It's been two years since California 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 second album Can't Love, Can't Hurt is a surprisingly moving, soft-rock collection. From its sound to its vocals and lyrics, every aspect of the album is melancholy and emotionally stirring.
Not that there aren't dynamic moments. Opener Hey Now starts out slowly before launching into intense riffs and a catchy and thundering chorus. I Still Ain't Over You is an uplifting and fun love song.
Dan Layus' vocals give weight to even the lighter tracks. 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, with its lament, 'Because I believed in the Lord/But he don't show up anymore'. The heavy thud of drums and the low-pitched bass line add further weight to the darkness.
Augustana may not be instantly recognisable or utterly original, but they are a band that deserves our attention and are undoubtedly destined for more success.
