It was Neil Sedaka who first sang how, “Breaking up is hard to do.” But many more people would follow with songs (Kelly Clarkson’s “Since U Been Gone”) and concept albums (Maroon 5’s Songs About Jane) about the trials and tribulations of love.
With their latest album, San Diego pop-rock quintet Augustana embarks down this road already traveled – they just do it far worse than anybody else in recent memory.
On Can’t Love, Can’t Hurt, Augustana discusses breaking up and breaking down, and it must be tough, especially considering the band has a lot to live up to. The band’s first commercial album, 2005’s All the Stars and Boulevards, arrived with a bang, notable for its powerful and consuming vocal work by lead singer Dan Layus. From their explosive first track, “Mayfield,” to smash single “Boston,” the album was addictively good, especially the band’s catchy melodies and full-bodied sound giving the album definite replay value.
With this latest album, Augustana’s sound has been slightly tweaked to sound a little less like Keane and more like The Wallflowers, but unfortunately, none of these tunes are memorable. It feels like the band is hesitant to take the baby into overdrive, and as a result, most of the album drifts into neutral.
Augustana has decided to err on the side of country and folksy rather than rock out, and their sound suffers for it. The music is missing that special something, and because it’s not memorable or catchy, it’s great as background music (with the exception of some of the more gloomy tunes such as “Fire” and “Dust”). On a second, more tuned-in listen, however, prepare for the ironically overwhelming sensation of boredom.
Simply put, there is nothing special here. Most songs fall flat, and the only track that really works is the album’s first single, “Sweet and Low,” the supposed follow-up to “Boston.” But how can you declare a winner when there’s no race? The pickings on Can’t Love, Can’t Hurt are far too slim.
Not only is the album boring, but it’s also irrelevant. If you’ve got an album about falling out of love with someone, you can’t afford to have so many mediocre tracks. The lyrics of the songs are fine, but what’s really missing is the emotion associated with a break-up, be it anger, sadness or excruciating pain. The country genre has tons of songs about heartache – unfortunately, Augustana doesn’t master any of them here.
If you want a good album about breaking up, check out Beck’s Sea Change or Nine Inch Nails’ Pretty Hate Machine, or Aqualung’s Strange and Beautiful. Those albums are full of aching, raw emotion and definitely appeal to that pit-of-your-stomach feeling that happens when you break up with someone you really care about. From listening to Can’t Love, Can’t Hurt, you’d never know if Augustana actually knows that feeling.
Concept albums are great, but only if they’re done right. Augustana unfortunately misses the mark with a lackluster album, and breaking up with someone may actually be easier than liking this album. If only some relationships were as forgettable as this effort by Augustana.
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RATING: 1.5 STARS OUT OF 5
