Artist:     Rebecca Rego and the Trainmen

Album:     Lay These Weapons Down

Label:     Self Released

Release Date:     10/21/2016

90

BUY DIGITAL

BUY PHYSICAL

In Lay These Weapons Down, the sophomore release from Champaign, IL’s Rebecca Rego & the Trainmen, we see Rego, Matt Yeates, Eric Fitts and Cory Ponton in a different light. Unlike their 2014 debut, Tolono, the band spent a few years being inspired by and faced with loaded topics like the purpose of art, rejection, life, why we struggle. The group experienced divorce, death and illnesses, which resulted in a darker release than before.

“Steamroller” starts off the album and sets the scene. Loss, struggles within, missing pieces. We’re introduced to Rego’s form and passion here. “I Wish I Was Missing You More” is a perfect example of the band’s efforts in putting together Lay These Weapons Down. Rego is raw and powerful in vocals, and backing instrumentals provide simple chords that go with the theme of this album.

Overall, the quartets’ thoughts are clearly displayed, and the questions they asked themselves have been answered.

-Brenda Hillegas