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Review: Travis 'The Man Who'
by Chris Tyrrell

published 4/10/00

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Chris Tyrrell is LeisureSuit.net's Staff Humorist.



MOST RECENT YAK ABOUT THIS ARTICLE:

Subj: TRAVIS
I completely agre with imanoname...I can't get enough from TRAVIS and I just adore the banjo's sound. The lyrics that TRAVIS use are so sweet and melancholic but at the same time so nice! I love TRAVIS and hopefully, someday I will go to one of their concerts =) (not in Peru because that will be impossible but maybe in Canada or England)

-- Giselita
Jul 22, 2005 at 5:38PM

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Direct from Scotland, the land that gave us the brilliant Trash Can Sinatras and the brilliant-in-her-own-right Sheena Easton, comes a new band to get excited about. The buzz is building around the sophomore album of brooding Scottish quartet Travis. The Man Who has already dominated UK charts and is poised to make a big splash--you know, for a non-boy band--in America as well.

First things first: lead vocalist Fran Healy sounds an awful fuckin’ lot like Thom Yorke of Radiohead. Like really a lot. And as he mopes his way through each song on “The Man Who,” you will surely hear many shades of “OK Computer.” Is that going to be a problem for you? If so, please don’t buy this album. But for the rest of us, we’ve moved past it. If you’re going to make an album that sounds eerily similar to another one, you could do a hell of a lot worse than mimicking Radiohead’s smash hit record.

There are some major differences between Travis and Radiohead. Travis is much more about the melancholy than the rock; Radiohead is the other way around. While Thom and the gang make music about lofty themes like technology and government, Travis has compiled ten songs revolving around the always-accessible themes of love and loneliness. “OK Computer” would be a great wake-up album, and “The Man Who” is a fitting lullaby.

“The Man Who” opens with the slow driving numbers “Writing To Reach You” and “The Fear.” The music is top notch, and Healy showcases his able voice over the jangly guitars. Then comes “As You Are,” which is highly reminiscent of The Beatles’ “Across The Universe.” And it’s quite a nice closer to the opening chapter of the album.

“Driftwood” chimes in: very uptempo, extremely catchy. This might just be the best song on the album, or at least it is from the poppy standpoint (which I proudly endorse). “Driftwood” could have easily been a song on the Trash Can Sinatras’ “I’ve Seen Everything,” and, trust me, that is high praise indeed. Next up is “The Last Laugh Of The Laughter,” which--though it contains a whole bunch of French words--rocks in a very spooky, despondent way. Then Travis switches gears with “Turn”: a vocal rollercoaster, a tad lyrically redundant, yet a fun song.

Finally, Act III. It begins with their biggest song, “Why Does It Always Rain On Me?”--just a perfect tune in so many ways. “Luv,” track eight, is back to “Across The Universe” territory; not bad, and utilizing a too infrequent harmony. “She’s So Strange” is very much like a James song, for better and worse. And the finale, “Slide Show,” is a great acoustic send-off, with references to Beck’s “Devil’s Haircut” and Oasis’ fictional “Wonderwall.” And with the sound effect of a car door shutting, the album’s over.

And the bonus track, which I--quite frankly--am only discovering for the first time as I write this, because I forgot to turn the CD off. Hmm. This one rocks! Wow, who knew? Another reason to pick this one up.

All in all, a very worthwhile album, “The Man Who,” does justice to the many talents of Travis. Though I seem to have taken great pains to show what other musicians they’re purportedly emulating, the truth is that Travis have a unique voice and style. And the album is 100% bagpipe free!

Plus they dedicate the album to Stanley Kubrick, so you just know theyÂ’ve got my vote.


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Name: Giselita
Subject: TRAVIS
-- Jul 22, 2005 at 5:38PM
I completely agre with imanoname...I can't get enough from TRAVIS and I just adore the banjo's sound. The lyrics that TRAVIS use are so sweet and melancholic but at the same time so nice! I love TRAVIS and hopefully, someday I will go to one of their concerts =) (not in Peru because that will be impossible but maybe in Canada or England)

Name: imanoname
Subject: travis
-- Jan 29, 2005 at 11:07PM
i have loved travis since i heard sing (go banjo) and side. I just got the man who, and i absolutly love it. The layers of music are great to uncover. Me from Canada loves you guys. :)

Name: silje grotheim Norway
Subject: TRAVIS
-- Mar 30, 2004 at 7:52AM
30 march 14:47 2004
when i thinck of travis my life gets mutch esyer, and i love when travis was in trondhein norway 30 november they had a concets her.
I love them sinc the firts time i herd the sing song, tha was a good song. i hope they come bak to norway trondheim this year il bee wery happy.
love silje

Name: Last Train
Subject: nostalgic moody baby...
-- Apr 14, 2002 at 2:41AM
at every time I hear any song of Travis, I remember the girl whom I´m in love; she likes Travis, I gave to her the album The Man Who;...I love her, but she does not feel the same..well,hmmm, whatever....Healy´s lyrics makes me feel I´m not the only one...

