Chrysta Bell and David Lynch: This Train

Summary for Twin Peaks fans: I'm pretty sure you'll like this album.

I've been meaning to write about this for a while. Chrysta Bell is the singer/actress who played Agent Tammy Preston in the Twin Peaks sequel that appeared a couple of years ago. Twin Peaks: The Return was the official title, I think. As you may or may not recall, I was somewhat disappointed in it. And having read the Mark Frost book which provided a whole lot of backstory as well as a glimpse into the present of our beloved Twin Peaks characters, I was definitely disappointed that Agent Tammy was not given a more prominent role. 

Well, I can forgive that now. This album, a collaboration between Bell and Lynch, is great. 

A significant part of the appeal of the original Twin Peaks was the music, composed mainly by Angelo Badalamenti. The show produced an album, officially credited to the singer Julee Cruise who appeared in several episodes, called Floating Into the Night. It is one of my favorite albums; it was one of those featured in the "52 Albums" series we did here a few years ago, and you can read that appreciation here. 

So when I say that This Train is almost as good as Floating Into the Night, it's high praise. It's different, not at all an attempt to reprise the artistic success of Floating, definitely its own man, so to speak. It doesn't have the nostalgic quality, but it has something else that's just as strong. How to describe it? Darker, grimier, spookier, less sweet, less romantic, though not unromantic. But more mystical. 

Well, describing music is always difficult. If you like this song, you'll like the album.

Or at least most of the album. One or two songs, mainly "Swing With Me," are sexually focused in a way that doesn't help the album as a whole. And the last song, "The Truth Is," seems pretty out of place, a synth-pop song that's not bad in itself but is a bit disappointing as an album closer. 

 

Comments

[Rob G]

Yes, very different feel than Julee Cruise but noticeably similar Lynchian "universe." And Bell can certainly sing.

[Mac]

A pretty great voice, really.

[Stu]

This post caused me to pick up the previously unread The Secret History of Twin Peaks book from my shelf and begin to read it. It is written by Chrysta Bell's character, if I'm not mistaken.

[Mac]

Not all of it, but she’s the chief investigator. That’s why it was so disappointing that her role in the new series was pretty minor.

[Rob G]

Her voice reminds me of someone else, but I can't quite put my finger on who it is.

[Mac]

I kind of think so, too, but can't place it.

More specifically about that character: the book strongly suggests that Agent Tammy Preston is going to have in the new story a position or role similar to Cooper's in the original. Not that she would be like Cooper in personality and such, but that her position at the center of investigating the strange happenings would be similar. Instead she's just sort of along for the ride. I found that disappointing.

But then the book is written by Mark Frost alone, so maybe he and Lynch had different ideas.

[Rob G]

Didn't see this before, but she has a new album:

https://chrystabellmusic.bandcamp.com/album/feels-like-love

[Stu]

I think her role in the newest series was enough because she is not much of an actor. Very pretty though, and a great singing voice.

[Mac]

Yes, that occurred to me, but that implies they had decided to cast her in that role, then adjusted it when they realized she wasn't good enough. Which is possible, but implies the story was still in flux. Also makes you wonder why they didn't just get another actress. One obvious clue there is the cover photo of This Train.;-)

Naomi Watts would have been great in that role, btw, not that I would have wanted her not to have the one she did.

[Mac]

I mean the role as I would have liked for it to have been written.

I mean, I can really see her as a Dale-Cooper-ish sort of personality. Not a female Dale Cooper, exactly, that would have been sort of shallow. But an FBI agent very serious about her work, yet sort of eccentric.

[Stu]

Naomi Watts is great in any role, I'm a little gaga for her as an actress. Laura Dern is great too, couldn't have been a better "Diane"! After I finish this book I may watch the 3rd season for a 3rd time.

Yes, apparently Chrysta "hearts" Lynch.

[Mac]

Last time I looked my only option for watching it again was to either get a Showtime subscription (nope) or pay a fairly high rental fee. I would like to see it again. I guess...I'm thinking now of other disappointments, like the way Audrey was used.

The more I think about it, the more I think there should be a campaign to persuade David Lynch to make another TP series starring Naomi Watts as a sort of flakey Tammy Preston. The character would really have a lot in common with the character she actually did play.

[Mac]

I just checked again and my only options are to "buy" it on Amazon Prime for $40 or start a Showtime subscription. Or buy it on dvd for even more. So I'll just have to wait a while.