As with The Cult, the more they truncated their name, the more successful they became. Anyone remember Southern Death Cult or Death Cult? No? They are one and the same. This logic could apply to Augustines who could rank as the new baton carriers of the Next Great American band of this century behind The Killers and The National. Arriving as Pela, onto We Are Augustines and now Augustines, this self-titled record is all could hope for and more. This trio transcend the pall of fashion to deliver songs filled with conviction and character.
If Rise Ye Sunken Ships was a postcard from the edge, a catalogue of disintegration by the hour, Augustines is like hymns from the cathedral. This band have more purpose and greater resonance than anything on the charts recently as if they were lying in the gutter and staring at the stars on the previous album, they are, on this record, swinging from the very same stars with the vibrancy unheard since the best stadium moments of U2 or Arcade Fire.
Listen to Cruel City and Nothing To Lose But Your Head as they are intended, back to back, and then spend the rest of the album putting yourself back together after being blown away and wondering why music cannot always have this effect. “Hey! You gotta get me outta here? You’ve got nothing to lose but your head” Billy McCarthy implores with passion. And you will be queuing up to trade your head for your hearing.
Augustines stand as an example of the potency of rock’n’roll. They are becoming one of the consistently strong outfits who are difficult to fault. You can almost hear the stadium doors creaking open to welcome them onstage. Because, unlike many bands who declare they are driven, unfortunately, most don’t know where they are going. Augustines surely do.
Enlisting the services of Peter Katis to produce has been a beneficial and enterprising move. The production complements the writing, which is accomplished, and the execution which is meticulous. This is the third album, in various guises for the team of McCarthy and Eric Sanderson and the songs are increasingly anthemic, memorable and wrenching. Try Hold On To Anything for example. Their continued touring increases the seemingly spontaneous and generous acclaim. Here’s hoping that for Augustines, the praise equates to fame because this band needs to be heard.
BY BRONIUS ZUMERIS
Best Track: Hold On To Anything
If You Like These, You’ll Like This: U2, FRIGHTENED RABBIT, INTERPOL
In A Word: Necessary
