Steel Train

For You My Dear (2003)

V

By taking a very different approach than their labelmates, Steel Train has managed to create a record nearly flawless in composition and overflowing with originality. By doing so, however, they've managed to dodge all the hype and popularity that comes with being on the Drive-Thru recording label. It seems there isn't a huge crowd for well-crafted, acoustic-oriented pop that sounds more like Whiskeytown than Dashboard, but it doesn't seem to bother any of the bandmates, I'm sure.

Songs like "Alley Cat" and "Night Falls" are so beautiful, they're almost distracting, although I'm not so sure that's what most of the readers on this site are looking for (but if you're a closet fan of Ryan Adams or Cat Power, this could be good news for you). This record isn't punk by any means, but that doesn't mean it should be overlooked. I highly recommend this if you're looking for something different and experimental that isn't pretentious or devoid of reality.