Issue
#127
Dec. ‘09
Take a “ride
down the other side.”
It starts as a mish-mosh of sounds being compressed
and uncompressed on a surreal jaunt presenting an unknown expectation. A door
opens, we are invited in, and it closes. We have stepped onto the platform of a
down-home jam. Melding numerous types of musical expression and intensity, Closely Watched Trains offer their feelings from the side rails of the
mainstream, so that we may understand what is coming down the tracks…
Started in New Haven, CT. by Jon Schlesinger (banjo, guitar, lap steel, vocals) and John Gage (drums, vibraphones, marimba, percussion), they
invited friends from across the country, via computer, to help them complete
the songs they were structuring. When they thought they had finished their
work, they recruited local artists John Leonard (bass, vocals) and Taralyn Bulyk (violin) to help them present the songs live. What
followed for this new collective was a sort of re-imagining of the songs. The
“2-man with help from friends in the studio” band molted into the 4 member Closely Watched Trains.
Like the opening mish-mosh of sounds, CWT tackles a mish-mosh of genres throughout the album,
all with impeccable arrangements. If one things stands out in this cornucopia of
musical enlightenment, it’s the arrangements, Arrangements diverse enough to
bring to mind such artists as Eels, Dinosaur Jr., Elton John, Big Head Todd
& The Monsters, Neil Young, The Rolling Stones and Electric Light
Orchestra, to name a few.
To the musical arrangements add song structures and
various production techniques (down & dirty, crisp & clean, muddied,
distorted, wall-of-sound, to name a few). What we are listening to is a band
that has rode the tracks of their musical inspirations and wheel-housed them
back out with a flare for catchy rhythms, melodies and hooks that propel us
forward for listen upon listen. Figure in smart, interesting, attention
catching, and sing-along-able lyrics and Closely Watched Trains prove themselves a band worthy of attention.
Keep a close watch on these trains as each song
chugs along gathering steam on the side rails of the mainstream tracks.
Understand what is coming as you “ride
down the other side.”
Closely Watched Trains
is available now for: $9.98 + s/h*
 View
Shopping Cart / Checkout
Accepting Credit Cards and PayPal
*Shipping
&
Handling charges:
USA - $3.00
for the first 2 CDs
ordered,
Add $1.50 per each CD after.
Canada - $5.00 for the
first
CD ordered,
Add $2.00 per each CD after.
Everywhere else -$7.00
for the
first CD ordered,
Add $3.00 per each CD after.
|
