All The Stars And Boulevards

11/30/2006 10:00 PM, LAUNCH
Rob O'Connor

It’s been said that youth is wasted on the young. But then, ask yourself, is senility wasted on the old? Profundity is overrated. Best to pour yourself a stiff drink, turn the radio up extremely loud and question your existence to anyone you can reach by telephone. Or you could do what other wasted young people do, and that’s move to Los Angeles from the middle of the country, meet like-minded youngsters and start a band that dreams of taking over the entire world. That’s what Augustana obviously have in mind. They’ve listened to their Coldplay and Travis and done plenty of drinking (and potentially driving, which is a no-no, kids), riding in airplanes, and messing up with their girlfriends. They definitely feel bummed out a lot of the time, even if their tunes keep a chin up. Still, the piano-based “Wasteland” or the modern rock flash of “Lonely People” deal with overall ennui. When they do write a song called “Feel Fine,” it’s clearly * ironic.* Guys, bad news, life gets worse! Arthritis! Warts! Baldness! Unexplained weight gain! Crushing mortgage payments! Child support! Bad times ahead? Or possible themes for the next album? Destiny is in your hands!