The Man Who

by

Travis

Edit

A bought this album with no previous knowledge of Travis, but primarily after hearing of the success that it enjoyed in Britain, both critically and commercially. Thank God for hunches. Fran Healy's voice is simply angelic, occupying a nearly identical octave range as Thom York from Radiohead, minus York's always-present sense of panic. I would be hard-pressed not to pay top-billing to see them live with Oasis, and one has to wonder who may be opening for whom in the future. I would think that they are winking at both the listener and Oasis themselves by beginning "Writing to Reach You," with the same chord progression as "Wonderwall," but that is where the similarities cease between the two groups, and Travis sets out to achieve one of the most hypnotically beautiful and melodically stunning albums to come out of Britain, or any other country for that matter in many, many years. No real need for me to recommend it to everyone, because anyone who truly appreciates great music will have this album soon enough. Travis have truly opened up their own niche in the Brit-pop lexicon, combining professional musicianship and Fran Healy's devastating vocals and equally beautiful and heartfelt lyrics. Bliss. Enjoy.

I assume that the 252 previous reviews have said almost everything there is to say about this album. I don't own this album: a friend just loaned me their copy. I don't love this album, but only because it is not really my cup of tea. It is mostly beautiful music with lots of rich texture from delay. It has lots of feeling and some of the lyrics are interesting, unexpected and cool. But, most of this is radio friendly, and a lot of people would say it is bland, although that's unfair. I haven't heard their other albums, but this album is unashamedly mellow, and that is probably why a lot of people obviously love it. And, as people have already indicated, there are parts of it with lots of similarity to Radiohead and Coldplay and rare, but occasional, definite similarities to Oasis. But, there is nothing raunchy about this album, except the bonus track.

Anyway, the reason I was inspired to inflict another review on this website was to say that track 10, Slide Show, has the most beautiful strings (a quartet, I guess) which I have ever heard on a pop or rock album. The guitar solo in this song is pretty awful, but mercifully short. The sweetness of the chorus melody over this beautifully balanced string arrangement is truly lovely. I'm not sure what the lyrics mean, but I thought they were cute and were, perhaps, saying that we may love and be moved by big, brash, pompous cultural statements (eg Beck and Oasis), but they are not reality, which is in fact the series of small and personal moments in everyone's life.

'Cause there is no design for life

There's no devils haircut in my mind

There is not a wonderwall

To climb or step around

But there is a slideshow and it's so slow

Flashing through my mind'

Inevitably that will mean different things to different people. Apologies if I got that very wrong. The lyric and melody stuck in my mind more than anything else on the album.

I don't know how many 'extra tracks' this CD is meant to have, but the version of the album I heard has only one hidden, bonus track, which is one of the best songs on the album. It starts at about 6 minutes, 49 seconds into track 10. This bonus track is not pop or mellow or bland. It's pretty much alternative rock, and was probably the most interesting track for me along with Slide Show. This bonus track is not as enjoyable as most of the radio-friendly pop on this album, but it was a refreshing way to end the album.

If this were my cup of tea, I would have to give this album 5 stars. It's fairly brilliant in terms of what it is. Just a little slick and inert for me, although I feel harsh saying that, as it has lots of feeling and character and is not commercial or soulless.