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Ryan Anderson, Trains Take Away Old Friends

by Kathryn Durfee
08/01/2007

Lovers of folk rock rejoice, for there is another singer-songwriter to add to the playlist. Ryan Anderson's Trains Take Away Old Friends is a nostalgic, heartfelt album inspired by the artist's childhood on the east coast.

Trains is comprised of songs Anderson recorded in 2002 while living on Wilmington Island, just outside of Savannah. The tracks were remastered by Jason Nesmith in 2005, but they still sound pretty raw. Anderson currently resides in Austin, TX. Trains features songs about loves won and lost, dead relatives, and of course, trains.

"All Aboard," an instrumental fairy tale, starts our journey through the album. The first half of Trains is chock full of playful, simple instrumentation. "Where There's Clowns" features a good beat comprised of single chords on the guitar. "Get On Out" brings the drums and bass to the forefront. The instruments on this song are introduced one-by-one, Andrew Bird (in concert)-style and include the ukulele and the banjo. Though the lyrics are simple and straightforward, some nifty vocal effects like echoes have been applied. As the album approaches the middle track, more experimentation becomes apparent. "A) Jennifer's Song, B) A Piano Sings, C) Across Country" features percussion that sounds like a high school drumline, then quickly halts, returning to the folky feel of earlier tracks. The strangest track on the album is the middle piece, "Grandfather Dies in the Storm," a one and a half minute-long experimental jam, probably enjoyed most by Of Montreal fans.

After this hinge point track, the album's lo-fi folky feel returns. "Down to the River" makes use of the twang provided by the banjo, giving the tune a bouncy feel. The last few tracks feature more sound effects such as wind chimes. The story comes to an end with "On My Way Home" and "Epilogue: Trains Take Away Old Friends." "Epilogue" showcases the harmonica and banjo, creating a surprisingly delicate closing track.

I have no doubt that Ryan Anderson will find a place in the hearts of fans of The Mountain Goats, Devendra Banhart, and even Sufjan Stevens. His lo-fi instrumentals give a down-home feel to his tracks. My only problem with Anderson is his voice. He has very little range, and if not for his instrumental experimentation on some of the tracks, I fear the album would blend together into one monotonous blob.

I will most likely keep Ryan Anderson in my iTunes library, but it's a little too raw for me. I still prefer the sensitivity and delicacy of Sufjan Stevens and the rough-around-the-edges feel of The White Stripes.

Ryan Anderson will be playing Popfest.