like drinkin’ gin with nothing else in, and that doesn’t hold me together
My little brother first told me about the marvelous and literate music of Augie March several years ago, and now he’s up and moved to the band’s native land of Australia. While he’s off doing things like abseiling near waterfalls and boating on the Sydney Harbor (someone give this kid a job), Augie March released their fourth album Watch Me Disappear over a year ago, and it slipped right past me.
You can hear one of their new songs below (the new album was recorded at Neil Finn’s Roundhead Studios in New Zealand, and is certainly recommended for fans of the Finn Brothers) — but reading this news made me decide to re-up an old set of Augie March playing with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra. It’s one of my most-requested old posts, and for good reason. “One Crowded Hour” is still one of my favorite, gorgeous sad songs; alongside “Sometime Around Midnight” by Airborne Toxic Event, they both evoke a very young and desperate kind of love to me. With strings it becomes even more brilliantly devastating.
One Crowded Hour (with orchestra) – Augie March
LINK: AUGIE MARCH WITH ORCHESTRA (RE-UP)
New(er) song: Pennywhistle
I keep getting cascades of shivers at the lyric: “I dreamed you, like you dreamed me, oh the bomb dreamed the fuse and the drowner dreamed the sea…”
Name: Heather Browne
a penny whistle and an accordion! this is a treat.
Heather Brown — April 12, 2010 @ 7:48 pm
Comparison to the magical Finn family is dangerous territory, but DANG this is great music! With that many bodies onstage you wouldn’t think one guy would have to triple up – accordion, penny whistle & keys? Augie March is one to check into for sure (even if Glenn Richards is copying Neil Finn’s haircut…) Chalk up another one for lil’ bro!
HB – Thanks for re-upping the previous post as well.
jimbo — April 13, 2010 @ 10:08 am
I grabbed this concert from you a couple of years ago and it is definitely a Christmas-time staple in our household. Don’t know why the symphony suits the holidays so well but it does. Thanks for re-upping it for others to enjoy. Definitely worth downloading!
Spinadoo Matt — April 13, 2010 @ 11:51 am
Augie are amazing – that trac you posted has never left my Ipod since you first put it up. Moo you Bloody Chior is a great album too.
Heads up – New The National track availabel for download – enjoy!
http://pitchfork.com/news/38478-download-the-new-national-song-afraid-of-everyone-now/
Danny — April 13, 2010 @ 5:45 pm
There’s too much to say about Augie March, the band whose lyrics are so close to my heart, but what I can say is that of all the tracks you could have chosen, you chose their most commercial one. It’s not a bad song, I like it, but there are so many that really showcase the DEPTH of Glenn’s writing. I would recommend:
The Hole In Your Roof – off their Sunset Studies album
Vineyard – off their Strange Bird album
Brundisium – also off their Strange Bird album
There Is No Such Place – off their Sunset Studies album. Listening to this one live… is so much better though. Such passion… such a beautiful artist…: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSiyWaaLiKU&feature=related
I will love this band until the day I die…
Heather's Little Brother — April 13, 2010 @ 6:12 pm
sweet and fine -
Russell — April 14, 2010 @ 7:38 pm
thanks, brother. that’s awesome and helpful. i’m off to explore more deeply….
love you.
browneheather — April 14, 2010 @ 9:37 pm
heather: thanks so much for resposting the augie march concert! you rock.
Jason — April 15, 2010 @ 9:00 pm