Customer Reviews

Can't Love, Can't Hurt [Vinyl]

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Augustana - mainly known for their smash hit, "Boston", are looking to continue their success on their new album and I think they will succeed. This album is full of soulful songs, many having a somber feel, but nonetheless beautiful. Lead singer, Dan Layus has an amazing voice and it has matured greatly on this album. The band has grown musically, something that was greatly needed if they wanted to stay around. I am impressed with this album - and since I am not a music critic, but just a fan, I definitely would recommend this album. It's short, with only 10 songs and you wish it was longer, but you take what you get. Songs that I recommend:

1) Hey Now - slow at the start, but picks up and gives you a motivational lift
2) I Still Ain't Over You - light, fresh, and fun!
3) Twenty Years - your Augustana ballad; typical but amazing
4) Sweet and Low - their first single; this song has the potential to pass Boston. It is more mature and may even be more catchy than Boston, if that is even possible to think.

And looking for a track that is greatly different than most of their songs on this album and their first - DUST: country feel, great guitar riff/playing

There is no sophmore slump here. This album is beautiful. Dan Layus, guitarist, pianist, and vocalist has really really matured in his singing and songwriting. Dan has a beautiful voice and he gives me shivera at times. The songwriting is heartfelt amd deep and they never cease to amaze me. This album in a good way is a little slower and has less of an edge which is a good thing. I have been a fan since the "midwest...." EP. I first heard "Mayfield" and instantly fell in love with them. "Boston" then was the icing on the cake and I have been patiently waiting for this. The drumming is very good and the guitars are very good as well. The bass fits in with the drumming and the piano work of Layus flows very well with the rest of the band. Only negative is the reworking of "Hey Now" "Heart Shaped Gun" IMO was much better, much more heartfelt in its lyrics and was a gorgeous love song. I can see why they reworked it (the lyrics are a little mature throughout the song)but "hey now" is good too. Here's a run down track by track.

1. Hey Now (7/10) Good song, but the original of "Heart Shaped Gun" was better

2. I Still Ain't Over You (9/10) great song, good lyrics, nice piano in this one, one of the more upbeat songs on the album

3. Sweet and Low (10/10) I love this song a lot, I love the lyrics, really sweet and Dan's voice is very good in this one, one of my favs

4. Twenty Years (10/10) My Personal Favorite. This song makes the CD for me. The lyrics are breathtaking and again heartfelt. Dan's voice as the piano work is amazing and I love the inclusion of strings in this one, This one is my tearjerker

5. Meet You There (9/10) Another favorite. This one is upbeat and has good lyrics

6. Fire (10/10) Amazing. Slowest song on the CD, just Dan and the piano in this one, his voice is breathtaking especially when he holds the notes out at the end, excellent lyrics

7. Either Way, I'll break your heart someday (10/10) Another favorite, pretty upbeat, excellent lyrics, great vocals

8. Dust (7/10) My least favorite. I just can't get into this one as much as the others, still a good song, good lyrics

9. Rest, Shame Love (9/10) more accoustic than the others, still a good song, good lyrics, picks up a little in the chorus

10. Where Love Went Wrong (10/10) Really good closer. The lyrics are very good and I love Dan's voice and well as the piano, nice way to end the CD

Augustana's sophomore effort, Can't Love, Can't Hurt, is an impressive evolution from All The Stars and Boulevards. After going through various talent changes since the release of the last album, the current composition of the band now includes Chris Sachtleben on guitars and John Vincent on keyboards along with original band members Jared Palomar(bass), Justin South(drums), and frontman Dan Layus(vocals, piano, guitar). The cohesion of this new line-up, coupled with artistic maturity, developed through months on tour, has resulted in a refined sound that will undoubtedly impress long-time fans and attract many new ones.

Highlights of the album include:

Sweet and Low - A catchy single poised to get even more airplay than "Boston."

Fire - This simple, yet powerful, acoustic piano track demonstrates the producer's restraint, and leaves Layus' unique, unadulterated vocals echoing in my head for hours.

Dust - A gritty, alt-countryesque track with a feel that bears more resemblance to a Ryan Adams or Wilco album than to "All The Stars and Boulevards."

One listen to a free Itunes song I was offered and I ended up buying the entire CD! While I heard and liked the song Boston, I never really looked into Augustana further. Wow, am I glad that I did!

This CD is original, unique, it's breath-taking. The lyrics and the music are some of the best I've heard in a long time. I am thrilled to have found a new favorite band!! While I can't quite put my finger on their sound...Itunes describes them as alternative, folk and americana. Some of my favorites on this CD are: Hey Now, Sweet & Low, Meet You There, I Still Aint Over You and Either Way I'll Break Your Heart. Honestly, I like every song, which is rare....

You have to check out this cd. I guarentee you won't be disappointed. I have a feeling we'll be seeing more of these guys in the future. As for me, I'm just excited to be seeing them in concert with Maroon 5 & Counting Crows!

i think this record is wonderful. my only problem is the length, i was hoping after more than a two year wait i would get more than ten songs, but those ten songs are amazing. augustana have matured in to a career band rather than "that band that sang Boston". they wrote many more songs than were included on the record, and i imagine that it was incredibly difficult to choose just ten, because every one they wrote was worthy of release.

in short, get this album. it touches on rock, soul, alt-country, americana and all things good. go get it.

This album is really good and Augustana is suprising me with every album they come out with. I wish they can get more attention for the work they do because they deserve it. The album starts off with up temp songs that really show you that this band is special. Towards the second half of the cd, the songs slow down some and they show the listener how well the lyrics are written. I highly recommend this cd to rock & roll fans and also check out their new cd self titled Augustana, that album is just amazing.

I think this is a great album. I actually don't own All the Stars and Boulevards (their first album) but was inspired to buy this CD after hearing Sweet and Low and I Still Ain't Over You. This CD has what is missing from so many albums these days- genuinely good songwriting that doesn't play to radio friendly formulas. I think this is a album that one will continue to appreciate for years to come. Let's hope Augustana continues to make great music.

It came quick and for a used cd it was like new! This album in my opinion is amazing and does not disappoint. Preview it and then buy it to see for yourself if you don't believe me.

This is one of Augustana's finest albums! Every song on this album is the sound of summer. Great vocals, great lyrics and a sound unique to the band you won't find anywhere else. Buy this album and you won't be disappointed.

`Can't Love, Can't Hurt' is a great album from Augustana and whilst they are a relatively unknown band at the time of writing, it is safe bet that with albums like this they will soon make a bigger name for themselves. From the album opener `Hey Now' you know this will be a solid, upbeat album and by the time the excellent `Sweet and Low' has finished you will have been shown to be right. There are also a couple of ballads thrown in for good measure and `Twenty Years' is a particular favourite with gentle strings at the end. This band has been compared to The Counting Crows and I am inclined to agree with that, but they also remind me strongly of The Fray and if you like either band you will most probably enjoy this. This is one of those rare albums without a bad song on it and whilst some stand out more than others, the whole thing is a very polished affair. Well worth checking out.

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