Augie March's Autumnal Masterpiece Rules!

The Boys From Down Under Come Up Over in a Huge Way.

Well, we've finally been served with the album to beat this year. Or more accurately the album that no one has a chance in hell of besting this year. When I discovered Augie March a few years ago their Strange Bird topped my list in 2004, but I honestly must admit that as good as that album was, I was not prepared for what these guys have put together with the unfathomable grace of Moo You Bloody Choir. In a year that has seen our very best muster up passable efforts at best, yes that means Spoon and Arcade Fire, my boys from down under have surpassed any album released since Abbey Road.

Even the superb efforts by the likes of White Stipes, New Pornographers and Okkerville River, don't really hold much of a candle to this flawless masterpiece. With an album that is literally the next logical step beyond O.K. Computer, The Man Who . . . and Parachutes, Augie March has wrestled firm command of the coolest band in the world. Moo You Bloody Choir demands headphone study and mixes melancholia and cool better than any band since the heyday of the Chills. As a lyricist Glenn Richards can stand beside Connor Oberst in terms of poetic irony and has a vocal range that can find that ephemeral peaks of Jeff Buckley, a graceful quality that reminds of George Harrison, as well as a gritty baritone that is all his own. The intracacies that this impeccible five piece explore are festooned with fascinating arrangements and breathtaking moments of utter beauty and on the arguable centerpiece of the record "Stranger Strange" they even tip their cap to the inimitable Pat Fish - better known to those whose hook is deep in the musical current as the Jazz Butcher.

Augie March has rescued me from a year when I'd practically lost interest in music. Just as an example next week I have free passes to Vegoose which is quickly becoming one of the premiere festivals in the country. The autumn weather in Vegas is enough to make you want to go there for a dogshit festival, but this years lineup is just so uninspiring that I offered my tickets (which include photography pit privileges) to Kyle just because I'd rather spend the time with my family, than get the red carpet treatment at a festival that is literally a little brother to Boneroo. Previous years have featured everyone from The Shins, Cat Power, Spoon, Arcade Fire, Gomez, the Decemberists, Beck, Sleater Kinney, Magic Numbers, Built To Spill, Jenny Lewis and the Olsen Twins, The Roots, The Killers, Devendra Banhart, Black Crowes, Phil Lesh, Dave Matthews, moe, Widespread Panic, Fiona Apple, I'm forgetting plenty. This year the headliners are Rage Against the Machine and after Adam and Kyle's report from Coachella I'm probably going to take a pass, unless Kyle's new job prevents him from being able to attend.

Irregardless, I'll either stay home and listen to Augie March or listen to them on my way to Vegas. My mates won't be able to deny Augie the number one spot this year. Regardless how good the Radiohead download may be. Though I suspect there will be those who will seek to deny it due to US versus Aussie release dates.