The Misadventures of Augie March
I generally don’t write about records/bands on A Reminder that I don’t really enjoy; it’s just not worth the effort when I don’t even have enough time/energy to write about every piece of music I do like. But I’m making an exception for the new Augie March record, Watch Me Disappear.
Watch Me Disappear is, quite simply, a dull record. When I put it on I found myself struggling to pay attention to it all the way through. By the time I got to the end of the record it had all blurred into one uninteresting, mid-paced, strum-along song. In fact, I can’t even isolate a single aspect of the record I didn’t enjoy as absolutely nothing stood out.
The reason this concerns me enough to write about is that once upon a time, Augie March made engaging (if overly long) records. Sunset Studies and Strange Bird are records that have some peaks and troughs, some light and shade. These records were evidence that Glenn Richards was one of Australia’s more gifted songwriters working today. So what the hell happened?
Moo, You Bloody Choir came along next and was way too long and, like the new one, too many of the songs were samey; the middle of the album just kind of blurs together. Sure, One Crowded Hour deserved all the praise it got; it’s a fantastic song that marries a great melody with clever lyrics, always a recipe for critical and, sometimes, commercial success. The last track on Moo, Vernoona, is another great song, partly because it’s so short (it’s beautiful as well). I remember commenting to people that if Moo had been 4 songs shorter and had more songs like Vernoona, I’d be thrilled.
So now, Augie March have returned with Watch Me Disappear. I was optimistic: 11 tracks! 45 minutes long! They listened to me! Unfortunately, it just made the averageness of the album all the more disappointing. I can’t excuse the record for being long this time.
This band are capable of so much more than making the Safest Record of All Time.
October 24th, 2008 10:37
Hi, (love this blog BTW!)
I agree! I have so much to say on this issue, but will not go on a rant here.
I think Glenn Richards is a great singer songwriter and is the kind of artist I am drawn to. But I think the problem with their albums, is the band itself. Great songs but dull arrangements & instrumentation lets them down every time.
Bring on a GR solo effort! Ditch the band Glenn and let a decent producer take the reigns. It worked for Bernie.
October 24th, 2008 13:29
i actually prefer the two eps they released before Sunset Studies–they are both fantastic. but yeah, i totally agree, they’ve gone off the boil recently. and they’ve gone a bit dull live, where before they were occasionally brilliant on-stage
October 24th, 2008 15:36
Muz: I agree….Glenn has talent. But something isn’t working properly at the moment. Maybe it is the band.
Den: I refrained from even delving into the live issue here. I’ve seen them three times since moving here, had heard they could be amazing, and each time I was left feeling pretty unimpressed.
October 26th, 2008 09:52
Have to generally agree here. This one is on the disappointing side from the boys.
October 29th, 2008 23:41
Wow, I’m completely gonna grab it and have a listen now. My thoughts on first and second listens were pretty much the same as your comments for Moo, You Bloody Choir. Very dull record with aspects that just stood out as amazing like…well the opening track…
I only just started reading your blog so I’m browsing through a few old posts…hence the very late reply.
Cheers,
Mick
October 29th, 2008 23:50
Not “reply”…bloody hell, what’s going through my head?! I mean “comment”
October 31st, 2008 22:58
Familiar looking last name, Michael!
November 9th, 2008 15:09
Totally agree. They lost me when I saw them late last year at the HiFi in Melbourne. Glenn appeared to be quite drunk and forgot the words to ‘One Crowded Hour’ and started talking halfway through the song. He also spent a lot of the gig lost in long rambling monologues, and the band also made us suffer through a 25 minute farce where the band members gave each other Kris Kringle presents.
Terrible. Have listened to the new record, and I think ‘dull’ is being quite complimentary!
Nice blog by the way – have added you to my blogroll.