Tag: Scott Underwood

My Sunday Song – “Ordinary” by Train

Published on by 2loud2oldmusic9 Comments

For My Sunday Song #450, we are talking the song “Ordinary” by the band Train. The song is from the Spiderman 2 Soundtrack as well as a bonus studio track on the Train album ‘Alive At Last’. The song was the fourth single off the Spiderman 2 soundtrack and was released August 17, 2004. I believe the song charted at #12 on the Adult Top 40 Chart (not the actual Top 40 Chart). It was written by Pat Monahan from Train and composer Bart Hendrickson.

The song was written for Spiderman 2 and the theme of it fits Spiderman perfectly. He goes out of his way to try and save everyone, but he always get left behind as people move on. It is a really darker theme to it. He does it all for a woman. People think he is trying to save the world but he is simply trying to save the girl. At the same time, he needs her to save him as he is in so deep and he is just a kid. He doesn’t recognize who he is anymore. I love the line “And this web that I’m tied up / Is taking me right up these walls”. He is afraid it is too much. It is the darker side of Peter Parker. And it is awesome.

The song is pretty heavy…for a Train song. The darker themes come out in the music as it has a seriousness too it you aren’t used to with them. The drums are powerful, the guitar is ripping. There is orchestration that gives it a grander feel and the piano is simply haunting. Pat really delivers the lyrics in such a beautiful way. He really feels the lyrics and he conveys the darkness behind Spiderman’s eyes. This is a completely different side of Train and when I heard this song along with another bonus studio track called “New Sensation”, I thought we might get a new direction for the band…but that didn’t happen.

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Train – ‘California 37’ – Album Review

Published on by 2loud2oldmusic10 Comments

With working at home during the Covid-19 lockdowns, I have pulled out a lot of my vinyl and gave it a spin.  This was one I hadn’t listened to in a couple years and when I did, I remembered that this was the last great album Train had done.  At this point, Train was down to only 3 members, Pat Monahan, Jimmy Stafford and Scott Underwood.  My wife and I had met them a couple years earlier on the ‘Save Me, San Francisco’ Tour and they were super nice and they are kind of “our” band.  They were anyway, now it is the Pat Monahan show as he is the only original member left, but that is another story for another day.

What we loved about the band is really the songs.  Lyrically, Pat is a master at slipping in pop culture references in to the lyrics and the band can write some hooks and pretty damn catchy choruses.  It is wonderful, pop music.  And this album, the band outdid themselves with all of the above.  They did bring in some outside writers, but Pat was still the driving force behind them as they are usually very personal songs to him.  He spent three years writing the album while on tour for the previous items and they all reflect pieces of his life in some way or fashion.

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The album is called “California 37” which is a State Highway in Northern San Francisco which the band seems to call home.  The road was often used to get to gigs and they even broke down on it and what band hasn’t done that on the way to a gig.  The album has this light, California vibe to it and it makes you feel good as you listen.  From the opening track, “This’ll Be My Year” you know you are in for a treat. The song travels through his years in life and is a bio of his life and completely filled with Pop Culture references so you can put the year’s in to perspective.  It is brilliant.  It has the classic line…”I stopped believing, although Journey told me don’t”. Continue reading “Train – ‘California 37’ – Album Review” →

Train – The Albums Ranked Worst to First

Published on by 2loud2oldmusic15 Comments

Train started way back around 1993/1994 in San Francisco, California.  Their first album didn’t arrive until 1998 and I remember hearing their first hit on the radio for “Meet Virginia”.  However, it wasn’t until the song and the album “Drops of Jupiter” came out until I became a fan.  I met my wife around that same time and Train became “our band”.  We have seen them many, many times together and even met the band several years later.  Now my wife had met them before as my Brother-in-low worked with the band back around the Drops of Jupiter era.

Train has seen many line-up changes and their sound has changed over time. They have gone from a pure alternative rock band and are now kind of like a Vegas act (and I don’t mean that in a good way).  The lead singer, Pat Monahan, is the only original member left and Train doesn’t feel like Train anymore.  Now, that doesn’t take away from the fact the band has had some fantastic albums.  And with that, let us explore the band’s catalog.  We are looking at 12 albums which even includes Pat’s only solo album, a live album and even their Christmas album.  If you are ready, sit back and let us get started.  If you are not ready, take your time and go at your own pace.

THE WORST – ‘Christmas in Tahoe’ (2015):

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