Byzantium

Description

Byzantium is the sophomore full-length album by the American singer and songwriter John Austin, independently released on PG Records in April 1996. The album was produced by Newton Carter (of Vigilantes of Love) and features a band consisting of members of Vigilantes of Love, Billy Pilgrim, Sea Level and Better Than Ezra.

It’s been a long time since John Austin hit the scene with his Mark Heard-produced debut The Embarrassing Young. Since then his old label, GlassHouse, shut down. He got his arm busted with a Louisville Slugger, and a small indy label from Kansas released a demo-quality CD entitled Authorized Unauthorized Bootleg. Well, according to the album’s opening track, «Today is Career Day» and John Austin is bellying up to the bar again.

Although still independent as of this printing, Austin has put together what is by far his best project yet. Byzantium (named after the Christian-ruled empire that sprung to life through the ashes of the Roman Empire) is a full-band rock album that combines folk song writing with youthful live rock music that should find friends among followers of artists like Jackson Browne, Dylan, Peter Himmelman, Gin Blossoms or Clapton. His songs bleed of folk, but his band (comprised of the former “first generation” Vigilantes of Love players Newton Carter, David Labruyere and Travis McNabb) lay down enough solid rock backing that they should create quite a niche for themselves. Although not nearly as intense as The Vigilantes, Austin has obviously been influenced by the neo-classic style of that band, as well as Peter Case and Bruce Cockburn.

The production here is beautiful, thanks again to Newton Carter. A few songs off Bootleg, like «Red Dog» and «I got the Rest of My Life» come to life like never before. Other newer songs will quickly become favorites. Basically, this is John Austin at his absolute best. The songs are well-written and meaningful, and they are couched in gloriously non-alternative roots rock. This is what folk-rock was supposed to be. [Joseph Hulton, True Tunes]

John Austin is everything good about modern pop/rock. Effortless hooks, chiming guitars, and intelligent lyrics flow from every track. Imagine a more intense Toad The Wet Sprocket or Michael Penn and you’ll be in the ballpark.

From the first song, «Career Day», you immediately know that Austin has more on his mind than “you done me wrong” songs. If Tom Petty had written «Another Brick in the Wall» instead of Roger Waters, it might have sounded like «Career Day». Equally catchy is «Heaven is Inside», while «Leave the Light On» has a heavier tone musically and lyrically despite its title. Similarly, «Red Dog» is a song that would make Tom Waits proud. And a wailing harp and pounding piano (courtesy of Randall Bramlett of Alman Brothers fame) form the stomp-till-you-drop «I’ve Got the Rest of My Life».

When Austin does approach the topic of love, it’s with equal insight and intelligence. «Did I Really Break Your Heart?» and «Lost in Her Hometown» both shine, and the acoustic «Closer to the Earth» recalls a chance encounter on a plane and the subsequent ponderings.

Austin is backed by a stellar cast of players from other bands, including Travis McNabb (Better Than Ezra) and David Labruyere and Newton Carter (Vigilantes of Love). Carter produced the album and gives Austin a sound that should be welcome on any modern rock station. [Neil Fagan, Performing Songwriter Magazine]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/byzantium/700353606)

CD tracklist:

01. Career Day – 3:13
02. Heaven Is Inside – 4:25
03. Leave the Light On – 4:43
04. Red Dog – 4:25
05. I Got the Rest of My Life – 3:38
06. Did I Really Break Your Heart? – 3:20
07. Lost In Her Hometown – 4:04
08. King of the Beasts – 3:25
09. He Is a Chameleon (I Am the Rainbow) – 3:47
10. Two Worlds Collide – 4:05
11. Closer To the Earth – 4:06

Note: Available at Bandcamp: https://johnaustin.bandcamp.com/album/byzantium

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