Review - Steel Train

Band: Steel Train
Album: Trampoline
Label: Drive-Thru Records
Rating: 4/5

Steel Train has always been a band that puts out unbelievably good music and gets little recognition for it.

I remember hearing the song “Alley Cat” off of Steel Train’s debut EP For You My Dear. The track pulled me in and proved that the album was worth buying. “Night Falls,” another track off that album, was the song that completely hooked me. Those accustomed to the band’s sound likely noticed a big change when Steel Train released their first full-length album Twilight Tales From the Prairies of the Sun. They strayed away from the acoustic base and Scott Irby-Rannier handed over lead vocals to Jack Antonoff. The full-band continues to allow Steel Train to be creative and expand their sound. Despite this, there is still a part of me longing for another brilliant song along the lines of “Night Falls.”

With their sophomore and newest album Trampoline, Steel Train’s sound has progressed but the change isn’t as drastic as it was between their first two releases. Trampoline still has a distinct folk-rock feel but this time around the band has added an indie pop dimension. It’s different and amazing. The opening track “I Feel Weird” has an upbeat tempo that hooks you from the very first down beat. The next track, “Black Eye,” is a good example of how the group’s back-up vocals work to develop and solidify all of their songs.

The band has a solid fan base but I would expect their music to draw a bigger audience. It could be because of their relationship with pop punk based Drive Thru Records. Steel Train might be one of the biggest bands in the indie world if they were signed to a label like Sub Pop. Either way, the band has returned with another amazing record and simply continues jamming.

I wouldn’t say that every song on Trampoline is an instant hit, but all the tracks are pretty solid. If you’re a fan of 70s rock, folk-rock, jam music or indie pop you should definitely give Trampoline a listen.


Recommended Tracks: “I Feel Weird,” “Black Eye,” and “Firecracker”