Westbound Train loses their way out of the station

By Jon Juliano
Collegian Staff
November 1, 2006

In a world that seems to become more and more influenced by the popularity of punk, ska seems to have evolved into something harder, faster and more guitar-driven. Bands like Catch 22 (turned Streetlight Manifesto), Less Than Jake and Big D and the Kids Table play hard and fast.

Westbound Train, however, is different, playing more mellow, dub reggae-influenced music. They play more traditional, first wave ska, unlike the third wave of ska that also has heavy guitar solos.

On Transitions the band seems great at times. There are so many righteous brass solos, and the instrumental songs are oh so ska-tastic.

But unfortunately, lead singer Obi Fernandez disappoints with his lyrics. I get so giddy when I hear the brass, and then he sings over it with his weak lyrics.

The song “Good Enough” is a mediocre ditty with unremarkable lyrics until Josh Cohen’s saxophone solo, which would blow away any listener.

“For the First Time” is a perfect example of this imbalance as well. The lyrics are not good or bad — just mediocre. They make me feel indifferent about the band; but then the trumpet solo hits my ears, and I think the band is amazing again.

This musicianship carries over to “The Test,” which may be the best song on the album. The instrumental is four-and-a-half minutes of trading solos between the sax player Cohen, drummer Jesse Hayes and trumpet player Rich Graiko.

“Sorry Momma” tries to be serious and introspective, but comes off as insincere for some reason. Again, the lyrics make it seem that way.

Fernandez’s raspy whisper of a voice does sound great on the song “Gone,” which seems to be the most honest song on the album.

The low point on Transitions is track 14, “Fatty Boom Boom!,” which has no substance to it at all and is like the ska version of “Baby Got Back.” It also seems a little out of place because it precedes the far more sincere “When I Die,” which is Fernandez’s high point in song writing.

When it’s all said and done, Westbound Train does not make music proper for skanking, but they do give a good homage to traditional, two tone ska. The brass section is amazing, and Westbound Train overall have more gratuitous sax than the cover of Maxim.

julianoj3@lasalle.edu