Music review: Train – 鈥楢M Gold鈥�
If you enjoy the soothing sounds of yacht rock during the summer months, then Train鈥檚 latest release is sure to satisfy those cravings to continuously hear bouncy arrangements of breezy vocals and smooth rhythms with an abundance of relaxing vibes that instantly make you forget about the problems of the day.
With Train鈥檚 first release of all original music in five years, 鈥淎M Gold鈥� is the San Francisco band鈥檚 nod to the soft rock tunes that dominated AM radio during the 1970s.
Frontman Pat Monahan鈥檚 charming voice is perfectly suited for this popular genre of music on the 11 tracks that totally deliver easy-feeling melodies with a retro charm.
The title track sets the mood with an infectious melody that speaks to finding confidence in yourself after love has gone bad. Monahan sends an open invitation to find joy at the party by singing, 鈥淏reathe, baby, you ain鈥檛 gotta worry no more/Just breathe, we鈥檒l be waiting on the dance floor/And let your body let it go/You鈥檙e best case scenario/Love don鈥檛 come in stereo/Baby, you are AM gold.鈥�
鈥淩unning Back (Trying to Talk to You)鈥� is a slick R&B number about the struggles of keeping a relationship together and making sure the lines of communication are clear and true.
Pop star Sofia Reyes lends her sultry vocals to the snappy 鈥淐leopatra鈥� and Jewel joins the band on the radio-friendly 鈥淭urn the Radio Up.鈥�
Beautiful memories make up the substance of 鈥淎mber Light.鈥� The floaty reflection focuses on falling in love underneath the stars at the beach during a picture-perfect summer night with Monahan declaring, 鈥淔ire, beaches, summer nights/Laying in your amber light/Nothing in the world鈥檚 okay/But you made everything alright.鈥�
鈥淔ake Flowers鈥� demonstrates that not all the new arrangements are rosy. The tender ballad about love never firmly taking root is masterfully navigated by Monahan as he relays the pain of realizing that things aren鈥檛 what they truly appear to be when he sings, 鈥淭he only thing real about you is your lies/And fake flowers never die.鈥�
Lost love embraces a softer tone on set closer 鈥淚t鈥檚 Everything.鈥� Keeping on is the best way to mend a broken heart with time being the only answer to slowly erase the memories that were part of every day as Monahan proclaims, 鈥淚鈥檓 gonna miss the love in your kiss/And I鈥檓 gonna wish upon stars just like this.鈥�
Train rolls into Pittsburgh on June 17 with special guests Jewel and Blues Traveler.