Havalina Rail Company is truly unique among bands in either the Christian or secular industries. And in their uniqueness, Havalina has created something truly special.

In their latest album, Russian Lullabies, they incorporate elements of Russian folk music, rock, rockabilly, classical, and jazz, and yet never completely identify themselves with a particular genre.

The album is a concept album using the theme of the old Russian-influenced Soviet world. This theme also works well as a way to describe what Havalina is all about. Just as Russia is a country that has stood apart from the world, never completely comfortable in either Europe or Asia, the band doesn't fit neatly into any musical genre, either.

I really enjoy this approach to music. So many bands choose the straight way of predictability, but Havalina has set a course of originality. Their music is not always the most accessible, but it is always interesting.

The production of this album is also unique. I don't know how to describe it, but it feels almost like a live performance. I can picture myself sitting at an outdoor venue under the stars and hearing this incredibly entrancing music coming from a band a few feet away. The music has the coolness of a band that isn't trying to be cool, but just is.

Havalina does many incredible things, but my favorite aspect of Russian Lullabies is how the music makes you think it is about to go one way and then goes in a direction you don't expect. But frontman Matt Wignall and Co. keep enough of the expected elements to keep you connected.

A good example of this is the intro to "St. Petersburg." The melodic line seems to flow in a direction that sounds almost reminiscent of "Yankee Doodle Dandy" (I have no idea if this was intentional or not, of if they are trying to send some kind of message with the choice of this song of classic Americana). But at the moment when one expects to hear tonic resolution, the melody suddenly switches and plays something else. Then the melody switches back to a variation on the expected melody and continues to move back and forth between the expected and unexpected for the duration of the intro.

Lyrically, the music is about romance and longing for what you can't have. There is the continual imagery of the lovesick young man, pining for the woman he can't have. In the midst of the tragedy, the snow keeps falling, but he doesn't care. The winter only amplifies his sorrows. While this specific imagery isn't in every song, the theme seems to flow through all of the songs. The theme is especially prominent in the song "St. Petersburg."

I'll catch the first train to St. Petersburgh,
there's no where else I'd rather be,
although my love may leave me,
St. Petersburgh I long to see,
your snowy streets, your icy sun,
your frozen rivers begin to run.

Along with "St. Petersburgh," my favorite songs would have to be "Twilight Time," "Nathan's Song" (it features the most incredible vocalist accompanied by the sensual sounds of the saxophone), and "Russian Lullaby."

"Russian Lullaby" is one of the most profound love songs I have ever heard. It expresses the reckless feeling one has when you love someone so much that you simply have to tell the object of your affection of your love, no matter what the consequences. The story in the song tells how a man is riding his horse for hours to see his love. While he is riding, he is dreaming and thinking. He knows his loved one may reject him and that she may even already know of his love. Yet, he knows that what he feels is real, and he must put it all on the line. This song speaks to my soul.

I truly love this album and the only reason Russian Lullabies did not nab 5 stars is that the album at times is not very accessible to the general market. (And I'm not completely sure that this is a bad thing!)

Get this album. It will transport to another world.

Later editor's note from 2003: I should have given this album 5 stars. It is truly a classic album, one for the ages.