For Me, It's You

For Me It's You showcases a revamped and revitalized lineup of Train

Formed in San Francisco 1994, Train quickly developed an avid local following and, by 1997, was opening for national bands like Blues Traveler, Barenaked Ladies, and Counting Crows. Each of Train's studio albums – beginning with 1998's self-titled debut and carrying on through Drops Of Jupiter and My Private Nation – has achieved platinum status or better while generating a string of hit singles that touched the lives of the group's fans in profound and powerful ways. The band's new album, For Me It's You, showcases a revamped and revitalized lineup: founding core members Pat Monahan (vocals), Jimmy Stafford (guitars) and Scott Underwood (drums) are joined by bassist Johnny Colt (originally from the Black Crowes), and Atlanta keyboardist Brandon Bush (John Mayer, Shawn Mullins). With Train's new line-up gelling as a unified musical ensemble working and playing as one on For Me It's You, the group's new album emerges as the most fully realized and keenly focused collection of the band's career. All members create a depth to the album, which allows the listener to continuously hear something different, resulting in a new adventure within a familiar sound.

New levels of emotional depth and musical unity

Pat's brought a lot of his personal experience – including the pain of divorce, parenthood, and falling into a love that's both real and mature – to the table on For Me It's You. So, while All I Ever Wanted might examine the wounds of love gone wrong, tracks like Give Myself To You and For Me It's You open up the possibility of the transformative power of a love that practices acceptance and understanding. The set's first single, Cab, is the first-person witness of a New York cabbie, accompanied by a piano part that's worthy of one of Billy Joel's finest songs, painterly synth, strummed acoustic guitars, and a killer string arrangement. It's a fine song, but it's not the best one here. The polished, full-bodied, Give Myself To You eclipses it by virtue of its brief R&B-drenched bridge alone. I'm Not Waiting in Line shows Monahan trying on Mick Jagger's skin-tight pants. The tune sounds like the latter half of Gimme Shelter, which was its model in sonics and groove. Train does a credible read of Bob Mould's If I Can't Change Your Mind. The guitars twang and ring but the Hammond carries the day on top of a dirty tub thump. The slippery slow, bluesy stroll of the title track closes the set. This is the best kind of love song. In all, For Me It's You finds Train reaching past its remarkable past achievements to find new levels of emotional depth and musical unity on 13 intimate explorations of the complexities of life and love.

For Me It's You is a perfect blend of musical and lyrical talents

Train creates a superior grade of mellow alternative pop music, with classic rock flourishes, on its fifth album. The sound of For Me It's You, is less strident than that of the band's previous offerings, but it's edgier and digs deeper into older musics and styles. The combination of sweet pop melodies and lyrics, folk and country rock guitars, easygoing jam band tempos and the occasional blues rock flavoring makes the band sound like a successor to The Traveling Wilburys. For Me It's You is a perfect blend of musical and lyrical talents that includes a mix of reflection, philosophy, and passion that stirs a range of emotions that is sure to please any mood. The album was recorded over the course of an intensive seven week period in Atlanta, Georgia with producer Brendan O'Brien (Pearl Jam, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Rage Against The Machine, Trey Anastasio). O'Brien is so closely identified with the band's sound on-tape he is basically a member. Strains of piano, light strings, and vocal harmonies are seamlessly integrated into the traditional rock instrumentation. On the whole, For Me It's You shows Train improving on their highly successful formula with ever-sharper songwriting. Catch this one before it pulls out of the station without you.