Train - For Me, It's You
For Me, It's You ranks, in my book, as the best Train record ever.
The new Train record is most definitely a welcome treat to anyone who was a fan of (the album, not the song) Drops of Jupiter. On Jupiter, Train traded in the grittier side of the roots-rock sound for a more Counting Crows-esque polish to the tracks; and it was most definitely a change for the better. On their follow-up to Jupiter, the abysmal My Private Nation (2003), they kept the sound; but lost something far more important: the songwriting. Excluding lead single "Calling All Angels," the whole album was nothing more than fillery mush. It amounted to nothing more than a so-so, fully hollow 'vibe' type of album.
Now, they're back. It's been two years since Nation sucked up record players around the country, and what do they have to say? Well ... the answer is a lot. For Me, It's You ranks, in my book, as the best Train record ever. Beating out their solid debut, and stellar follow-up. Both of those records were good, but flawed. But this one, this one is solid gold.
The song writing is phenominal on the album. Settling back onto simpler song arrangements, and more thought provoking lyrics has proven itself to be a wothwhile formula for Pat Monahan and Co. First single "Cab" really caught my attention, as I first heard it on a hotel room TV, along with seeing the video on VH1. I was brushing my teeth, when suddently I caught myself fully entranced, listening with all my attention to the catchy tune that had so suddenly filled the room whilst I wasn't even looking. I could tell right off by the vocals that it was Train, but after Nation broke my heart (and bled my ears), I hadn't really kept up with the band. I was excited, to say the least. Back in the day when it was all shiny and new, Train's debut album practically lived in my stereo for months. A return to goodness was (literally) music to my ears. I jumped online right there in the hotel, and pulled up the info on the album's pending release.
Brendan O' Brien's production brings back the earthy, Counting Crows-ish sound of their Jupiter-era work, but also with a dash of the rawness from their self-titled record tracks. And, most importantly, something wholly new. The songs, as well as the sound, all feel familiar; but not in that 'bad' way. The album feels comfortable, like it's speaking straight to you. Perhaps the maturation and direction can be somewhat accounted for by the personal struggles Monahan has faced on a personal level; losing a friend to suicide, and a bouncing, tumultuos line-up in the band itself over the past year or so has obviously led to far more introspective song-writing for the group.
Look no further than "Cab," "I Can't Change Your Mind", or the title track "For Me, It's You" for some of the best songs to be released yet this year. There really isn't a weak track to be found in the lot, as the whole album fits together like some convulted, storybook of a massive puzzle. The entire thing flows together so nicely that's it's shocking that this is the same band that put out such dribble only two short years ago. No out of place tracks here, or any filler material to up the length to be found. Clocking in at 13 tracks, that's quite a feat to say the least.
I'm about to ramble for a second, but it'll be worth it, trust me. If you're at all a fan of The Wallflowers, Train's older work, the Counting Crows, Better Than Ezra, Will Hoge, Graham Colton, Howie Day, Matt Nathanson, or Ari Hest: you will love this record. It's one of the best releases yet this year, and sets the bar quite high for the many artists set to follow. I highly recommend it.
(Columbia Records)