Train - Mad Dog in the Fog

To Gloria; The Weekend; Pennsylvania Turnpike; Tired of Looking Down; Blue Brush-Footed Butterfly; City of Angels; Mad Dog in the Fog; What If We Try; Half A Heart; Princess of the Night; No Matter What; Kid In The Crown

(Columbia)

There is something reassuringly familiar about Train. More than three decades into their career, they still understand that the best pop-rock songs don’t need to shout to make an impression. Mad Dog in the Fog, their 12th studio album, is proof that Pat Monahan and company remain remarkably comfortable in their own skin.

Named after the San Francisco pub that played an important role in the band’s early days, the album feels like a musical postcard from a place that has shaped Train’s identity. But this is no exercise in nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake. Across 12 tracks and around 45 minutes, Train combine polished pop-rock, country touches and big, emotionally charged choruses with the easy confidence of seasoned performers.

Opening with To Gloria, the album immediately settles into a warm, melodic groove, while The Weekend brings the kind of breezy, radio-friendly energy that Train have perfected over the years. Pennsylvania Turnpike is another highlight, mixing road-song imagery with a reflective streak, while Tired of Looking Down adds a little more muscle to the record.

The title track is arguably the album’s emotional centrepiece. It has the feel of a song written with both the past and present in mind, its affectionate San Francisco references giving it a sense of place without becoming overly sentimental. The accompanying video was filmed at the pub itself, reinforcing the album’s connection to the band's roots.

Elsewhere, Blue Brush-Footed Butterfly and What If We Try? demonstrate that Train still have an ear for melody, while City of Angels feels tailor-made for a live audience. There are a couple of moments where the formula becomes predictable, but that is hardly a surprise from a band whose greatest strength has always been knowing exactly what their audience wants.

And then there is Monahan's voice. Still instantly recognisable, it gives even the more conventional material an emotional lift. He sounds equally at home delivering a quiet reflection or pushing a chorus towards the rafters.

Mad Dog in the Fog won't radically alter anyone's perception of Train, and perhaps that is precisely the point. This is a band celebrating where it came from rather than desperately trying to reinvent itself. The songwriting is direct, the production polished without becoming sterile, and the melodies are built to linger.

There may not be another “Drops of Jupiter” hiding here, but there doesn't need to be. Mad Dog in the Fog is a confident, good-natured and surprisingly enjoyable reminder that Train still know how to write a song that makes you want to turn up the volume and sing along.