New Jersey Stage logo
New Jersey Stage Menu


?>

 

CD REVIEW: U.S. Rails (4 Stars)


By Gary Wien

originally published: 09/21/2010


U.S. Rails is the new name for the former Philadelphia-based band 4 Way Street. Long-time fans will not be disappointed in the direction of the band as the debut by U.S. Rails may be even stronger than the lone record released by 4 Way Street. The "supergroup" of sorts continues to include Ben Arnold, Scott Bricklin, Joseph Parsons, and Matt Muir and now adds Tom Gilliam to replace Jim Boggia. The pairing brings together a mix of great songwriters who all have very distinct vocal styles that compliment each other. The end result is a largely brilliant followup record that is sure to please long-time fans and make many new ones.

As with 4 Way Street, the sum is once again greater than its parts. U.S. Rails is an amazing group that clearly conjures up memories of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young through their wonderful harmonies and acoustic guitars. Band members once again rotate lead singer duties throughout the record and occasionally all take part as in the great opening tune, "Lucky Stars."

"Does anybody know how lucky we are?
Just bangin' on drums, strummin' our guitars
Just tryin' to have fun in some dark and dusty bar
In the morning, when I wake up
I thank my lucky stars"
-- Lucky Stars

The record steers a bit more towards country-rock than its pop-rock based predecessor. Songs like "Gonna Shine", "Good Times", "Burning Fire", and "Man Down" are closest to those found on the 4 Way Street record; while tunes like "Simple Plan" and "Shine The Light" have an almost ‘70s classic rock kind of feel.

Overall, it's an extremely strong disc that I recommend highly. In fact, it's probably one of my two or three favorite records of the year and a staple on my car stereo. If you were a fan of 4 Way Street, go ahead and pick up a copy, you won't be let down. If you've never heard of the former band, but are a fan of artists like CSN&Y or the Indigo Girls, you'll dig this too.

I think one of the reasons CSN&Y succeeded where others have failed is because their songs didn't sound forced; they sounded as if they were meant to be recorded that way -- the harmonies weren't a gimmick, but an integral part of the equation. The same thing is happening here. U.S. Rails is a bunch of long-time friends who realized one day that they could all add to each other's tunes and take them to a higher place. There's no denying that the band enjoys playing music together and is having fun. When that sort of thing happens, it's an amazing experience.




Reach New Jersey's largest arts & entertainment audience, click here for info on how to advertise at NJ Stage



"These are the good times,
We drink to remember, we drink to forget
Yeah, the good times
And we ain't seen the best of them yet"

-- Good Times


Gary Wien has been covering the arts since 2001 and has had work published with Jersey Arts, Upstage Magazine, Elmore Magazine, Princeton Magazine, Backstreets and other publications. He is a three-time winner of the Asbury Music Award for Top Music Journalist and the author of Beyond the Palace (the first book on the history of rock and roll in Asbury Park) and Are You Listening? The Top 100 Albums of 2001-2010 by New Jersey Artists. In addition, he runs New Jersey Stage and the online radio station The Penguin Rocks. He can be contacted at gary@newjerseystage.com.

FEATURED EVENTS

ART | COMEDY | DANCE | FILM | MUSIC | THEATRE | COMMUNITY

To narrow results by date range, categories,
or region of New Jersey
click here for our advanced search.


Tuesday

Tuesday Night Record Club - Crowded House

Tuesday, July 01, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Monmouth University - The Great Hall
400 Cedar Avenue, West Long Branch, NJ 07764
category: music


 

Curtis

Curtis Salgado

Wednesday, July 02, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ 08087
category: music


 

John

John Lee & Friends

Thursday, July 03, 2025 @ 7:30pm
The Morris Museum Back Deck
6 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown, NJ 07960
category: music


 

Blues

Blues People with Special Guest: Jeff Levine

Saturday, July 05, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ 08087
category: music


 

Straight

Straight No Chaser - Summer: The 90’s Part 2

Tuesday, July 08, 2025 @ 7:00pm
Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC)
30 North Van Brunt Street, Englewood, NJ 07631
category: music


 



Advertise with NJ Stage for $50-$100 per month, click here for info





 

EVENT PREVIEWS

Two

Two NJ Jazz Musicians Will Play with The Jazz Ambassadors in Morristown

Pianist Anthony Pocetti grew up in Hamilton, NJ, studying piano, "doing sort of traditional piano lessons. I have an uncle who was always encouraging me to get into the jazz thing. He gave me the (Miles Davis) Kind of Blue CD, and he knew that the jazz pianist Jim Ridl was living in Hamilton."



Asbury

Asbury Lanes presents There, There - A Tribute to Radiohead

(ASBURY PARK, NJ) -- Asbury Lanes presents There, There on Saturday, July 12, 2025 at 8:00pm. They are the premier Radiohead tribute act, playing songs from throughout the band's iconic multi-decade catalogue.



bergenPAC

bergenPAC presents Straight No Chaser - Summer: The 90's Part 2

(ENGLEWOOD, NJ) -- After a totally fly 2024 summer tour packed full of 90s boy band, pop, and R&B hits, RIAA-certified Gold a cappella group Straight No Chaser is back by popular demand with "Straight No Chaser Summer: 90s Part 2." The tour comes to Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC) on Thursday, July 8, 2025 at 7:00pm.



Blue

Blue Curtain presents 2025 Summer Concert Series in Princeton

(PRINCETON, NJ) -- Blue Curtain returns to Pettoranello Gardens Amphitheater this July with a free three-concert series. The 2025 season opens on Saturday, July 12 at 8:00pm with a performance by internationally acclaimed trombonist, composer, and bandleader Jimmy Bosch, also known as El Trombon Criollo.



NJPAC

NJPAC presents KEM with special guest Melania Fiona

(NEWARK, NJ) -- New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) presents a special evening with KEM, known as Soul's Greatness, on Friday, July 18, 2025 at 8:00pm. Special guest Melanie Fiona will open the night.