-res cogitans-

Is anyone else a fan of this great band?

check them out at: http://www.augustanamusic.com/



Album:

Dan Layus, vocals, piano, guitar
Josiah Rosen, lead guitar, vocals
Jared Palomar, bass, keyboards, vocals
Justin South, drums

Travel breaks down a kind of inner structure we have. Stripped of our props, deprived of our masks, we are completely on the surface of ourselves." - Albert Camus

Augustana's debut All the Stars and Boulevards is a true rite of passage-an album full of airplanes and acclimation, of New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Boston, and San Diego and, maybe most importantly, the moments of self-awareness in between. But first... Greenville, Illinois.

After growing up on the West Coast, lead singer Dan Layus landed at Greenville College in Illinois, where he majored in music. When Dan met Josiah Rosen, the two found a shared passion for bands like Counting Crows and Radiohead. They started playing together and christened themselves Augustana, a name suggested by Josiah, which is thought to be Latin for 'a small glimpse of hope.' ("We're not 100% sure of this," says Dan with a laugh. "We've tried researching it.")

Then, after recruiting fellow undergrad Jared Palomar to play keyboards, Augustana recorded some songs that started winning them local acclaim. Disillusioned with school and full of the kind of adrenaline that gets things done no matter how impetuous, Dan and Josiah decided near the end of the fall 2004 semester that their future wasn't in Greenville - they were going to move to California and try to make Augustana more than a college band.

"I wasn't happy in my classes, I was failing and I just kept thinking, man, I know music is for me, just not this part of it," says Dan. Jared was understandably wary about leaving school, but decided to join the duo six weeks later and jumped from the keys to bass. The one thing Augustana needed now was a drum player. When Josiah heard through some common friends that Justin South was a free agent, he e-mailed him to see if he wanted to come try out.

"I checked out their website and I was like 'wow,'" Justin remembers. "I thought this sounds like a signed group who'd been playing together for years. When I found out it was all self-produced and they were doing their own thing, it completely blew me away."

When Justin played with the band for the first time, it was clear things had fallen into place. "I ran through their songs with them," Justin says. "And then we just kind of looked at each other and, I don't know, it just felt right. There was no awkwardness, no one telling anyone what to do or how to play. It was just completely fluid."

Justin e-mailed Augustana's website to an old industry contact he had who was so impressed he called Justin immediately. ("I think the first words out of his mouth were: when do we start working?‚" Justin says with a laugh). Within months of their first practice session, Augustana was playing showcases in New York and LA for major labels. After signing to Epic, the four were entrusted to premier rock producer Brendan O'Brien (Bruce Spingsteen, Pearl Jam).

The band went into the studio with songs Layus had written in different locales over the past three years. The ones penned at home ("Bullets" "Hotel Roosevelt") have certain buoyancy. The ones written on the road ("Stars and Boulevards" "Mayfield") have more grit. It's easier to see your life from a distance when you're miles from home.

"There's a lot of leaving," Dan says, of the album's many beginnings and ending, takeoffs and landings. "That's pretty much the theme of the record-looking for a home and not being able to find it, for a multitude of reasons. I was looking for a home in a person. Be it a real love or just one I had in my head. I wish that by the last song there was a conclusion but I'm still figuring it out myself."

At his Atlanta studio, O'Brien helped the band nail down a signature sound-a fusion of European rock and organic Americana. "Everyone varies on what they really love and what they listen to. But I think we meet in the right places," says Dan.

More importantly, O'Brien allowed them to convey the easy authenticity that defines the four members of the band on record. "If you listen to the album, all the notes aren't perfect and the vocals aren't all smoothed over," says Dan. "It's just natural. There are mistakes. Brendan wanted to capture the realness of it and that was important to us too, to try and get that live sound."

The result is an album that has the flavors of many things yet manages to be something entirely its own. All the Stars and Boulevards isn't trying to recreate or mimic. Augustana has never needed to-they've always remained boldly on the surface of themselves.

-res cogitans-

Anyone? ...

They were featured on OTH

'Boston' is a beautiful song...

UltimateFan

I really like the song Boston!

Pavlov's Belle

I'm really starting to love Augustana.

I've only really heard Boston and Stars and Boulevards.

oth4eva

Aww... Thanks for starting this thread! Love Augustana!

BrookeandLucas

Boston was like the best song iv'e heard from them

-res cogitans-

Hey! Thanks for all the replies guys!

I love the album..its really great!

Mapledonuts

I love Augustana!

My sister got me into them. I bought their album a few months ago. I absolutely love the song "Stars & Boulevards".

Are they on tour right now?

-res cogitans-

So has anyone seen them live?

kissed back tears

I first heard them on One Tree Hill and was interested when Boston played in the season finale. My favorite songs from all the stars and boulevards are definitely sunday best, boston and wasteland. They also released an album called Midwest Skies and Sleepless monkeys in 2003. Unfortunately it only sold 1000 copies and productionw as stopped. I managed to snag mp3s of the album, and there are some amazing songs on there, especially an earlier version of Boston set in a higher key. There is a heartbreaking song called Angels, while Brace and More than a Love Song are also amazing

Mio

Love the song "Boston"!

Chynna Princess

I love them. I have 2 versions of Boston. One I've had a while has this beautiful piano intro. I love that one.

Khleoswife

Thanks for starting this thread, love them I didnt see them live but my friend did and she sad that they sounded even better live, she got their autograph also. She also said they were really down to earth. And that their greatful for their success but are really happy to just perform.

BeMyBaby

I live in the UK and quite frankly HATE IT! Boston is my theme tune.

I've been obsessed with Boston (MA) since I was 5, and am hopefully going there in October to apply to some Universities there.

This band fed my obsession and i love them even more for it!

ShannonNicole

i have they are one of my favorite bands live. i saw them for the first time last summer when my sister won a radio station contest and my sister and i got treated to a private mini concert and interview that lasted an hour at the station...other than the dj we were the only people in the room! it was really amazing and something i wont forget for a while thats for sure then we took a pic with them and got some stuff signed and made small talk...such sweet guys. saw them later that night at their house of blues for their show and were front row and it was amazingggg. i'm seeing them again on april 14th in san diego and i cant wait!!!