Music review: Train – ‘a girl a bottle a boat鈥�
With a title that sounds more like a Kenny Chesney or Jimmy Buffett release, Train gets back on track by issuing a diverse set of songs possessing a relaxed vibe on 鈥渁 girl a bottle a boat.鈥�
Train regroups after issuing the ill-advised cover of 鈥淟ed Zeppelin II鈥� in June to focus on delivering surgery pop numbers fueled by infectious hooks and playful grooves.
Over the band鈥檚 18-year career, Train has always had a penchant for crafting a memorable pop song with arrangements like 鈥淔ree,鈥� 鈥淢eet Virginia,鈥� 鈥淐ab,鈥� 鈥淗ey, Soul Sister鈥� and 鈥�50 Ways to Say Goodbye鈥� as part of a solid musical resume.
The catchy summertime anthem 鈥淒rink Up鈥� opens the San Francisco band鈥檚 10th studio release with frontman Pat Monahan singing, 鈥淪o take this moment/And put it in a glass/If you want a sip, I got memories on tap/Drink up, drink up/Write your name on a cup.鈥�
鈥淧lay That Song鈥� shifts gears to create a carefree mood borrowing from the melody of the Hoagy Carmichael 1938 standard 鈥淗eart and Soul鈥� and prompts the urge to hit repeat again and again.
鈥淓very time you鈥檙e here with me/It鈥檚 like I won the lottery/As rich as I could wish to be/It鈥檚 like I won the lottery,鈥� announces Monahan on the charming love song 鈥淟ottery.鈥�
Love prevails once again with a slice of delicious doo-wop on 鈥淰alentine鈥� as Monahan proclaims, 鈥淚鈥檓 never gonna say goodbye/鈥機ause, baby, you鈥檙e my valentine.鈥�
Singer-songwriter Priscilla Renea joins Monahan and adds a smooth Motown feel to the silky smooth 鈥淟overman.鈥�
鈥淲hat Good is Saturday鈥� relays a slick dance beat and a hint of Maroon 5 with a sexy casualness and confidence.
鈥淟ost and Found鈥� is a feel-good number fueled by a punchy beat and soaring chorus.
The piano ballad 鈥淵ou Better Believe鈥� closes the album on a positive note with Monahan confessing he doesn鈥檛 have all the answers, but he does acknowledge that everything will be okay.
Hey, when you鈥檝e got a girl, a bottle and a boat, it鈥檚 easy to be optimistic.
Train rolls into Pittsburgh for a performance at KeyBank Pavilion on June 23 with O.A.R. and Natasha Bedingfield.