I was surprised that no one has written a review for Travis yet. They're a Scottish rock band that sounds similar to Coldplay and "Pre-Kid A" Radiohead, playing more of a relaxing style of music in their latest three albums (Good Feeling sounds completely different than the sound you would expect from Travis). Currently they have released four albums: Good Feeling (1997), The Man Who (1999), The Invisible Band (2001) and 12 Memories (2003).
I decided to write the review on The Man Who, their best effort and their breakthrough album. This album was produced by that guy who did Ok Computer. I think this album went 8X platium or something. Anyways, here's the track-by-track review:
1. Writing to Reach You
This is the band's first single off this album. This song has a poppy, relaxing sound. This song is generally backed up by guitar and drums. It's extremely catchy (like what you would expect from any singles) and actually sound like Oasis when they were good. It's also cool how they make the reference to Oasis' "wonderwall" by asking "What's a wonderwall anyway?" 5/5
2. The Fear
Another slow pace song. It's also petty moody. This song is kind of sad sounding and definatly more laid back than the opener. One of the weaker songs in the album, but it's still good. 3.5/5
3. As You Are
Another song that's laid back and relaxing sounding. This song sounds alike to "The Fear" and just better. The riff solo part near the middle sounds great too since Travis hardly put any riffs on their songs. 4.5/5
4. Driftwood
The song is plain awesome. Their second single uses awesome guitar works and beautiful lyrics. Seriously, I love the lyric to this song:"You've been drifting for a long long time." A great sing-a-long, catchy song. 5/5
5. The Last Laugh of the Laughter
This song is another good one. It uses french phrases (`c'est la vie', `tout ma vie') to make the song stronger. Other than that, this song continues the guitar-drums combination that continues throughout the album. 4/5
6. Turn
The forth single from this album. Another catchy song. It has all the qualifications of a hit single: a good beat, good lyrics, and an overall enjoyable sound. But Travis have done better singles. STill, 5/5
7. Why Does it Always Rain on Me?
Like Oasis' "Wonderwall", the La's "There She Goes" or Radiohead's "Creep," Travis is famous for a song and this is it. This is one of my all-time favourite song. 6/5
8. Luv
This song uses a harmonica, an instructment that Travis barely uses. The band makes good use of it and it really gives me a feeling of "luv." 4.5/5
9. She's So Strange
This song is one of Travis' "strange" songs. It seems like a song from their debut album, "Good Feeling." But I like it. 4/5
10. Slide Show
One of my favourite song. Petty obvious why it's not a single, since it's a kind of depressing song. But man, this song is awesome. 5/5
HIDDEN TRACK: Blue Flashing Light
This song is hidden in the Slide Show track. After Slide Show ends, skip 3 mins and 14 secs (one of the band member has an obsession with pi) and you'll begin to hear a new song, that's Blue Flashing Light! This hidden track is actually one of the highlight of this album. This isong is COMPLETELY different than the album. It's more of a hard rock sounding, thats so not travis. Thats exactly why it's a hidden track, it didn't blend in with other songs in this album. I thought Travis could only make soft sounding and relaxing music. Well, this song proved me wrong. 5/5
I think of Travis as 2 era: the "Good Feeling" era where they played harder rock music and the era from "The Man Who" on. If you liked this album, the thing is that you'll like "The Invisible Band" (which sounds just like The Man Who) and "12 Memories." You can't not like this album. It's immpossible. This album's not like AC/Dc's "Back in Black" where some people can't take the loud noise of the album. This album is just something that you can lie on your bed and listen to it and feel happy + relaxed. I DEFINATLY RECOMMEND BUYING IT.
