Album Review - Augustines - Augustines

I hate genres. I hate putting bands into genres. Sometimes there isn't just one genre big enough to hold a band, or sometimes there just isn't a word to describe that band. Augustines is one of those bands. Sure, they're rock and roll, but these days that's such a broad term. They are just damn good, that's all there is to it. The Seattle via Brooklyn based trio, Billy McCarthy, Eric Sanderson and  Rob Allen, (formerly We Are Augustines) released their sophomore album on February 4, 2014. The self titled album is more than just their second album, it's a sort of come-back album, a reemergence album, a "hey, we're still here and we're not going anywhere" album.

A follow up to 2011's Rise Ye Sunken Ships, Augustines is chock full of emotion, feeling, heartbreaking stories, melodies, lyrics and life. At times it's almost overwhelming, but in the greatest way possible. When you're listening to these songs unfold, they just keep getting bigger and bigger, with several having an epic, anthem quality to them. Lead singer Billy McCarthy's vocals trap you in each and every song. His intensity is incredible. He brings all he has into these songs. This is an album that once you turn it on, once you get it started, you're not going to stop it, not going to turn off until its done, until the last note of the last song ends, just to see how it plays out, just to stay wrapped in the feeling.

The lead single, Cruel City, keys in to this feeling. The African beats keep the song in your head all day. It really is an all around perfect song. Perfect beat, perfect feel, perfect sound, perfect lyrics. Weary Eyes is probably my favorite song off the album. It has the feeling of an old 80's Peter Gabriel song. The perfection from Cruel City carries into Weary Eyes. OK, who am I kidding, this whole album is damn near perfect. All of the songs holding your heart, your attention (but my favorites are Weary Eyes, Cruel City, Now You Are Free, and Hold on to Anything.) They all have stadium rock qualities, a throwback to U2, The Who, Bruce Springsteen, but with the pure heart you only get from Augustines. This is another album where there aren't a few stand out tracks, every single track is is 10, but should be played cranked up to 11. Mosey on over to your trusty online music retailer and pick this album up.