In a heartfelt blog on the bands website (www.steeltrain.net) singer Jack Antonoff (vocals/guitar/piano/drums) tells the story of where the band started and how they got to this eponymous release today. Jack met Daniel Silbert (guitar/backing vocals) and Evan Winiker (bass/backing vocals) at a private Jewish school when they were 10 years old and dreamt of being in a band. It wasn’t until years later that they got back together and hooked up with Jon Schriffman (drums/percussion) and Justin Huey (vocals/piano/wurlitzer) to form Steel Train.
The overall spirit of Steel Train is clearly influenced by early Beatles and Elvis Costello. They seems to take the best bits of modern sound from bands like Vampire Weekend and MGMT and mix in their own secret sauce to create and exhilarating resonance. Although Steel Train has more of a pop sound their lyrics are jolting and passionate, reminiscent of Radiohead.
The song S.O.G. Burning in Hell creates a waterfall of harmony that pours over you creating the most rejuvenating outlook and inner motivation. The chanted repeating lyric “And I pick up the pieces and run…” particularly makes me feel like I could start over again no matter where I am in life.
Song writing skills are abundant in this bunch of jersey boys. Perfectly illustrated in the song You and I Undercover with the lyric “so if you’re gonna leave, you cut the cords to those you know will love you back.” Slowly building on a lightly playing piano to lead and then breaking into an epic rumble that drives right in to your heart like cupid’s arrow.
Discovering Steel Train today felt like coming upon a lemonade stand on a blazing hot summer day, a pleasant surprise and unbelievably refreshing in so much of today’s stale music climate. Their DIY attitude and newly formed independent label embody the devotion that these East Coast boys have to their music. Having formed the label precisely to preserve the integrity of the album they released today. You can listen to it on their website for free and if you like it, you should buy it.
Hi, my e-mail thing wasn't working so I had to leave you a comment... I saw you like the move Let The Right One In, and it's pretty much my favorite movie (and book). I have just started a blog featuring my art, and I am very influenced by that movie, and have a couple of pieces from it (one from the movie, one from the book)... If you like art, and are bored, please check it out! http://theartoforphe.blogspot.com.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your time!