Folk/Review Saint Nick the Lesser - Train Tracks

Saint Nick the Lesser, hailing from Upland, United States, emerged onto the music scene in January of 2025 following the completion of a full-length album amidst the global pandemic.

“Train Tracks,” Saint Nick the Lesser's most recent song, is a gritty, resonant mix of ska-tinged melancholy, anti-folk honesty, and punk heart. The song, which draws inspiration from troubadour-punk greats like Laura Jane Grace and Frank Turner, is melancholy, breathless, and full of resolve, resembling an open diary entry written from a moving train.

“Train Tracks,” which is based on acoustic strums, gravel-edged vocals, and a simple production, thrives on its vulnerability. Through metaphor and song, it conveys a very intimate tale of friendship and emotional reflection, where past decisions and aspirations for the future coexist. The song's topic of movement, both geographical and emotional, is reflected in the rhythm's restlessness, while the lyrics' delicate roughness strikes a balance between melancholy and hope.

Saint Nick the Lesser isn't scared to sit in suffering, but he's also determined to use it to illuminate the world. That spirit of perseverance runs through the heart of the song. A genuineness that never veers into cliché lifts lines that could otherwise feel heavy. This is genuine, assertive, and ultimately inspiring music for the tired who still have faith that change is possible.

Saint Nick the Lesser demonstrates his storytelling prowess in “Train Tracks,” a song that is both universal and intimate. It serves as a reminder that even though the tracks could take us in a different direction, there is grace in letting go and strength in the movement. An exceptional submission from a performer who isn't scared to combine the vulnerability of folk with the sharpness of punk.