ALBUM REVIEW: Can't Love, Can't Hurt
By: Scott Rader
5/1/2008
Can't Love, Can't Hurt, by Augustana
Say what you will about Augustana, but their song "Boston" was catchy
as poison ivy. Unfortunately, they can't generate lightning twice.
Nothing on their third album sticks to the brain like nicotine-laced
"Boston."
While listening to it it's actually hard to tell one song from the
next. So when it ended it'd felt like listening to a 30-minute song.
Some of their song writing is solid, but it's basically boring and
repetitive.
What's the difference between single "Sweet and Low" and "Rest, Shame, Love" six songs later?
Well, the later is a little slower, a little more country-inflected. But there's not much more to delineate between tracks.
Different words?
Slightly different chords?
I'm at a loss.
Still,
there are far worse albums out there (ahem, Lil' Mama). Even if the
songs sound the same, they'll be nice to play while doing homework.
Just don't bother looking at the track names. They don't matter.
