Westbound Train
The best of soul, reggae and ska meld seamlessly on Boston based soul/ska septet Westbound Train’s thrilling new sophomore album, Come and Get It, out on Hellcat Records April 20.
Recorded over the span of two weeks in Brooklyn, NY with producer and Slackers saxophonist Dave Hillyard, Come and Get It features 14 brand new original songs and a reworked version of an old fan favorite that capture a classic, old-school vibe that reggae, ska and soul music fans alike will instantly fall in love with!
“This is probably the best time I’ve ever had making a record with Westbound Train,” said lead vocalist and trombonist Obi Fernandez. “Unlike “Transitions” we were able to write this record at home in Boston at our rehearsal space, and we had some pre-production rehearsals with Dave Hillyard of the Slackers that were a lot of fun. Dave had really cool ideas and brought a new approach to musicality to the table.”
Shattering musical boundaries while embracing the best of several genres, the septet has fully come into their own with Come and Get It, their second Hellcat release. The new album invites listeners on a journey, traveling through all of the band’s previous influences while creating an exciting new sound that they are eager to reveal to the world in 2009.
Compared to the band’s three previous albums, Come and Get It is the best representation of Westbound Train to be captured on record thus far. Two stand-out tracks include "So Many Things a Man Can Say," an old-school ballad that captures Fernandez’s love of the Motown sound, and the highly orchestrated second track, "Ain't Gonna Be Easy," written about Fernandez’s father. "In addition to the song being about my father, a lot of stuff was going on that was making life a little more complicated," Fernandez says.
After a relaxed yet amazing year in 2008, where the band shared the stage with the likes of Rancid, Less Than Jake, Goldfinger, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Beat Union and Bedouin Soundclash, Westbound Train is preparing to hit the road in 2009 for what is shaping up to be their biggest year yet.
Come And Get It Tracklisting:
You Don't Belong Here
Ain't Gonna Be Easy
Check Your Time
Why You Cry
Come And Get It
Some Things Are Meant To Be Remembered
Salvation
If Only
What You Need
The Passage
Lift My Voice Up Loud
For The Record
Many Things A Man Can Say
Critical Ska
Cheers! The World's Almost Over