Self-Released, 2005
Jon Crocker's Songs About Trains and Other Things is a heartfelt collection of songs consisting primarily of acoustic guitar, Crocker's vocals, and the occasional rhythm instrument and harmonica. On the surface, the pieces are simple folk strummings in the ever-popular style, but beyond such surface suppositions, the prolific Crocker constructs delicate -- if a little short -- tales -- as evidenced in tracks like "Shallow Grave" and "Home Repair."
First and foremost, Jon Crocker seems to be a lyricist: he is not crafting complex guitar riffs or intense chrod structures; rather appropriately, Crocker writes music that showcases his vocals and lyrics in a way that other music is simply not capable of. There is a reason, after all, that folk music is best known for being a vehicle for all sorts of important (and less important) things -- political protest, heartbroken moanings, social reform -- nothing too unusual, all in all. Crocker's brand of folk music doesn't manage to annoy like some often can (the folk music one, at times, can hear that is nothing but badly strummed acoustic guitars fronted by incessant whining comes to mind, though it certainly isn't some sort of semi-consistent factor, even.)
Songs About Trains and Other Things is a remarkably mature album, considering, especially, its self-released nature. Crocker displays a definite regard for production quality and fidelity, which is, in and of itself, a difficult trait to possess, but is even more rare in regard to one's own work. From the relaxing-yet-invigorating "Alone, on Land" to the twenty-four minute "Black Bouquet," Jon Crocker's crafted an album worth listening to at least once.