ATC
11-24-2004, 01:06 PM
TRAVIS- THE MAN WHO
TRAVIS are:
Fran Healy -Vocals, guitar
Andy Dunlop- Guitar
Doug Payne- Bass
Neil Primrose- Drums
TRACK LISTING
1.WRITING TO REACH YOU
2.THE FEAR
3.AS YOU ARE
4.DRIFTWOOD
5.THE LAST LAUGH OF THE LAUGHTER
6.TURN
7.WHY DOES IT ALWAYS RAIN ON ME
8.LUV
9.SHE'S SO STRANGE
10.SLIDE SHOW
Travis' first major album is an album of appealing hooks and smooth
vocals over music influenced by Brit pop rock czars Oasis and The Beatles.
Its not especially brilliant and is just what the simple album cover
promises, simple music without pretensions to greatness. These Scottish lads
(i saw them play in a kilt at an awards show or else i'd never know)
have managed to refine oasis and their other britrock influences into
a cohesive whole and craft a melancholy album before descending into
all out poppiness on The Invisible Band and turning guitar driven on
12 Memories.
WRITING TO REACH YOU- One of the singles. It starts with a buzzing
noise and turns into a simple catchy melody. There is a reference to
Oasis as Fran sings 'whats a wonderwall anyway?'. Its pleasant.
'Its good to know that you are home for christmas, its good to know that
you are doing well'. A letter to himself.
THE FEAR - One of my favorites off this album. Its not like the
other tracks on here. More arty and sophisticated than the rest. Darker
but without a lifting sort of chorus. There is a short solo to maintain
the feeling.
AS YOU ARE - It starts off nice and relaxed. Nothing special
until the mellow guitar solo which is transformed into a Nirvana-ish
guitar solo. That threw me off quite a bit. Contrary to their simplicity,
they solo quite a lot live, funny how a britrock band plays grunge solos.
DRIFTWOOD- Its one of the prettiest moments on the album. Sentence
association turns into a wicked chorus. 'I'm sorry that you turned to
driftwood, but you've been drifting for a long, long time'.
THE LAST LAUGH OF THE LAUGHTER- Melancholy for a song that
has laughter in its title. Fran whispers and sings this song that is
half in french.
TURN- The most singalongable song and the catchiest.
Simplicity is catchiness, and these guys know it. I dare you to not
have this chorus in your head after two listens. One of their greatest
songs, ever.
WHY DOES IT ALWAYS RAIN ON ME - Sombre song for the victim.
The strings and voice driven song was the biggest hit of this album.
'Why does it always rain on me, is it because i lied when i was 17.
even when the sun's shining, i cant avoid the lightning.' The video
is weird-funny, with fran being kidnapped and then running after his
kidnappers (the band).
LUV - I dont like this. Possibly the weakest song on here.
Its got a harmonica that sounds vaguely interesting, but the song
just doesnt agree.
SHE'S SO STRANGE -Weird is the word. Simple it is, but yet
you feel like hmm..Its filler or an interlude or something of that
sort with the way it is.
SLIDE SHOW - A car being opened is the start to this.
Its a very simple melody which fran brightens up quite a bit.
For the love of God, i cant remember where i heard
the phrase 'devils haircut'. The wonderwall pops up again.
Its a nice solo-like part on this one before it quietens down.
hidden track- This should have been on the album. Its quite
good for a hidden song. Horns lead into acoustic strumming on the
fastest paced song on here. Its about the domestic violence thing
that they would re-explore on their Re-offender off 12 memories.
I also never expected slut, bit'ch, whore to be used in a Travis song.
Almost like they just hit puberty on an acoustic guitar.
All in all, its their best album. Maybe not as radio-driven as The
Invisible Band, their most popular release, but its a decent album.
If you're in the mood for some Travis, this would be the best album to
buy.
Definitely a 3.5/5, maybe 4 if you're generous.
TRAVIS are:
Fran Healy -Vocals, guitar
Andy Dunlop- Guitar
Doug Payne- Bass
Neil Primrose- Drums
TRACK LISTING
1.WRITING TO REACH YOU
2.THE FEAR
3.AS YOU ARE
4.DRIFTWOOD
5.THE LAST LAUGH OF THE LAUGHTER
6.TURN
7.WHY DOES IT ALWAYS RAIN ON ME
8.LUV
9.SHE'S SO STRANGE
10.SLIDE SHOW
Travis' first major album is an album of appealing hooks and smooth
vocals over music influenced by Brit pop rock czars Oasis and The Beatles.
Its not especially brilliant and is just what the simple album cover
promises, simple music without pretensions to greatness. These Scottish lads
(i saw them play in a kilt at an awards show or else i'd never know)
have managed to refine oasis and their other britrock influences into
a cohesive whole and craft a melancholy album before descending into
all out poppiness on The Invisible Band and turning guitar driven on
12 Memories.
WRITING TO REACH YOU- One of the singles. It starts with a buzzing
noise and turns into a simple catchy melody. There is a reference to
Oasis as Fran sings 'whats a wonderwall anyway?'. Its pleasant.
'Its good to know that you are home for christmas, its good to know that
you are doing well'. A letter to himself.
THE FEAR - One of my favorites off this album. Its not like the
other tracks on here. More arty and sophisticated than the rest. Darker
but without a lifting sort of chorus. There is a short solo to maintain
the feeling.
AS YOU ARE - It starts off nice and relaxed. Nothing special
until the mellow guitar solo which is transformed into a Nirvana-ish
guitar solo. That threw me off quite a bit. Contrary to their simplicity,
they solo quite a lot live, funny how a britrock band plays grunge solos.
DRIFTWOOD- Its one of the prettiest moments on the album. Sentence
association turns into a wicked chorus. 'I'm sorry that you turned to
driftwood, but you've been drifting for a long, long time'.
THE LAST LAUGH OF THE LAUGHTER- Melancholy for a song that
has laughter in its title. Fran whispers and sings this song that is
half in french.
TURN- The most singalongable song and the catchiest.
Simplicity is catchiness, and these guys know it. I dare you to not
have this chorus in your head after two listens. One of their greatest
songs, ever.
WHY DOES IT ALWAYS RAIN ON ME - Sombre song for the victim.
The strings and voice driven song was the biggest hit of this album.
'Why does it always rain on me, is it because i lied when i was 17.
even when the sun's shining, i cant avoid the lightning.' The video
is weird-funny, with fran being kidnapped and then running after his
kidnappers (the band).
LUV - I dont like this. Possibly the weakest song on here.
Its got a harmonica that sounds vaguely interesting, but the song
just doesnt agree.
SHE'S SO STRANGE -Weird is the word. Simple it is, but yet
you feel like hmm..Its filler or an interlude or something of that
sort with the way it is.
SLIDE SHOW - A car being opened is the start to this.
Its a very simple melody which fran brightens up quite a bit.
For the love of God, i cant remember where i heard
the phrase 'devils haircut'. The wonderwall pops up again.
Its a nice solo-like part on this one before it quietens down.
hidden track- This should have been on the album. Its quite
good for a hidden song. Horns lead into acoustic strumming on the
fastest paced song on here. Its about the domestic violence thing
that they would re-explore on their Re-offender off 12 memories.
I also never expected slut, bit'ch, whore to be used in a Travis song.
Almost like they just hit puberty on an acoustic guitar.
All in all, its their best album. Maybe not as radio-driven as The
Invisible Band, their most popular release, but its a decent album.
If you're in the mood for some Travis, this would be the best album to
buy.
Definitely a 3.5/5, maybe 4 if you're generous.