Rating:
Genre:
Rock
Release Date: 04/29/2008
All the Stars and Boulevards,
Augustana's 2005 debut, sat idly on record store shelves for a year a half before finally cracking the
Billboard Top 40. The album's linchpin was
"Boston," a ballad whose slow crescendos and heartrending lyrics made it perfect fodder for television, where it received some much-needed attention during episodes of
Scrubs and
One Tree Hill.
Augustana flourished under that exposure, and
Can't Love, Can't Hurt attempts to keep the buzz alive by offering another batch of appealingly sentimental songcraft. The bandmates play their cards wisely this time around, refusing to load the album with the pale
"Boston" imitations that would secure more TV coverage but diminish the group's credibility. Instead,
Augustana deliver a pleasant mix of traditional, vaguely rootsy pop/rock songs, with
Dan Layus' affable vocals at the forefront.
"Hey Now" and
"I Still Ain't Over You" set the stage within the album's first nine minutes -- inspired but not grandiose, they deliver a sort of grounded uplift for those who prefer their
Fray albums with a side of
Limbeck's twangy pop and sweet harmonies. There are several semi-ballads here, too, including the leadoff single,
"Sweet and Low," but
Layus' somber piano arpeggios (which once played the bulk of the band's hooks) now share the spotlight with his bandmates' guitar riffs. Accordingly,
Can't Love, Can't Hurt is more aligned with
Counting Crows than
Coldplay -- even when the piano dominates the instrumentation, it does so with the same dusty, alt-rock reverence as
Adam Duritz's delivery on
"A Long December." Those looking to slow-dance and/or hoist their lighters will find a friend in
"Fire," the album's closet cousin to
"Boston," but this sophomore effort has much more to offer.
~Andrew Leahey, All Music Guide
Average Review:
Number of reviews: 1
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Adam S.
from Hendersonville, NC
Half a star? Whatever!
The fool on the overview only gave this album half a star, but don't be fooled by his review. This CD is a GREAT album, and this band deserves alot of respect. They are a great band live, and this CD is one that is hard to stop listening to!
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