For Whom the Bell Peals

In April 2006, I reported on a number of bands that were “following the Train”—bands that were a part of an extended family tree from Train and their Folk-influenced American Rock sound. Peal’s Beautiful Baby Elephant links into this railroad, too, at least by virtue of their sound.

Like the Train Line, Peal doesn’t blast a horn of originality (perhaps that’s an overemphasized criteria anyway) and the songs aren’t necessarily imprinted on you like melodic semaphores. Yet, the tunes lay down a comfortable country-like ease while swinging a hammering folk-jam-groove. Peal gives you the feeling as if they arrive in town right on time every night, pulling into the station like old friends, their tales never old no matter how often told, and when their whistles echoes in the distance as they rumble down the track, you can imagine that they’re as much a part of your music town as the old church’s bell. It’s a sound that arrives on time which is what we want from trains and bells.

Thanks to Peal for the review CD.