Train’s Career Saved By “Save Me San Francisco”

10 Jun, 2010 matt Articles, Front Page

Since 1998 Train has found a way to continually make their mark as a pop/rock mainstay on radio playlists across America. Their current album Save Me San Francisco marks their 5th album, and their current single “If it’s Love” marks the 11th single for the band. Now able to be considered music industry veterans, 2010 makes the 16th year that Pat Monahan, Scott Underwood, and Jimmy Stafford are together as Train. Through the add and loss of different members over the years, the trio has seen the highs of platinum international chart topers and the lows of management drama and the reality of a possible break up that nearly destroyed the band. Their salvation would only be found through the creation of and resulting music from their current hit, Save Me San Francisco.

The story of Save Me San Francisco begins where their previous album, For Me It’s You was nearing its end. For a collective of reasons that mostly exist within the band’s personal world, 2006’s For Me It’s You failed to hit the same as their previous work. In many ways the album’s struggle was a reminder of the band’s priorities, and the work ethic that got them to that point. As a result, nearly a three years interval was taken between For Me It’s You and Their current album Save me San Francisco. Reportedly this hiatus was full of reflection on past successes, the idea of a possible band break up, a band line up change, and shaking things up trying new things musically.

When they reemerged in 2009, their revised line up was reviled. In addition to it’s core members, throughout its existence, Train also once included Rob Hotchkiss, Charlie Collin, Brandon Bush, and Johnny Colt. However, in an effort to go back to the root of their music Train is back to being just it’s original members. It is also reported that a change also occured in management representation. “When we came back we wanted to just get back to the excitement we had in the very beginning of the band, so we had to make some changes. We needed to get back to the three core band members, change management, record the records in a different place, write with different people, kind of try and get that spark back.”

The Trio teamed up with such notable names like Ryan Tedder, (lead singer of Onerepublic) Dave Katz, and his writing and production partner Sam Hollander producers behind the likes of, Boys Like Girls, Kelly Rowland, Cobra Starship, Gym Class Heros and others. The years of re-discovory turned out to be well worth it. As many music fans already know, Save Me San Francisco’s lead single “Hey Soul Sister” became their most successful hit in nearly 10 years, only to be topped by their international smash “Drops of Jupiter” released in 2001.

Back on top of their game, Save Me San Francisco serves as a testament to the value of hard work in the face of adversity, and staying true to what makes good music. For whatever reason Train has always managed to be able to be serious about making good music, and not take themselves so seriously that they forget that. One thing is for sure, if they ever were guilty of that, they’ve probably made up for it now. Check out their recently released video for “If It’s Love.” In it the band pokes fun at their hiatus and being forgotten about, while Pat once again sings a quality song. Bravo boys Congrats on the rebound. You don’t disappoint.

Train

“If It’s Love”

Save Me San Francisco

Columbia Records