"I like a lot of Australian bands: Midnight Oil, The Birthday Party (everything Nick Cave for that matter), Ghostwriters, AC/DC, Regurgitator, Dirty Three, Yothu Yindi, etc. So to hear a band described as, "...one of the most impassioned and poetic bands in Australia's rich musical history" sets expectations pretty high. Needless to say from the two star rating, I think a bit of hyperbole was employed in writing that bit of publicity about the band.
They aren't terrible by any stretch of the imagination, but neither are they particularly remarkable. It kind of sounds like most bands heard on corporate radio, which is to say, competent performers that don't leave much of an impression on me. "One Crowded Hour" gave me high hopes for the record as it is a pretty solid song, but unfortunately, that was as good as it got for me."
WORTHWHILE SIGNATURE
Orrin C. Judd | Hanover, NH USA | 03/04/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Augie March apparently took the Australian music industry by surprise when they won album of the year and I'm not sure the album manages sustained excellence so much as a couple real high points and intermittent neat turns of phrase. But just give a listen to its signature song, One Crowded Hour, and it's hard to imagine any band recorded a better one."
Truly beautiful album
Jeremy | Seattle, WA | 04/15/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Right from the spine-tingling opener "One Crowded Hour", Augie March sneaks up in your subconscious like a cruise missile rather than bluntly shoving hooks in your face like many in popular music today. The gentle landscapes painted by their laid-back musical style and poetic, softly crooned lyrics generate an introspective, calm feeling. Augie March are a treasure and continue to produce awe-inspiring, grow-on-you music."
Solomon Bellowed
My Uncle Stu | Boston | 04/18/2008
(3 out of 5 stars)
"It grew on me. From the first to the second listenning. But not much. I appreciate the freeness of this CD from the vine program, and understand that I need to review it to get more free stuff. So that being said, it's alright. When I listen to it on my iPod, my gait slows down. I imagine I am the lead character of a hacky prime time drama, thinking vaguely profound voiced-over thoughts as I stare off dreamily while the music comes on. I enjoy that. But not enough to listen through three times. That said, I'm sure these guys are perfectly lovely, and I appreciate the Saul Bellow reference."