Can't Love, Can't Hurt

Augustana

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 29, 2008)
• Original Release Date: April 29, 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0015FQZEY
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,154 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
The most memorable line of the hit single "Sweet and Low" from Augustana's sophomore set, Can’t Love, Can’t Hurt, goes like this: "Hold me down, sweet and low, little girl." What that means is anybody’s guess. But on a record this rich with tenderness, it hardly matters. Front man Dan Layus and company have come a long way since 2005's All The Stars and Boulevards: this go-round, the piano's the thing, and it complements ballads like the heartsick "Twenty Years" and "Fire"--as gorgeous a lament as it gets on a record by a band of 20-something dudes--beautifully. In addition to tweaking the music, Layus seems to have made a commitment to laying off the whining; the dab of youthful shrillness that worked its way into "Boston," the 2006 hit that put the band on the map, has been put aside in favor of a near-whisper on tracks like "Dust," a sexy slow rocker that carries a whiff of Neil Young. If there’s a quibble here, it's that Augustana held back not on quality (Can’t Love, Can’t Hurt’s production is so bright it practically gleams), but on quantity: at 10 tracks, the album that launched "Sweet and Low" is overly short and sweet. --Tammy La Gorce

Product Description
Can t Love, Can t Hurt is 10 studiously-chosen cuts of modern, melodic, piano-driven rock, informed by a love of classic pop/rock songwriters from The Beatles to Tom Petty and covering deeper subject matter than the band s debut.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No sophomore slump here , April 29, 2008

By	A. Rezac (Omaha, NE) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BEST ALBUM OF THE YEAR SO FAR!, April 30, 2008

By	M. Cavaliere (Long Island) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Can't Love, Can't Hurt, Can't Stop Listening, May 1, 2008

By	M. Usic "M. Usic" (IL) - See all my reviews

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."