Augustana: All the Stars and Boulevards (Epic)

As if the adult alternative pop/rock genre wasn’t already teeming with sensational bands, here comes Augustana. Hailing from that musical hotbed, Greenville, Ill., the band was formed as a result of the members’ shared passions for great songwriting acts like Counting Crows and Radiohead. Meeting up in college, Dan Layus (lead vocals) and Josiah Rosen (lead guitar, vocals) recruited fellow undergrad Jared Palomar to play bass and keyboards. Once the band’s nucleus was formed, they decided to live out every red-blooded male’s primal urge: ditch college, move to the West Coast, and take on the ultra-unstable world of music—and for this, the world is a better place.

Their debut album, All the Stars and Boulevards, is a wonderful exploration of emotions, love, and fabulous pop musicality. From Layus’ drone of “Are we gonna make it” in “Matfield” to the fascinating piano melody in “Boston,” you know that this band has done their homework. The beauty of their music is that they don’t stray too far from their original formula—each song is just different enough from the previous that it sounds like the band has created a musical “collection”; each song is a combination of sharp lyrics with unforgettable pop/rock rhythms.

Not only do the lyrics work with the music, but Layus delivers the best vocal performances I have heard in some time. His voice is so tender, so full of pain and emotion that I often found myself hypnotized by its beautiful tone. He is one of those rare singers who can utilize his falsetto range without seeming pretentious.

Luckily, the band nabbed premier rock producer Brendan O’Brien (Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots), who was able to weave its tight harmonies around pure pop/rock riffs. O’Brien must have used the same winning template as in past projects: He has created an album stuffed full of stellar tracks. All the Stars  might very well compare to Pearl Jam’s legendary album Ten or STP’s chart-topping disc Core.

While the more up-tempo songs (“Bullets,” “Feel Fine,” “Lonely People”) are astounding, the real heart of the band lies within its ballads. “Boston” is by far the best heartfelt ballad I have heard in years. The bouncy piano melody mixed with Layus’ quirky vocals paints a compelling story of love and heartbreak. On “Wasteland,” Palomar’s keyboarding skills are once again highlighted as the band tugs at the heartstrings with yet another well-crafted song.

The collection of songs on Augustana’s debut disc is far too astonishing to be a fluke. This album is an instant classic full of thoughtful, moving melodies and remarkable lyrics. Do yourself and your CD collection a favor and go check out this recording. | Jim Campbell