It’s been well documented that Brooklyn indie rockers Augustines have had a somewhat shaky start. Their 2011 debut should have been a triumph, but instead was tainted with tragedy, as frontman Billy McCarthy’s brother took his own life during the already fraught recording sessions. Next came their self-titled second album, which – though joyous – was very much the sound of a band still finding their feet.
For album number three, the band set sail for a brave new world of synthisers, drum machines and stadium-sized choruses. Though it’ll win the band plenty of new fans, it may alienate some old school ones too. The heroic hooks and heart-broken lyrics certainly remain (“I don’t wanna be what I am tonight,” bellows McCarthy on the life-affirming opener ‘Are We Alive?’), but there’s an excessive number of mainstream-courting ballads. ‘May You Keep Well’ and ‘Landmine’ meander – and, after the initial roar of the first song (and the Future Islands-meets-Killers number ‘When Things Fall Apart’), excitement is rare. Very much the proverbial “grower”, skewed ‘80s power ballad ‘Running In Place’ and the euphoric pop-rock anthem ‘No Need To Explain’ will establish Augustines as real contenders – but overall This Is Your Life isn’t the classic we hoped for.
Out June 10
Rating: 6/10