Introduction
Alan Jackson’s “Freight Train” rumbles in not just as a song, but as the title track to his sixteenth studio album, released in 2010. This album marked the end of an era for Jackson, his final project under his longstanding contract with Arista Nashville. However, “Freight Train” wasn’t a farewell anthem, but rather a return to the core sound that established him as a country music powerhouse.
Reviews suggest the album, and by extension the song “Freight Train,” were a conscious move away from the flashier production of his previous effort, “Good Time” (2008). Instead, “Freight Train” evokes a sense of back-to-basics country. Some critics saw this as a return to the style of Jackson’s 2006 album, “Like Red on a Rose,” but with a focus on the traditional sounds and themes that have always been a part of country music, rather than venturing into jazzier territory.
The title itself, “Freight Train,” hints at this return to roots. While train songs are a well-established subgenre within country music, “Freight Train” doesn’t seem to directly follow that path. Instead, reviewers suggest it uses the imagery of the freight train as a broader symbol of the straightforward, unpretentious nature of classic country music.
Jackson himself has spoken about the album’s focus on simplicity. In an interview, he described the songs as “not big-screen glitzy.” “Freight Train” seems to be the embodiment of this philosophy, offering a stripped-down sound that harks back to the country music of the past.
So, as you listen to “Freight Train,” expect a song that is both fresh and familiar. It’s a new release from a country music veteran, but also a return to the core elements that have made Alan Jackson a star.