Westbound Train are one of the smoothest sounds soul ska bands to embark on the ears of the masses. It's great to hear a traditional sound coming from a fresh and solid band like this one. Since the release of this record, the band has gone on to release another album with us, ME 004 is their sophomore record entitled "5 To 2". That album was also released in Canada and Japan. "Searching" is so good, we will be releasing it in Europe in 2009!

For anyway that is a fan of straight ska, none of that pop punk stuff, just smooth ska grooves with enough soul in it to keep it interesting. The band has gone through a few line up changes since this release, and although they are constantly growing as musicians and their albums get better with each one, "Searching" is still, by far, a landmark album for ska music in the 2000s. In a time when the 'pop punk with horns" bands were finally starting to fall apart, the fans were looking back to the far past to find 'new' ska music to fill the void. From that comes the creation of many "traditional" ska bands, many of which were just copying other contemporaries, but Westbound Train showed up with something different, some unique. Although bands like Deal's Gone Bad were already dabbling in the ska soul connection, Westbound Train's approach was much more their own and less an influence by anyone else. They aren't repeating the past, they are creating a new future for bands to experiment with ska and make it new again.

Although this is a re-release (with bonus tracks) don't let that sway you from picking it up if you already own the Stubborn Records version, this one is a complete remaster offering up a smoother cleaner sound than before, and to top it off, the bonus tracks are worth it alone sporting a guest appearance from Richie Senior (Dr. Ring Ding) and King Django. There is even brand new art work to boot. If you want to hear what is happening in real ska today, check this band out, you will not be disappointed!

Liner Notes
special thanks to our families
The Calvos, Merritts, Holmlunds, Brunelles, McKuskers and The Salernos

special people...in no special order
Jeff with the Stardust pants (you're like a big brother), Chris Towles (for the great sound and all your hard work), Dave Zaretsky, Micharl Freeman, Ericka and Chris High, Mark Jones, Lua and Ian Rafalak, Jeremy Giordano, Ellen Brennan, Steve Wrobleski, Kevin Cash, Gwynne Zink, Al "Jackswinge [at] aol [dot] com... IM him or call 386-253-6602" Wrinkle, Ryan Dominguez, Jessica Moore, Faye, Jay Foley, Aaron Harsh, Rob Elslovenbong (kidding), Whit Brown, Michael Farqharson, Kurdell Boatswain, Woody Alfonso, Liz and Melissa Penn, Shawn and Blake, Big Mike, Luis Esquivel, Al Pacino, the Goonies (greatest movie ever), Ferris Beuller for Grandma Springer, Allison Arnet, Erik Rydmark, Kieron "The Euro Man" Reynolds and the Coty of Boston. Anyone we forgot we'll get you next time.

band thanks
King Django, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, The Pietasters, The Slackers, The Toasters, The New Your Ska Jazz Ensemble, The Stubborn Allstars, Chris Murray, Big D and the Kid's Table, Bim Skala Bim, Pressure Cooker, Kicked in the Head, Day 19, The Allstonians, Mass Hysteria, Eastern Standard Time, Green Island, The Shanty Sounds, The Skatalities, The Clash, The Specials, Dennis Brown, Toots and the Maytals, Frankie Paul, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Prince Buster and all the other artists who have inspired our love for this music.

extra thanks
Tim and Paul at Vacant Management and Rude International, Jeff Marshall at Bill's and Axis, Jesse at the Met Cafe', Jason Womble at the El n' Gee Club, Michael Holmlund for all the Swedish booking needs, Grant Thayer at Boston Ska, Michelle at DC Ska, Travis at WERS, Josh and Dave at WRBB, Generoso at "The Bovine Ska Reality" on WMBR, Jesse at Soundcheck Magazine, Dru with Boston Brass Digest, Matt Carroll with Bridges Freeze First, Steve Jackson, Jeff Baker, Dave Hillyard, KC, Rob Hingley, Dan Vitale, Jeff Eckman, "Rocksteady" Fred Reiter, Steve Foote, Klas Holmlund for the awesome graphics, Sherill Bross, Mars Records on Newbury Street, Jammyland Records, Stubborn Records, Version City, Side One Dummy, Hellcat Records and Epitaph, Fork in Hand Records, Megalith Records and everyone else who has supported Westbound Train along the way.

Cover Photo by : Daniel Newman
All layout and design by : Jeremy Patton / Manufactured and distributed by : Megalith Records PO Box 352 Cedar Grove, NJ 07044 www.megalithrecords.com

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