Train
Groups break-up. Some members return to the real world, get day jobs, while others pick up the pieces and carry on. The Apostles, with guitarists Rob Hotchkiss and Jim Stafford, were looking for the big L.A. break and coming up empty. Meanwhile, singer Patrick Monahan left Erie, PA, for wondrous Tinseltown. That adventure resulted in a chance meeting with Hotchkiss who suggested they work as a duo. But the coffee-house circuit didn't cut it, so Hotchkiss went back to his Apostle comrades and got Stafford and bassist Charlie Colin to join. Scott Underwood, Colin's good friend, was enlisted on drums and Train was on its way in '94. The group then left L.A. and settled in San Francisco to build their sound in a more laid-back atmosphere.
By '97 Train had attracted Columbia Records' attention and toured as an opening act for Barenaked Ladies, Blues Traveler and Counting Crows. Their self-title debut came out in '98 and rode the success of "Meet Virginia." "Drops of Jupiter" with "Respect," "She's On Fire" and the emotion laden title track arrived in '01. Hotchkiss departed prior to '03 release, "My Private Nation." The following year, concert CD, "Alive At Last," dropped.
Train's first studio album in two-and-a-half years, "For Me, It's You," was produced by longtime collaborator Brendan O'Brien and featured former Black Crowes bassist Johnny Colt and keyboardist Brandon Bush, who had been part of Train's touring band.
Groups usually run out of songs, chances and time. Then they fade away. Some lucky ones make an unexpected comeback. Train rose from the dead with "Hey Soul Sister," a Top 5 iTunes hit from their '09 album "Save Me, San Francisco" ("Hey Soul Sister," hit in early '10). The song got the group more ink (and sales) than they'd had since their "Meet Virginia"/"Drops of Jupiter" days.
Train has an acoustic/electric blend that lends itself to mid-tempo songs. In addition, the group collectively composes all their material. That said, their self-titled debut containing the-across-the-board hit "Meet Virginia" along with "If You Leave" has more drive than the follow-up "Drops of Jupiter." The title track of "My Private Nation" is a tight little Rocker, which is a good sign, but the rest of the album doesn't follow through. That's not to say it lacks appeal. Train knows their way around a melody. First single, "Calling All Angels" is a catchy pop song. "All-American Girl" has some spunk and drive. But the remainder is a safe exercise in pop acceptability.
"Alive At Last" contains faithful versions of Train's most recognizable studio output. Here though, Monahan has more room for expression and takes advantage of the opportunity. The group even attempts a version of the Faces' "Stay With Me." It hardly matches the Rod Stewart led original but it ain't half bad.
With Bush and Colt on board, Train, amps up the energy, but not too much, on "For Me, It's You." Once again, they present an album that nails the heart of "adult radio." Sing-along melodies, reasonably intelligent lyrics (or at least smart enough for a soccer mom to sing after picking up the kids without embarrassing herself), Monahan's expressive vocals and smart arrangements are all part of Train's tool kit. "Get Out," has some kick and a nice guitar riff while the mid-tempo "All I Ever Wanted" rides an appealing and catch melody. A little off the beaten path, "Shelter Me" has a funky desperation. "Cab" tells its story from the driver's perspective which turns out to be an interesting point of view. On the other hand, the cheap rhyme "how many bridges must I burn, how many lessons must I learn," distracts from "All I Hear."
If there is a complaint (or two), it that "For Me, It's You" is still a pretty laid back effort and the songs have a sameness to them. Either this is an album you get cozy with or it's one where you rarely make it to the closer title track.
The appeal of "Save Me, San Francisco" are the low-watt grooves that comfortably propel "Hey, Soul Sister," "I Got You" and "Breakfast In Bed." The trademark acoustic pop is there plus some unexpected slashing guitar on "You Already Know." That and the mid-tempo "If It's Love" break the mold before the album settles back into Train's norm.