Sea Train 1969 Album

Seatrain

At the end of the 60's, Marin County, California's Seatrain served as a very short-term American response to the then-nascent progressive rock movement from the U.K. Formed from the remnants of Al Kooper's Blues Project, the group had already released an album in this vein the year before (Planned Obscelcence) but had been contractually obligated to place it under the Blues Project name. This album in particular ups the ante. It has a very democratic feel, despite the talent collected, no one really dominates, or is spotlighted above the others. Another neat feature was, like a few other bands of the day, had a full-time lyric writer by the name of Jim Roberts. Imagery here is stark and cinematic, making up for shortcomings in other areas, and just for the fact that this is an odd listen. Greene's violin playing is a high point, especially on the jarring open track. Mere months after this was released, Seatrain would undergo a moderately radical change, and pursue a new musical direction.