Train
California 37
(Columbia)

In recent years, Train has been known for radio -friendly hits like “Drops of Jupiter” and “Hey, Soul Sister.” On their latest release, California 37, the pop rock keeps things simple by following the formula they know they’re good at.

“Drive By” is one of the more fun tracks on the album. The song starts by having a little bit of a reggae feeling at the start and a thumping percussion section. The chorus feels a bit more like your typical radio rock chorus but the song certainly has a lot of flavor to it. “Feels Good At First” is the band’s latest love ballad in the vein of prior tracks like “Marry Me.” The song is slow, acoustic and features light flute during the chorus. The track is light and heartbreaking – the perfect love song. “You Can Finally Meet My Mom” is one of the more ambitious tracks on the album. Starting with a little bit of a whistle, the track sounds a lot like “Drops of Jupiter.” Featuring powerful and emotive lyrics like, “Spend more time in my birthday suit with you” really frame the song. If you’ve liked any of Train’s prior albums, you will easily fall in love with this track. The title track is likely to be your new summer anthem, meant to be played with car windows wide open.

Fans of Train will find a lot to like here. New fans of the band might love the singles but aren’t likely to love the album as a whole.