Wicked Playlist – Music Blog

Train Company

The first time I heard Train Company was about 7am one morning while driving in the cold and pouring rain. The windshield wipers and blurry red brake lights in front of me, combined with the silky saxophone whispers jumping from my speakers, reminded me of walking out of a smokey downtown club, flipping up my collar against the cold night air, and strolling down the boulevard to my next haunt. That was a pleasant distraction from rainy Atlanta traffic and an introduction to an interesting new band, Train Company.

Working their way around the Chicago music scene, Train Company is headed by the unique and memorable vocals of John Zozzaro and the perfect accompaniment of Mark Alletag’s sax. Not to be outdone, Train Company is rounded out by Mike DeWitte on Bass and Rob Lejman on drums. Their sound is more of a upbeat rock/jazz infusion with the sax and flute in more of a support role. The sax is used very similar to older O.A.R stuff but that isn’t to say the music from the two bands is similar. Train Company’s sound is more of a quicker burst of energy than the jam type feel of an O.A.R song. This is definitely evident when you notice half of the songs on their self titled debut are under 2 minutes and 50 seconds long.

Their first release from Train Company’s self titled debut is “A New Kind of Home” and it really sets the tone for the beginning of the album. A quick stepping cymbal really sets the pace and continues on through “Lovely Lady” and “Do You Really Wanna Know” but then we slow down a little for one of my favorites from the album, “Clementine”. Every album needs a song about a girl and this one showcases Alletag on the sax and is the perfect lead in to one of Zozzaro’s songs from his days, finding his own sound, in New York. That song, “Forest”, is one of the other songs on Train Company that slows the percussion down a little and really lets the Jazz vibe breathe. Part of the credit for this has to go to Train Company’s producer on this album, Patrick DeWitte. Producers don’t always get mentioned in album reviews, but the quality of this debut, self released album cannot be ignored. Pleased trust me on that, I have heard a lot of shit over the years.

One of the last songs on Train Company is “I’ll Keep Walkin’” and it kinda sums up my impression of this new Chicago band. Not in the way of I’ll keep walkin on by them, but in the way that this group of early 20 somethings has managed to put out a pretty good album, they are going to keep on and there ain’t no stopping them.

Click the link below to hear Train Company’s new single, “A New Kind of Home”.

Train Company – A New Kind of Home

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The Sons of Anarchy musical department had another solid outing with last nights episode. The first song we heard, when the club was packing up their guns and getting ready for war, was “Someday Never Comes” performed by Billy Valentine and The Forest Rangers. The Forest Rangers are showing up on several of the amazing covers Sons of Anarchy is producing. This cover was very good and a great rendition of the song, but I have to admit I prefer the original version. The original is by Creedence Clearwater Revival and is definitely one of my all-time favorite CCR songs. There is just something about hearing John Fogerty sing it that makes it that much more powerful. The song is also a lesson we all need to learn. Don’t put things off because someday never comes.

I really enjoyed Sons of Anarchy’s use of “Someday Never Comes”. While not exactly an anti-war song, I have always referred to it as the blueprint for writing such a song. It deals with a child losing a parent and the reality that understanding one someday never comes. This song was a perfect fit with the motorcycle club heading off to battle.

The second song, from the episode Culling, to catch my attention was “Hands in the Sky” by Straylight Run. This song was new too me but I did enjoy it. “Hands in the Sky” is a single released in 2005 you can buy on Amazon or Itunes.

Big shot screaming, “Put your hands in the sky,”
He says, “Give it up boy, give it up or your gonna die,
You’ll get a bullet in the back of the neck,
In the back of the neck right between the eyes.”
Big shot screaming, “Put your hands in the sky,”
He says, “Give it up boy, give it up or your gonna die,
You’ll get a bullet in the back of the neck,
In the back of the neck right between the eyes.”

Culling had two more great additions to the growing Sons of Anarchy music catalog.

