Drops of Jupiter


Drops of Jupiter is the second studio album by American pop rock band Train, released on March 27, 2001. The album's title is derived from "Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)", its lead single, which was a hit internationally and won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song.
The album contains elements of rock, country and indie rock. Besides "Drops of Jupiter ", two other singles were released from this album: "She's on Fire" and "Something More", both of which also achieved some success on the Adult Top 40 chart.
Debuting at #6 in the United States upon its release, it has since been certified 3× platinum by the RIAA in the United States and 2× platinum by the CRIA in Canada. It is the band's best-selling album to date.
A 20th-anniversary edition was released on March 26, 2021.

Critical reception

The album received mixed reviews. AllMusic writer Mark Morgenstein said that "There is nothing cutting edge about Train's Sophomore Effort". He also stated that "Train is a classic rock wannabe band in the mold of Counting Crows, although that's not always a bad thing". Another mixed review appeared in Billboard, which wrote that "The music fails to gain any momentum until track seven, and by then, Train's lucky the listener's still spinning the CD...Let's hope that if Train's given the chance to make a third album, it'll finally fill it with clearly discernable songs."
Rolling Stone Writer Aidin Vaziri had this to say about the album: "Drops of Jupiter, conjuring vivid memories of Recovering The Satellites. The anthemic song is the centerpiece here, showcasing the singer's yearning voice and band's swooping, string-laden melodies, but Train has more to offer. The brooding "Mississippi" presents an intoxicating mix of acoustic guitars and dreamy horns, while "Let It Roll" mixes mournful slide guitars and loose-limbed rhythms in the perfect meeting of blustery earnestness and unapologetic commerciality."

Personnel

Personnel taken from Drops of Jupiter liner notes.

Train

Additional musicians

  • Brendan O'Brien - keyboards
  • Paul Buckmaster - conductor, string arrangements, and orchestral arrangements on "Drops of Jupiter"
  • Suzie Katayama – cello, and contractor on "Drops of Jupiter"
  • Michael Markman - violin on "Drops of Jupiter"
  • Evan Wilson – viola on "Drops of Jupiter"
  • Dan Smith – cello on "Drops of Jupiter"
  • Chuck Leavell – piano on "Drops of Jupiter"
  • David Campbell – string arrangements on "Something More"
  • Carl Gorodetzky – violin, concertmaster, and contractor on "Something More"
  • Kris Wilkinson – viola on "Something More"
  • Bob Mason – cello on "Something More"
  • Fleming McWilliams – backing vocals on “Mississippi"

Production

  • Brendan O'Brien – producer, mixing
  • Nick DiDia – recording
  • Steve Churchyard – orchestral engineer on "Drops of Jupiter"
  • Ryan Williams – second engineer
  • David Bryant – second engineer on "Something More"
  • Karl Egsieker – assistant engineer
  • Steve Genewick – assistant orchestral engineer on "Drops of Jupiter"
  • Erin Haley – production management
  • Cheryl Mondello – production management
  • Bob Ludwig – mastering
  • Joel Zimmerman – art direction
  • Stephen Saper – authoring
  • – illustrations
  • Ralf Strathmann – photography

Charts

Year-end charts

Chart Position
Canadian Alternative Albums 104
US Billboard 200148