Old school's new music

Within the realm of contemporary music, both Train and imminent Manila visitor Usher may be considered grizzled acts, having been at it for over a decade now in their respective genres of pop/rock and soul/R&B. But with their new releases, both artists show that there’s still a lot of life left in their veteran legs, and that the kind of good music they create still has an appreciative audience.

Train — Save Me, San Francisco (Sony BMG). Formed back in 1994, Train is a roots-based rock ‘n roll band that takes its roots loyalty to a higher level, as this album’s title track is like a musical poem to the band’s home base San Francisco. Hey Soul Sister will be the so-hummable and sing-along carrier single that we’d be familiar with — even my 11-year-old sang with gusto “Your lipstick stains, on the front lobe of my left side brains” the first time I played the CD with him in the car. The band won a Grammy with Drops of Jupiter, and on this CD the heartfelt, ultra-sincere type of song-writing continues. Parachute, If It’s Love, Breakfast in Bed and Marry Me are the other tracks worth listening to. After a three-year gap, it’s great to have Train back, and in such fine form!

Usher — Raymond V Raymond (Sony BMG). As the man responsible for producing and inflicting us with Beiber-mania (hahaha), I don’t know if I can ever forgive Usher; but as much as I begrudge him for that, I have to say that this new CD really grows on you. At its essence, it’s Usher trying to balance the new found dichotomy of his current day-to-day life via music. On one side, there’s the sex symbol and superstar Usher, and on the other side, there’s the grown man who’s celebrating family life (Daddy’s Home) and stability, after a divorce (Papers). The club anthems and dance tracks (OMG, Monstar, etc.) are all well-produced and he’s brought in the likes of will.i.am, Jimmy Jam and Polow Da Don to make heavyweight contributions. A maturing Usher is revealed in the music!