Archive for the ‘Travis’ Category
Travis – Ode to J. Smith
Travis have always been on the sidelines, despite helping out the now big bands such as Coldplay, The Stereophonics, Keane, and Snow Patrol gain massive popularity. Travis are an alternative rock/pop band from Glasgow, Scotland who released Ode to J. Smith in November 2008 (in NA). This is the first album they’ve recorded under their own independent label, Red Telephone Box Records. While getting generally positive reviews, Pitchfork rated the album a 5.0 out of 10. And as much I don’t want to, I have to agree with ‘em. This album is pretty mediocre, despite its attempts to follow up the roots of the band where times were rockier and less submissive.
I loved Travis as I was growing up; their down-to-earth lyrics, mellow and serene music, and Francis Healy’s absolutely amazing vocals. I’ve pretty much enjoyed every album Travis have released, considering all of them very solid albums. I did think The Boy with No Name was an average album, but there were some really good tracks on it that hooked me in, like “Closer” and “Battleships.” Perhaps my thoughts were just foreshadowing what was to come.
This album isn’t bad per se, but it doesn’t hook me in like The Man Who, The Invisible Band, and 12 Memories did. I like to think these albums are the epitome of what Travis are, and while they don’t exactly slip away from these albums, I still feel pretty indifferent about Ode to J. Smith. Maybe it’s because I’m just growing out of this band after listening to it for almost ten years, where Healy always sings the same even if the song is stylistically different and where the lyrics are down-to-earth but leave nothing left to the imagination.
It does start off very upbeat as mentioned, but by the end of the album, it gets a bit mellow with a more upbeat sound to it–does that make any sense? The first half the the album is reminiscent of their very old Good Feeling days, and the last couple of tracks give off a vibe of their new-but-old style (mellow and heavy). “Chinese Blues” starts off the album with a bang (literally), with a catchy piano riff covered by a distorted guitar solo (wow, who does solos anymore?). “J. Smith” starts off with what appears to be pretty exciting with a Police-like palm-muted chords and bass line, but after awhile it begins to sound cheesy, especially with the background choir and an incessant need to sound “rocked out.” “Something Anything” may very well be their most successfully-sounding rock tune, but even so, it doesn’t sound like rock. There is an undeniable pop overtone to it, so it ends up sounding like a Britney Spears cover. But better, I guess. “Last Words” is reminiscent of The Invisible Band, with repetitive lyrics and the finger-picked banjo riff.
The album as a whole, while very different from their four previous albums, is, I suppose, distinctly Travis. Healy still has his amazing heartthrob of a voice, but I think it’s better suited for mellower tunes like from the older albums. I’ve never seen Travis as a “rock band” per se, and that’s pretty agreeable from what is reflected in Ode to J. Smith. Yes, it has a rockier tone to it, but it still doesn’t seem fitting as a rock record. Maybe because I still see them in their mellow, serene pre-Ode to J. Smith days. But meh, for now this album will go onto my shelf and collect dust.
MP3s:
Travis – J. Smith
Travis – Chinese Blues
