Augustana Review // No one else is gonna' love you like I do
All images courtesy Brandon Morrison.
Since Augustana cancelled their summer tour, and Google Music gave me 'Boston' for free, I thought I should finally write that review of Augustana's self-titled third album. If your melancholy heart hasn't already fallen in love with Dan Layus' warbly vocals, do it…now. I've seen Augustana four times now: twice by accident (GGD + CC 2007, w/CC 2009), once by association (w/CC 2010), and the last time (Legends 2011) completely and wholeheartedly on purpose. Augustana makes my heart hurt…in a good way.
Here's my run-down of their latest album.
Augustana - Augustana
April 26, 2011 (release date)
Steal Your Heart -- 'I'm gonna' steal your heart, gonna' steal your heart away.' I've written about this one before. When I first heard it, I wasn't that impressed. After I saw it live, however, I began to notice every nuance in Layus' voice. This song has a powerful chorus (chorus? Keep in mind that I know nothing about music…and everything I learned about it in 1st grade is long gone) is incredibly fun to sing in the car. My favorite part: The drum solo and my memory of Jared Palomar playing it at the 4/30/11 show.
Wrong Side of Love -- 'You and I, we've had enough. The wrong side of love.' This album is all love songs--lovey, lovey, love songs with love lost and love found. Raw emotion always wins me over (see: my obsession with Jeff Buckley), and this song is no exception. The title implies the story: an emotive struggle to save a relationship unfolds. My favorite part: The low, smooth way Layus sings, "No one else is gonna' love you like I do. Come a little closer, honey. I can't live without you. No one else is gonna' love you like I do. No one else. No one else." It's a little creepy and clingy…but beautifully sung.
On the Other Side -- 'Babe, it could end tonight. Know it would be alright, 'cause I'm gonna' love you somewhere on the other side.' After I heard this song a couple times, I announced to Brandon (@fillerwriter) that this song was from me to him with only one qualifier: "Some parts are true. Some parts are not." At the time, I refused to revea; which parts were which. He looked sad and confused. This is my favorite song on the album. Here's why [Spoiler--This is one of the few times I'll be sappy in public]:
Put your hand in mine / Can you read the signs?
I'll never lose you / I couldn't choose to if I tried [TRUE]
Put your faith in me / What will be will be
Some things I know / And I know that you were meant for me [TRUE]
I don't know where the ocean meets the sky [FALSE]
I don't know why the world keeps spinning by [FALSE]
Don't know why the hours move so slow [FALSE]
Babe, when I'm with you, I don't wanna know [TRUE]
I wanna feel your feet lifting off the ground [TRUE]
Wanna feel you love me at the speed of sound [TRUE]
Babe, it could end tonight, know it would be alright
'Cause I'm gonna love you, somewhere on the other side [TRUE]
Counting Stars -- 'Til you're back in my arms, I'll be waiting up counting the stars.' He misses her…and he's waiting. My favorite part: I like the vocal ups and downs…especially for singing in the car.
Borrowed Time -- 'We're only here, we're only here, we're only here on borrowed time.' I don't know what it means to be a 'hard lover', but this song certainly makes me want to be one. My favorite part: "Like the sky above her, she's a hard lover. She don't know which way to run."
Shot in the Dark -- 'Rising up slowly and getting higher. I've been living with a hole in my heart. Weighing down on me, but I'm a fighter. I know I still got a shot in the dark.' This one feels similar to 'Steal Your Heart'. That said, Brandon prefers this one. My favorite part: "Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes you never get her back."
Someone's Baby Now -- 'And when you look in, in the mirror, you see my shadows on the wall. But can you hear me when I need you near me. I'm someone's baby now.' Remember that bit about love lost? This is it. My favorite part: "You know your momma taught you what to love, but she never taught you how."
Hurricane -- 'Heaven's rain fell on fallen angels never minding the silver lining. You can only pray when you're waiting on the hurricane.' I usually skip this one, but I do love that part about lovers loving what I hate. My favorite part: "Well sinners sin with the saints, and givers give what they take, and LOVERS, love what you hate."
Just Stay Here Tonight -- 'I'll give you everything I have inside, if you just stay here tonight.' Very sweet song, and I'm a sucker, hence... My favorite part: "You'll be the last one picking up the pieces. You'll be the last one standing up strong. You'll be the last one making all the right things wrong."
It Only Means I Love You (You Were Made For Me) -- Eh, so-so love song. Nothing to see here. Move along.
Hearts Wander -- 'With you turning me inside out, turning me upside down, looking for a heart to trust…hearts wander.' I don't really listen to this one with intention. It's ok…hearts definitely wander, but nothing really stands out here for me.
Last Mistake -- 'You're only as good as your last mistake. Yeah, you're only as right as the wrong you make.' I had to think twice about this one. What does that even mean? You'll never be better than the last mistake you made? How sad. It left me trying to remember my last mistake. Since I can't remember it, I must not be that bad, eh? My favorite part: "You can run, and you run, and you run, but you'll never escape."
Here's a video for 'Steal Your Heart':
That's it, y'all. (PS. Thanks to Brandon for showing me how to embed that video...it's not as easy as it sounds.) :)