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Most television shows don’t have music guides for each episode on their websites. Finding the music you happen to hear, on your favorite show, usually involves a trip to Google and a prayer you don’t get an STD from a lyrics website. Then again, most television shows aren’t even playing the same game as Sons of Anarchy. The best show on TV is redefining the music soundtrack and it struck again last night.

Over the past few months, I have heard three songs while watching Sons of Anarchy that absolutely stopped me in my tracks. Each was that rare combination of lyrics, sound and in the perfect moment. I went out to my usual places to see if I could find them and listen to them. I found one of the songs on an artists Myspace page, one of the songs was recorded straight from someone’s TV on youtube and the third one was absolutely nowhere to be found. I had pretty much given up on the first two songs by the time I started looking for the third one. I happened to head to Itunes looking for it and low and behold there was a five song Sons of Anarchy soundtrack for sale. The most amazing part of that discovery? The soundtrack had five songs and yes, the three I wanted were there.

I am not sure if this is a brilliant marketing strategy on the part of the person in charge of music for Sons of Anarchy or just a case of wow we have the exact same taste in music. Either way the sound track has some amazing songs on it.

The first song I was looking for is “John The Revelator” by Curtis Stigers & The Forest Rangers, the same group that performs the Sons of Anarchy theme song “This Life”. “John The Revelator” is the song that was playing at the end of season 1 during Donna’s funeral. It is a bluesy track shrouded in religion and darkness. Originally recorded in 1930 by Blind Willie Johnson the song underwent a transformation in 1965 by Son House. House’s version is the one used in Son’s of Anarchy.

The second song was “Forever Young” by Audra Mae. It is a Bob Dylan cover and I can’t listen to Mae’s version without getting choked up. I have a one year old daughter and the lyrics to “Forever Young” say everything I feel as a dad when I look at her.

May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young. – Bob Dylan “Forever Young”

The third song is also a Bob Dylan cover. I mean, if you are gonna cover the same person multiple times, you could do a lot worse than Bob Dylan. “Girl From the North Country” by the Lions is just another amazing song. Dylan’s lyrics always paint such amazing pictures and this tribute to a former girlfriend is no exception.

Remember me to one who lives there
she once was a true love of mine – Bob Dylan “Girl From the North Country”

They really are three amazing songs and I highly encourage you to check them out or buy it on Itunes like I did. Sometimes something is just so good, you have to spend some money. This soundtrack was definitely worth a few bucks. You can bet I will be buying the next one and I will go ahead and tell you now. The next Sons of Anarchy soundtrack will have “Mary” by Patty Griffin on it. Mark my words.

Purchase Sons of Anarchy: North Country Soundtrack

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I was watching a Bones rerun tonight when this song came on. I immediately loved it. If it sounds familiar, that is probably because their song “Pride” has used on numerous TV shows including Nip Tuck, Bones, The O.C., CSI, Queer as Folk, and Kitchen Confidential.

“Pride” is off their first and only release Meccano Mind. It was released in 2002 yet didn’t receive much airplay. Soon there after Syntax disbanded. Fear not however it appears they have reunited and are working on a follow up album to be released in 2009.

The Lyrics to “Pride” by Syntax

It’s made up of lonely moments
There was always a moment there when I knew.
You always gave installments,
Always knew you concentrated and grew.

And I believe in reinvention,
Do you believe that life is holding the clue?
Take away all the lonely moments,
Give me full communication with you.

Your smile, shine a little light, alright?
Don’t hide, shine a little light,
Give up on your pride.

Do you believe in reinvention,
Do you believe that life is holding the clue?
Any way to face the silence,
Any way to face the pain that kills you.

Your smile, shine a little light, alright?
Don’t hide, shine a little light,
Give up on your pride.

Give up on your pride, the moment’s gone;
Give up on your smile, life is long.
So, I seen a bad dream, that you were gone:
I got bitten on the soul, my blood will run.

Give up on your pride, the moment’s gone;
Give up on your smile, life is long.
So I seen a bad dream, you were gone:
You’re bitter and cold, my blood will run.