Strangers On A Train
Omnivore, 2022
8/10
Listen to Strangers On A Train
Originally released in 1986, this 3rd album from the baroque pop pioneers The Left Banke features 3 of the 4 original members, Steve Martin Caro, Tom Finn and George Cameron. Michael Brown, the final original member, does appear on the 6 bonus tracks here, which were laid down in 2001, when Brown was hoping to revive The Left Banke.
The title track opens the listen with warm piano alongside crisp drumming as the soulful, expressive singing guides a very lush version of rock that gets pretty forceful, too, and “Heartbreaker” follows with breezy strumming and both grit and melody entering the emotive landscape.
In the middle, the spirited guitar riffs and piano acrobatics of “Hold On Tight” suit the vocally strong album highlight, while “And One Day” lands in balladry amid the poetic singing and graceful climate.
“Only My Opinion” and “Queen Of Paradise” exit the original album, where the former builds into a tense yet cautious rocker and the latter uses strings strategically with a groove friendly, retro appeal.
Of the bonus tracks, “Airborne” is particularly interesting with its mesmerizing keys and well timed strings, though “Buddy Steve (Long Lost Friend)” is the best from this portion, and illustrates their inimitable brand of baroque pop at its finest.
Sadly, none of the members of The Left Banke are alive today. Though they’ll always be best known for their 2 radio hits, “Walk Away Renee” and “Pretty Ballerina”, Strangers On A Train proves that they were capable of writing the complete album, too, and these largely unheard bonus tracks hint at what could have been if another LP were released.
Travels well with: The Kinks- Lola Versus Powerman And The Moneygoround Part One; Dave Davies- Decade