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Album Review
by SashaS
15-10-2003
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| Travis: '12 Memories' of excellence |
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Travis: '12 Memories'
(Independiente)
Travis are masters of understated mega-songs
It may surprise you to find out that what we criticise and what we enjoy privately are two distant worlds. And we are not talking not liking Pop or Disco or Linkin Bizkit, we simply do not discriminate and hate majority of what mainstream throws at us. In solitude of our sad, subterranean life, we rebel against everything and indulge in sonics that rock the brain, aurally assault senses and brain-patterns are stormed and usurped by renegade noises.
But, occasionally, we vacate our depressive state and listen something more… well, normal. Such as Travis; now, this is a cure for all the avant-garde craving souls: ‘12 Memories’ is a collection of songs that brim with mastery, listenability and mass-appeal. Someone remarked the other day that The Darkness’ appeal is ‘black or white’, there is no middle ground.
Travis know the mid-ground so well and can attract people who don’t particularly like well-crafted pop songs that border on AOR-land. My best friend goes livid when the Scottish boys’ song is played anywhere within his earshot. Although one can understand it, Fran Healy is a very amicable, pleasant and innocuous musician. He’s not calling onto the barricades, but don’t put it passed him, but communicates things that bother/annoy/affect him as a human being and his fans.
After their drummer’s freak pool accident Travis members weren’t sure whether they’d continue and only went into a studio to find out if there were any creative juices left. Thus, the fourth album’s single introduction, ‘Re-Offender’, offered vintage standard while the opening ‘Quicksand’ sounds refreshing with its cello/piano interplay The Beatles liked in their latter period, ‘Love Will Come Through’ is damn-catchy but there is a number of over-polite songs, ‘Happy To Hang Around’, ‘Mid-Life Krysis’ and ‘Paperclips’, to cause sadness.
Alongside social observations and emotional comments (and don’t let the singer start on Catholicism), there are a couple of tracks that address the political situation and have a go at our dear PM, B.liar; it may appear strange that Healy, who is the fuel of this engine, is the artist who has raised his voice against the regime-of-spin while so many others, supposedly more cred, have failed to but if pop stars don’t get serious – what teenagers would heed? Although ‘The Beautiful Occupation’ sounds more poignant on the album, one suspects that ‘Peace The F**k Out’ will be the live anti-war favourite.
‘12 Memories’, as it is usual for Travis’ albums, is deceptively instant but there is more here vying for earnest consideration. Whether it will be fully appreciated only time will reveal.
7/10
SashaS
15-10-2003
Travis’ album ‘12 Memories’ is released 13 October 2003 by Independiente
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