A couple days ago, I was sitting on a train on my way to Burlington, Vermont from Boston, Massachusetts. The journey called for a very specific album as I watched the high rises turn into tall, mountainous views. All I needed was a down-to-earth album to fit the same earthy transition. As I explored my music library and new albums I wanted to try, I landed on Another Kind of Train by the Brother Bicker Band, and it was exactly what I needed.
The album opens with “Nashville Sound,” a bright song featuring a glimmering guitar and even brighter vocal harmonies. This is not an unfamiliar feeling with this album; there is a lot of warmth. Later on in the album, we find “Another Kind of Train,” the album’s namesake. This shares the same warmth as “Nashville Sound,” with a similar level of chipper supported by a tambourine and pedal steel.
“I Just Might” is what follows “Nashville Sound” chronologically on the album. Though the distorted guitars that introduce the song might lead you to think it’s a funky jam song, in reality, it is a thick country anthem that drives you deep into the heat of the South. The real surprise comes, however, when you find out that the Brother Bicker Band is Canadian! They describe themselves as “maple whiskey rock n’ roll,” which is encapsulated by the guitar solo halfway through the song that oozes country and the catchy lyrics of, “I’m hittin’ the road/I’m hitching my load/I’m leaving it all behind.”
Although we did not find funk in “I Just Might,” it is rediscovered in “No Straight Lines” in a fresh yet ever-so-groovy way. In “No Straight Lines,” as lead singer Jeremy Hrdlicka sings about the zig-zag path to finding love, punchy guitar, bass, and drums follow a funk pattern that brings the song a playful tone, playing into its central theme of uncertainty but enjoying the ride.
The next song, “Say What You Want to Say,” is an easy groove that can be swayed along to. The guitar is echoey, creating a dreamlike sound until the bridge when the drums and guitar punch in. At this moment, the song about not being afraid to be who you want to be, saying what you want to say, and letting things go comes to a head as Hrdlicka sings, “He’s not afraid/He’s not alone/He’s gone away, but still at home.”
“Stone” is a cover of the Whiskey Myers original. It is a shift in instrumentation as we enter a piano ballad. The chorus of the song is where everything comes together, featuring bold vocals from Revv52, a choral group from Calgary, who sings atop a bluesy guitar and soulful key playing, capturing the internal struggle of navigating heartache and finding one’s own path. The song begs the question, “Sweet, sweet heart of mine/I’m gonna break again a million times /Or is this too far gone/Or have you turned to stone?” It’s a tricky question to answer – how many times can a person let themselves get hurt before they no longer want to try again?
“The Breakup Song,” which comes later on the album, is another cover. This one is a cover of the Greg Kihn Band version released in the 1980s. This song takes a grittier approach than “Stone,” featuring grungy vocals, powerful drums, and a true roots guitar solo that breaks up the chorus. This song and “Stone” each represent the group’s ability to excel in both original songwriting and their fresh, unique take on covers.
In their next original, “Storm Chaser,” a wild love affair that might not be the smartest decision, but one that invigorates the narrator, is compared to a thunderstorm. The band sings, “Darkness in the skies/Makes me feel alive/I just can’t deny you’re the one I want/Hey baby, I’m a storm chaser.” The instrumentals are just as witty as the lyrics, making it a fun break from the weight of the previous track and turning the relationship into an adrenaline rush rather than a daunting battle.
As the album comes to a close, “Let Me Down,” a high-energy song with a vibrant beat, leads into the final track, “Bottles,” which has a fairly different vibe from the last song. It brings listeners down into the blues of a track that they define as a “reflection on love, loss, and the struggle to hold things together when everything feels like it’s falling apart.” It is truly a reflection of the band’s ability to capture a wide range of emotions through their music, a skill not all bands can manage to achieve.
Written by Roxie Jenkin