Australla

Howie Day | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 29, 2008)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sbme Special Mkts.
• ASIN: B0015XWUI6
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (122 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #112,904 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Sorry So Sorry

2. She Says

3. Secret

4. Slow Down

5. Ghost

6. Kristina

7. Everything Else

8. More You Understand

9. Morning After

10. Disco

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This reissue of Howie Day's self-assured debut, originally released independently in 2000, reveals a maturity beyond the young Maine singer-songwriter's age. Mixing gravelly vocals and somber strumming à la Joseph Arthur with the soaring power of Remy Zero and Dave Matthews Band and a touch of Radiohead fervor, Day's music is nonthreatening but far from wimpy. "She Says" combines plaintive acoustic guitar and bursts of vocal anguish, and the whispery "Disco" has dreamlike orchestras and a world-weary tone, while the lovely "Kristina" floats with a spare but intricate melody. Yet Day's maudlin tales of heartbreak have backbone--"Sorry So Sorry" ends in guitar-tossed turbulence, while "Everything Else" has biting riffs, and "More You Understand" builds to a crashing crescendo. Indeed, these injections of passion are what make Australia so exciting. While his influences are far from original, Day's execution is wholly his own. Australia brims with a life-or-death emotional urgency that's devoid of cynicism and steeped in the intensity of youth. --Annie Zaleski

Product Description

Debut album from East Coast based 20 year old singer-songwriter who's constant touring has quickly developed a rabid coast to coast following --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How come Howie isn't more popular?, June 25, 2002

By 

Anne Martin (St. Louis, MO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Australia (Audio CD)

I had never heard of Howie Day at all until one day while browsing other users "Listmania" lists, I came upon his album and listened to the sound clips. I immediately ordered the CD. It arrived at my house three days later and I have had it on repeat ever since. I absolutely fell in love with this album.

ALL of the songs on the CD are great, listen to the whole thing through. Howie has an amazing voice that belies his young age--and he puts that powerful attribute to use on this album. The album is mostly acoustic-guitar based, which is perfect if you are a fan of acoustic-guitar based artists. If you like John Mayer you will probably love this album--it is similar to JM's "Room for Squares" but I think Howie is a stronger songwriter, and the general tone of the album is a bit more rock than pop (compared to Mayer). If you like John Mayer, Jack Johnson, Vertical Horizon, U2, or Ben Harper, definetely give this album a try!

I have heard that he is good live, I wish Howie was touring by himself and hitting tons of cities because I would love to hear him in concert. I can't wait for his next CD and also hope that he releases a live album for those of us who can't make it to his concerts. Overall an awesome album from an amazing young talented singer and songwriter. I wonder what he will come up with next. He is going to be huge!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This guy's brilliant!!, February 6, 2003

By 

J. Dunn (Leicestershire United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Australia (Audio CD)

I saw Howie Day when he opened for Tori Amos in Manchester, and by the end of his first song I knew I'd buy his album. He used special effects pedals and looped sections of guitar play and singing, repeating them, so by the end of each song there seemed to be a choir of acoustic guitars, and was probably one of the coolest things I've seen in ages.

My one and only complaint about the album is that there are only ten songs! It's a travesty, I swear. To me, this is a debut that ranks alongside Imogen Heap's "I Megaphone" in the fact that I couldn't get it off repeat in my CD player. I could run through the songs one by one and tell what they're about, but to be honest I haven't got that far yet. Aside from one or two cases, I haven't worked out the stories behind the lyrics even though I sing along to them. At the moment, "Australia" is pure sound and emotion to me, and for the time being, I couldn't care less what he's saying. Someone else might react differently to these songs, but there's no doubting this man is great.

I can't get enough of the opener, "Sorry So Sorry". It has such a laidback rhythm throughout the verses before letting go of itself and grinding into the chorus. For some reason, I think of REM's "Drive" when I hear this, though it's not so downbeat. When the chorus kicks in, a lesser singer might overdo it and sing too loudly just for the sake of being heard and ruin the mood, but Howie Day doesn't, and the song's great from start to finish.

"She Says" is beautiful and shows that his voice has greater range and warmth than we might otherwise think. This song takes you back to reminiscences of a one-time lover. Who knows why? Go figure.

"Secret" rocks a little harder than "She Says", and seems to me to be less about memory than immersion in a present relationship. The lyric, "You got the beamiest face" strikes me as a great compliment to pay someone, even though I'd have no idea what someone would be getting at if they said it to me. As I say, the album means more to me emotionally than rationally.

"Slow Down" has a great rhythm, electric guitars, and a good-sized pair of cajones. "I'll stay awake for you if you can stay awake for me..." "I don't think I can trust love any more..." There's something pretty dysfunctional about this song, and I love it.

"Ghost", if for no other reason, is an appropriate title because it's such a haunting song. I find this song very romantic in that gently melancholy way.

"Kristina"... "On the phone to Saturday. Where did you go, 'cause the tequila from your kiss is still around?..." To me, that says it all. It's full of wonderful little gems like that. "...I'll be there waiting for you at the top of the stairs, you will be so beautiful..."

"Everything Else" is more up-tempo with a funky little riff and a nice sing-along quality that kind of cries out to be used in a television advert, and a really good one too.

"More You Understand" strikes me as being about 20/20 hindsight, and seeing where you went wrong in a lost relationship, and it's great the way the song ends with a more aggressive sound, and it's perfect musical accompaniment to feeling that way. Nostalgia with an edge.

"Morning After" is recorded live and it's pretty much a perfect example of what I heard when I saw him open for Tori Amos. It's beautiful, which is made all the more impressive by the fact he's a cool-looking young guy.

"Disco" closes the album with an interesting mix of whispers, plinking guitar, gentle vocals, and hope. I listen to this song and it makes me watch the clock, but for once without thinking that time is running out. Instead, I want to say, Hey, I've still got a whole hour and half before today's done! That makes a nice change.

I can't help liking this record. I look forward to his follow up, and whenever that might be, I know I won't mind the wait because my "repeat" button is still engaged, and happily disabled on "Australia".

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars awesome cd!, August 21, 2004

By 

Bec (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Australia (Audio CD)

I bought this album about a year ago and I still can't get enough of it. I'll go out and buy other cds, listen to them for a few weeks and get over them, but "Australia" always works it's way back into the CD player.

Being in Australia, I have had to import all of Howie's material from the US because he is basically unknown here. It's a shame because I can see Howie being well received in Australia - especially with the live shows. I have never had the privilage of seeing Howie live, but his looping skills are absolutely amazing!

My fave track on the album is probably Disco - an emotionally haunting, yet great song.

All you Aussies - check Howie out. You'll be very surprised