey Now," Augustana's best songs are steeped in the piano-and-reverb-drenched sounds of a pop tradition that extends back to Fleetwood Mac (or at very least, the Gin Blossoms). Layus' lovely laments are a welcome addition to the pantheon.

X-Factor: The name of Augustana’s first single, “Boston,” caused some confusion about their origin; they are, in fact, from San Diego.