Train – For Me, It’s You

Artist: Train

Title: For Me, It’s You

Label: Columbia

Rating: 6.5/10

FILE UNDER: Train tries to muster up past glory.

CORPORATE LINE: “The ‘you’ changes in every song,” says Train vocalist/songwriter Pat Monahan regarding the sources of inspiration on the band’s new studio album For Me, It’s You, “In the title song, ‘For Me, It’s You,’ the ‘you’ is the woman I’m in love with. Throughout the record, the ‘you’ is my children or my dear friend who died this year, it’s my mother, it’s my family, it’s my band.”

Pat’s band is the Grammy Award-winning multi-platinum Train, whose anthemic hits–including “Drops Of Jupiter” and “Calling All Angels”–have earned them the loyalty of fans around the globe while enduring as radio playlist staples across the country.

The band’s new album, For Me, It’s You showcases a revamped and revitalized lineup: founding core members Pat Monahan, 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). Johnny and Brandon have both been on-board since Train’s 2003 My Private Nation tour.

THE GREAT:
Move along. Nothing to see here.

THE AVERAGE:
“All I Ever Wanted” – You have to wonder if Train makes the listener jaded. Train has been known to write a few epics. Whether they are true epics or just sound so is another debate for another day. This song tries very hard to be epic but lacks the power of their previous hits.
“Cab” – “Sometimes I wonder if I’m the only cab on the road” is the hook? Train has better skills than this. Someone should have asked them to go back to the drawing board. It’s sad that the lyrics are lacking because the song is gorgeous.
“Give Myself To You” – The making of a band trying way too hard.
“Explanation” – Pretty. Unremarkable.
“If I Can’t Change Your Mind” – Listening to the song you can expect that some fans will love it. The problem is how saccharine it sounds. It’s no different than a Backstreet Boys song. That doesn’t say much for a band that is supposed to be a real rock group not a pop rock group under the guise of being cool.

THE BAD:
As unremarkable as the album is nothing is as bad as it might seem.

FRANKLY: For Me, It’s You sounds like Train trying so hard to be Train. They haven’t lost their musicianship—only their ability to put together a song that is a true hit. There are no hits here. For some bands that’s okay. It’s not for Train. Train is best when they put together hit songs that make you sing along.

+ Rae Gun