After one of their self-released albums made its way into the hands of
Toby Keith, he signed
Flynnville Train to his Show Dog logo for their major-label debut. It's easy to see why he was impressed. The
Train's sound combines the best features of Southern boogie, redneck rock and honky tonk country into a loud, high energy presentation that jumps out of the speakers and knocks you flat with its rowdy, in-yer-face attitude. The only drawback is the sometimes formulaic material, supplied by the usual Nashville suspects. Since the band made its rep on the strength of their original material, it would have been nice to see more of their own work on the disc, since the two cuts they did land -- "High on the Mountain" and "Truck Stop in the Sky" -- show so much promise. "High on the Mountain" is a bluesy stomp with an inspirational message, exuberant vocals, and a squalling guitar solo by Brent Flynn. "Truck Stop in the Sky" is a road song that may well prove to be a classic, a chooglin' rocker about life and death on the road, again featuring Brent's slashing guitar. Most of the album is composed of rockers that make up for their pedestrian lyrics with the band's muscular performance. "Last Good Time" kicks the album off with a boisterous salute to drinkin', smokin', dancin', and loud music, and introduces Brent's slashing guitar work and his brother Brian's snarling vocals. "Tequila Sheila" is another potential party anthem, a rocker in praise of mendacious women and the pleasures of booze. "Honky Tonk Jail" is a boisterous cousin to "Jailhouse Rock" that compares the honky tonk life to a life sentence, but the band's enthusiasm belies the song's cautionary message. Sideman Kevin McHendree supplies some serious honky tonk piano and Brent delivers another sweat drenched guitar solo. "Nowhere Than Somewhere" is a weeper bemoaning the loss of a good woman, with a clever turn of phrase and a soulful vocal from Brian Flynn. The power ballad "Redneck Side of Me" and the salacious rocker "Red Nekkid" are the weakest tracks, collections of clichés that almost make you cringe, although "Red Nekkid" probably comes off better in concert than it does on record. ~ j. poet