The Leaving Trains were formed in West Los Angeles in the summer of 1980 by Falling James and Manfred Hofer, after their high school punk band, the Mongrels, broke up (1978-1979, RIP). They were inspired as much by Sylvia Plath, Richard Pryor, Lame Deer and Raymond Chandler as by the Germs and the Doors. The Trains came to greater attention a few years later with the 1984 release of their debut LP, Well Down Blue Highway, which linked them with pals Green on Red, the Bangles, the Dream Syndicate, Rain Parade, etc. in L.A.'s Paisley Underground scene. Perversely, the band went in a more overtly punk and politically caustic direction in subsequent years, especially the notorious early-'90s collaborations with then-bassist Whitey Sims, which led to so much literal censorship, arrests, onstage nudity and sex, anarchist presidential campaigns and mainstream media outrage, transvestitism, and cheerful ditties like "Bob Hope" and "Fuck You, God! (I'm Already Living in Hell)." Like Casper the Friendly Ghost, the Leaving Trains only want to be loved, but end up scaring everyone away instead. EMOTIONAL LEGS is the Trains' first CD on SCR; as long time fans of the band Mr & Mrs Steel Cage couldn’t be more thrilled!

For much more info, go directly to the source & visit the Leaving Trains webpage.

This is the Trains’ first alb in six years, and it comes across like an aerosol can in the fireplace: extremely flammable, contents under pressure. The band, under the guidance of longtime helmsman and Weekly contributor Falling James, has been consistently active during the interval, but a changing scene and the decline of the underground ol’-school punk-label network has kept the Trains offa the racks. This has got to be beyond frustrating for James, who had consistently cranked out close to a record a year since the Trains’ debut, Well Down Blue Highway, in ’84. After a nine-record run with SST, the band is back on Philly true-blue dirt-punk label Steel Cage, home to heathens like Antiseen, Limecell and the 440s. Emotional Legs, produced with an unrefined clarity by Andrew Buscher, kicks off like a somewhat typical three-chord punk stomper but gradually unfurls into something more cinematic, though no less vitriolic. The feel begins to broaden with a well-chosen cover of the Urinals’ moody “Black Hole.” In James’ own melancholic, wistful “Dumb as a Crayon,” the singer defends his looked-down-upon girl, chiding the naysayers, “I shoplift at your daddy’s store,” and reassuring his girl, “I like the way your smile implies a crime and says, ‘Let’s get out of here.’” On the other side of the coin, drummer Dennis Carlin’s “Judy Don’t Mind” comes off like an update of the Monkees’ theme. The aptly titled “New York Is Gone” begins with a riff straight from Television’s debut, and seemingly bemoans declining urban music scenes in the U.S. Over an hour in length, this pressure cooker blows off six years’ worth of steam with wit and finesse.
—S.L. Duff, LA Weekly 01/18/02

The Leaving Trains are one of our national treasures, not to mention way more "punk" than any dozen tough guy Mohican, HC, or Oi! bands. They continue to dole out what they should already be world famous for - blistering punk rock blasts (like "Big Baby", "Capricious" and "Made That Mistake Before"), evocative originality (as in "My Lost Danielle"), raw boned emotional honesty, acute social (but not always political) commentary and amazing, often chaotic, live performances. Jump on this train to the heavens before it leaves the station.
—Jeff Bale, Hit List v3, #5

Glamorous rock and roll with a dangerous punk to garage rock edge that will leave you dying for more. Falling James has been fronting this band for years and they're still going strong. The Trains play psychedelic, garage, punk, rock & roll with a killer beat that's on the money, honey. James, who's got to be the Boy George of punk, was doing the drag punk thing before it was chic and still looks better in a dress than most girls out there. Fans of fast and crazy punk rock will kill for the Trains as they give you 12 new songs to destroy everything that Alternative Press told you was cool. On Emotional Legs you get the same great melodies and beats as old favorites; on this one you'll find new classics like "Big Baby," "NY Is Gone," "Black Hole, "American Society," "Never Say Die" and more, plus 6 bonus tracks that include a cover of the Circle Jerks "Killing For Jesus." Another great record from a band that's still keeping the underground alive.
—Toxic Flyer #33

Click here to read a lengthy review from Ink19.com