Augie March - Moo, You Bloody Choir

Since their inception in 1996, the praise for Australian quintet Augie March in their homeland has literally poured in from critics and a passionate following. With the release of Moo, You Bloody Choir, their third full-length album and first major label release in the states, US audiences will finally have a chance to hear one of the most impassioned and poetic bands in Australia's rich musical history. Album Description

Solomon Bellowed

It grew on me. From the first to the second listenning. But not much. I appreciate the freeness of this CD from the vine program, and understand that I need to review it to get more free stuff. So that being said, it's alright. When I listen to it on my iPod, my gait slows down. I imagine I am the lead character of a hacky prime time drama, thinking vaguely profound voiced-over thoughts as I stare off dreamily while the music comes on. I enjoy that. But not enough to listen through three times. That said, I'm sure these guys are perfectly lovely, and I appreciate the Saul Bellow reference. April 18, 2008

Truly beautiful album

Right from the spine-tingling opener "One Crowded Hour", Augie March sneaks up in your subconscious like a cruise missile rather than bluntly shoving hooks in your face like many in popular music today. The gentle landscapes painted by their laid-back musical style and poetic, softly crooned lyrics generate an introspective, calm feeling. Augie March are a treasure and continue to produce awe-inspiring, grow-on-you music. April 15, 2008

WORTHWHILE SIGNATURE

Augie March apparently took the Australian music industry by surprise when they won album of the year and I'm not sure the album manages sustained excellence so much as a couple real high points and intermittent neat turns of phrase. But just give a listen to its signature song, One Crowded Hour, and it's hard to imagine any band recorded a better one. March 4, 2008

Bland

I like a lot of Australian bands: Midnight Oil, The Birthday Party (everything Nick Cave for that matter), Ghostwriters, AC/DC, Regurgitator, Dirty Three, Yothu Yindi, etc. So to hear a band described as, "...one of the most impassioned and poetic bands in Australia's rich musical history" sets expectations pretty high. Needless to say from the two star rating, I think a bit of hyperbole was employed in writing that bit of publicity about the band.

They aren't terrible by any stretch of the imagination, but neither are they particularly remarkable. It kind of sounds like most bands heard on corporate radio, which is to say, competent performers that don't leave much of an impression on me. "One Crowded Hour" gave me high hopes for the record as it is a pretty solid song, but unfortunately, that was as good as it got for me. March 3, 2008

"There Is No Such Place"

"Oh Yes I Have Seen It Too
Just A Little Different
From How You Do
House Upon A Hill
With No Windows
Just A Can Upon The Sill
To Catch Your Tears
To Feed Your Garden"

"Moo, You Bloody Choir" is the third album from the Melbourne group Augie March (the name taken from "The Adventures of Augie March" by Saul Bellow). The album is a collection of 13 songs written by Glenn Richards (though there is a 14-track version of the album, as well as a special edition with a second CD with 12 additional tracks. The album was originally released in February of 2006, but didn't make its way to the U.S. until late 2007. One tends to focus on the singer-songwriter aspect of this group, with Glenn Richards filling the role. I would hesitate, though, to compare him with others because he is unique, as most are that are given that label.

Glenn Richards lyrics are certainly one of the strengths of this album, and though you might find this album a bit unremarkable on the first listen, you will find that each time you listen to it the songs grow on you more and more. Nor are there any weak tracks on the album, as they all seem to get better with each listen. The first track "One Crowded Hour" will probably be the first to capture your attention, but other songs like "The Cold Acre", "Stranger Strange", "Just Passing Through", "Bottle Baby", or really any of the others will start to catch your ear more and more. The diversity of sound is good as well, though each song is clearly Augie March you will not grow bored with the sound.

Augie March are Glenn Richards (vocals, guitar, keys), Edmondo Ammendola (bass guitar), Adam Donovan (guitar, keys), Kiernan Box (keyboards, string & horn arrangements), and David Williams (drums, percussion). There are also a lot of guest musicians on this album: Ben Gillespie (trombone); Chris Tanner (clarinet); Eugene ball (trumpet); Julien Wilson (tenor saxophone); Miki Tsunoda (violin); Andrea Keeble (violin); Matthew Tompkins (violin); Esther Michel (sleigh bells). Lastly there are guest musicians on "There is No Such Place": Michelle Jackson (violin); Phillipa Pomkins (violin); Nichole Rosenboum (violin); Narine Mellacolon (violin); Veren Grigorov (viola); David Wicks (viola); Sally Shinkel Brown (cello).
January 29, 2008

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