Name: Jean-Claude
Subject: Inspiration!
-- Mar 2, 2001 at 8:56PM
Greetings from the suburbs of Toronto, Canada. Though I may be one of the last people on the block to pick up Travis' The Man Who, it was well worth the wait! I only heard of them (Travis) indirectly after doing some research on Coldplay and Radiohead. It's brilliant to hear such great songwriting and singing again! I've dusted-off my dormant guitar and 4-track and I'm back at it again. Thanks Travis.

Name: Anand
Subject: writing to reach you
-- Jan 12, 2001 at 7:36AM
hi,
i'm from delhi, india, and after listening to just the first song of 'the man who', i'm wondering how is it that four scottish lads form edinburgh can so perfectly encapsulate the life someone sitting half a world away in three and a half minutes, and actually make it sound good? is it something about the universality of human emotion? or the coincidences that bedevil this world? or are travis just divine, or at the least, divinely gifted clairvoyant songsmiths?

keep the music and the poetry flowing, fran.
...but why does it always rain on me?

Name: Shikhar
Subject: turn
-- Oct 23, 2000 at 2:40AM
well hi Im from India
I came to know travis from the newspaper which read 'the man who made OASIS cry' it sounded good as Noel liked your music so I grabbed your album and it's great .

I liked all the songs but 'TURN' 'Why does it always rain on me' are anthems.

I love your music and keep it going !!!

Name: Shikhar
Subject: turn
-- Oct 23, 2000 at 2:40AM
well hi Im from India
I came to know travis from the newspaper which read 'the man who made OASIS cry' it sounded good as Noel liked your music so I grabbed your album and it's great .

I liked all the songs but 'TURN' 'Why does it always rain on me' are anthems.

I love your music and keep it going !!!

Name: alicia
Subject: TRAVIS
-- Jul 16, 2000 at 3:52AM
hey there,

Im from BC, Cananda and i just saw Travis live a few nights ago..Ive been listening to their cd for a while now..and i dont care how ppl think badly of them..i think they friggen rule man. i hope travis takes over the world!!! whooohoo!! i really hope to see Travis succeed. thanx for having this page!

Name: Ebru
Subject: TRAVIS
-- Jul 12, 2000 at 12:33AM
Is there any place that I can find the lyrics of "The Blue Flashing Light"??

Name: Chris Tyrrell Responds
Subject: Re: TRAVIS
-- Apr 18, 2000 at 6:30AM
Ed,

As I've said before, America's taste in music sucks, and I'm not holding my breath for a talented group like Travis to catch on.

On the other hand, I know a bunch of people who were waiting for their album to come out domestically--so there is definitely some sort of buzz. Let's hope they catch on over here.

Name: ed
Subject: TRAVIS
-- Apr 16, 2000 at 4:19PM
Travis is a really smashing band, I saw them in LA at an instore, very nice fellows. Unfortunately, I don't think they will fair too well, not getting much radio play and no tv aire time. But Fran said that they would tour(headline) the states again in the fall if they gain enough fan base. Hopefully they will carry their success over to the States as they very well deserve it. At the very least it's good to see that they are receiving good reviews for The Man Who.

Name: Chris Tyrrell Responds
Subject: Re: TRAVIS
-- Apr 16, 2000 at 11:14AM
And I think we all know how talented hell is.

Thanks for the comments.

Name: dane
Subject: TRAVIS
-- Apr 15, 2000 at 1:56PM
great REVIEW! YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT...THESE GUYS ARE TALENTED AS HELL.
what can i say? THE MAN WHO is a damn brilliant album!

Name: Chris Tyrrell Responds
Subject: Re: very quotable yak
-- Apr 11, 2000 at 6:34AM
Jamie,

Thanks for the feedback. I'm thinking of using that as the subtitle for my upcoming non-fiction novel on the history of the U.S.

Name: Jamie
Subject: very quotable yak
-- Apr 10, 2000 at 9:53PM
Love the response, Chris, I kept quoting it to people, even without knowing what you were responding to *lol* "I hate us. We, as a nation, eat crap." hehehe

Name: Chris Tyrrell Responds
Subject: Re: Review: Travis 'The Man Who'
-- Apr 10, 2000 at 8:37PM
I can figure it out. The state of music in America is--to put it scientifically--dumb, stupid, lame, and retarded. I hate us. We, as a nation, eat crap.

Name: Roy
Subject: Review: Travis 'The Man Who'
-- Apr 10, 2000 at 12:04PM
This is a terrific album... I've had an Australian import of it for six months and love it. No sophomore jinx with these guys. I just can't figure out what took the label so long to release it here in the States. I guess 7 #1 singles in England just wasn't enough.


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