Customer Reviews

Twilight Tales from the Prairies of the Sun

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The last (abbreviated) cd of Steel Train paid homage to specific songs of the Sixties. This new, full-length follow-up pays homage to the musical styles of that very era-encompassing folk, country, rock, funk, Latin, and jam-band-thank-you-ma'am. The first 3 tracks on `Twilight Tales from The Praries of the Sun' had us believing we were about to hear American Beauty 2005, until we were abruptly jarred by the Santanic (note the crucial first `n' in that word) groove of the following cut. The Deadhead complexion of this band appears to have been consciously nurtured by the presence of former Dead associate, Stephen Barncard, who produced this cd, and by guest appearances by famed mandolinist and former musical partner of Jerry Garcia, David Grisman and pedal steel player, Gene Parsons (formerly of The Flying Burrito Brothers, who likely influenced and were influenced by The Dead, as well). The tracks on which those legends perform are easily the strongest on `Twilight Tales', but certainly not the only worthwhile ones. Even without the guest stars, Steel Train are a talented and versatile band. All the members are more than competent on their respective axes, particularly multi-instrumentalist, Jack Antonoff, a gifted and fluid guitarist. Of course, we would be remiss if we failed to credit the myriad contributions of the other members, Matt Goldman (guitar), Scott Irby-Ranniar (vocals, organ), Evan Winkler (bass), and Matthias Gruber (drums). All but the drummer contribute vocally. Steel Train's vocals are always pleasant and, when in harmony, capable of raising their share of goose bumps. The songs on Twilight Tales are, for the most part, thoughtful, heart-on-the-sleeve romantic, passionate and sincere, if occasionally lyrically awkward or wrapped in corn. As writers, especially, they appear to still be developing. Nonetheless, this is an innovative and risk-taking record. By honoring what has come before them, Steel Train have managed to steer their music steadily up the track.

These boys can play. Absolutely amazing music. I am a person who tends to enjoy music that most people have never heard of, and this album is one of the best. "Better Love", "Road Song", "Dig", and "Wake Your Eyes" are the best on this album. The 1969 EP is really awesome too. Check out www.steeltrainmusic.com for a lot of info and cool merchandise. This band is gonna make music history one day.

I saw Steel Train purely on a friend's recommendation three weeks ago. The energy was incredible, the band was awesome, and so charismatic - They played a second set after the show out back!

But this is not a live offering. Twilight Tales from the Prairies of the Sun has the songs and the talent, but the outbursts of energy that made Steel Train so novel and engrossing for me live aren't here.

That being said, the band does write and perform good songs that make for brilliant shows, and the CD is listenable to - but when this group gathers the momentum and resources it needs to create THE album, it while blow your socks off!

I'd just like to say that this album seriously rocks. I really have to disagree with the first reviewer who gave it 1 star and bashed it. It's just too good of a record to pass up this opportunity to praise it. Steel Train is an extremely talented band who have produced a very diverse ensemble of songs on Twilight Tales from the Prairies of the Sun. Listening to them was like breath of fresh air. Each track brings something new to the table without setting the record off track. There is a great deal of originality while at the same time one can hear their influences in their music. They provide the listener with a great deal of diversity which I personally love. There are some great straight up rock songs, a number of nice ballads, some great folky numbers, and few Santana-esq tracks. But the beauty is that this is NOT a copycat album. It is highly influenced by many different bands BUT each song is undoubtedly STEEL TRAIN! They do not fit in with the rest of the other Drive-Thru Record's bands(which is a good thing) Unlike many of the talentless pop-punk/emo bands that make up almost ALL of the record label, Steel Train stands out very much. So if you're looking for a great listen from beginning to end, and a bit of freshness mixed with old-school rock that is undoubtedly diverse from track to track, check out this album.

Chris Conlan from (BreakingCustom.com) should be dragged behind a shed and be beaten like a boy for his comments. This moron doesn't the know the first thing about music apparently. I've seen these guys play live twice, and they're live performance is their number one quality. Although the cd is incredible, and so experimentive. Everyone should check Steel Train out, they'll be huge one day.

This record is so chill. And if you haven't seen them live, your missing out in life.. their live show is insane. Please check this CD. I dont see how anyone could dislike this CD.

At various times as I listened to the Steel Train CD, I thought of the Grateful Dead, Poco, Santana, and "Phish lite" (the several jam bands that unconsciously aspire to be Phish, who in turn unconsciously aspire to be the Dead). The endless comparisons many of us make whenever a new band comes along are somewhat unfair to the newcomers, but it's a practice that's hard to avoid. The Gr. Dead comparisons come after hearing some gentle folk-country-rock songs on the new disc such as "Better Love;" the Santana influence is felt on tunes like the "Lee Baby Simms Show" instrumentals - with some serious Latinized electric guitar jams. It all sounds pretty good, but the lack of any very interesting or memorable SONGS made Twilight Tales an album I didn't mind listening to, but also one that failed to stick with me at all. The deadly "B word" - boredom - beset me at multiple points along the way.

Review by Kyle Crawford:

Drive-Thru Records' Steel Train would fall into the category of folk-pop. This is a band that seems to be Drive-Thru Records' response to the indie-folk revival of sorts that has been popping up here and there for the past couple years. Twilight Tales from the Prairies of the Sun, the bands newest release, is a perfect example of why Drive-Thru Records and bands without the proper talent should shy away from riding the wave of whatever the current trend of the day is.

The best way to explain the overall sound of the album would be to make you, the reader, imagine for a moment that bands are living, breathing beings that can, amongst other things, reproduce. Now that you are in the proper state, imagine a completely worthless, wannabe Saddle Creek band, a band that would like to be on Saddle Creek but is just too terrible to be signed mind you, and now picture a band that is trying to rip off a classic band, The Eagles. If the two of these bands were to mate and create a child, Steel Train would be the outcome. If for some reason, one would end up with a copy of Twilight Tales from the Prairies of the Sun, I implore you to prepare yourself for one of the most difficult listening experiences of your lifetime. There is absolutely no cohesive bonding mechanism found throughout the entirety of the album and any attempt at creating a decent song is lost after the first song of the album, everything else is shoddy at best.