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Train – Meet Virginia (1999)

Train followed the path of most independent bands when they formed in the early 90’s, it began with a lot of touring, hoping, and paying their dues. Then one day, after every record company seemed to turn them down, Columbia records flew the band from San Francisco to NYC for a showcase and were told it was pretty much a sure thing: they were getting a record deal!! Instead, they were turned down, again, but they didn’t get of track (get it), Train forged on and managed to raise 25k from friends and family to release their debut album, on their own, which produced this breakthrough hit.
Stories from the early days of Train, like their van catching on fire. When I chat with them In Sixty: April 5th, 9pm ET.

Train – Hey, Soul Sister (2009)

You know what they say in the music biz right? All it takes is one song. Sometimes however, it takes more than that…..like a ukulele. Train scored one of the biggest hits of the 2000’s with the song Drops of Jupiter; it beat U2, Aerosmith, and Coldplay for best Rock Song at the Grammy’s and even though it was before the iTunes era, it has still been downloaded over 1 million times, the song still has legs. Despite that success however, after 2 more albums and a 3 year break they could barley find anybody interested in interviewing them when they returned with a new album and a single that would eventually become their most successful. They didn’t let that de-rail them though (get it), and with some perseverance (but mostly a ukulele), Train clawed their way back. Train talks almost breaking up before scoring the biggest hit of their career…when I chat with them In Sixty, April 5th, 9pm ET.

Stevie Wonder – Send One Your Love (1979)

It doesn’t matter what Stevie Wonder decides to do musically: the amazing funk and soul tunes he has become known for, or his over the top cheesy synthesizer ballads-he’s Stevie Wonder god dammit! He can do as he pleases. In 1979 he wrote the score for a documentary called The Secret Life of Plants which examined exciting things like…. alternative philosophy’s for soil and soil health. If you can believe it not many people saw this movie as exciting as it sounds (get it), and Stevie’s album was panned by critics at the time….but today, it’s considered a classic. Stevie’s album that is, not the plant documentary.

The Head and The Heart – Lost In My Mind (2011)

Here are 2 things I love: Open mic nights and roots music. Open mic nights are where you will find some of the best unknown songs out there, along with the worst Bob Dylan covers ever, but a great time nonetheless. Americana and/or roots music are both very broad descriptions of music but common characteristics are bluegrass style vocal harmonies, and the music is acoustic based. It’s folk, it’s rock, it’s country, and the music cycle has brought it to the forefront of what is popular right now. That being said, formed at a Seattle open mic night this is a new band you might like called: The Head and The Heart.

Said The Whale – Heavy Ceiling (2012)

What I try to do with Matt Tracks every week is either remind you of a song or artist that perhaps you have forgotten or introduce you to something new, and the hope is you will agree with my ears and investigate the music further. I’m not going to say anything about this next track other than you just need to listen. This is my favorite song of 2012 so far and this is a band that if you DON’T know yet, you should get to know….if you know what’s good for YOUR ears. From Vancouver, Said The Whale.

enjoy,
=matt

Tags: said the whale, stevie wonder, the head and the heart, train

Posted: April 3rd, 2012 | Category: Matt Tracks
Tags: said the whale, stevie wonder, the head and the heart, train