Perhaps it's a sign of the lack of awe modern industry inspires that's making so many of indie rock's luminaries pine for steam engines, hand presses and the like. Who the hell feels inspired by the whir of the PC downloading all that pornography? The warm sensation of a cell phone in your ear? The way your hip vibrates when your pager lets loose? It might be good material for starched-pants types like Jerry Seinfeld, but it does little for today's modern romantic. Moody, orchestral ensembles like Rachel's and Godspeed You Black Emperor hit their stride while waxing nostalgic for early twentieth century lore.

Case in point: Two Dollar Guitar. For years, guitarist Tim Foljahn and Sonic Youth drummer Steve Shelley have been trying and trying to make a great record under the moniker. While never bad, Two Dollar Guitar's records seemed to lack focus, ever damned to "Sonic Youth side project" status.

The solution? Bring on the motherfucking trains! It may sound contrived, but for most of Train Songs, it works. A long collection of songs that conjure the alternate state that one enters during travel, it's probably the most soulful commercial for travel by train that Via Rail (Canada's Amtrak, for you Yankee folks) never made. With over an hour's worth of subdued travel music, Two Dollar Guitar finally made an album that feels complete and thought out.

The record begins with the gorgeous "Patagonia," propelled by a blurry drone and Shelley's soft drum playing. I lost track of the songs after that, having sprawled out on my futon, but Train Songs has a vaguely bloozy feel to it-- one that makes you want to sit in a sweaty train station and stare at the floor, muttering to yourself. And that's a good thing.

-Samir Khan