Ode to J Smith

Travis - Ode to J Smith

Ode to J Smith
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Music CD Cover

Artist: Travis
Edition: Music CD
Audio: English (Unknown)
Format: Import
CD Release Date: 2008-11-04
Music Label: Fontana Universal
Soundtracks:
  1. Chinese Blues
  2. J. Smith
  3. Something Anything
  4. Long Way Down
  5. Broken Mirror
  6. Last Words
  7. Quite Free
  8. Get Up
  9. Friends
  10. Song to Self
  11. Before You Were Young

Free Music Notes for Ode to J Smith

Free Music Review: A return to form and an ode to J. Smith
Hit: 5 Stars

Travis have never released a record on the same level as "Good Feeling" in terms of sheer rockiness. With the release and subsequent skyrocket to success of "The Man Who", Travis made their name as a Britpop quartet that put out unoffensive, melodically beautiful guitar songs, and with their follow up, "The Invisible Band", which housed the ever-popular track "Sing", they only secured their foothold in that musical niche. However, "12 Memories", which included some of Travis' darkest and most lyrically edgy material to date, suffered in record shops, and perhaps the entire reason behind that is because they diverted from their formula. After a four year hiatus, with their popularity continually on the downward decline as time passed, they returned with "The Boy with No Name", borrowing from "The Man Who" and "The Invisible Band" with happy, unoffensive tracks like "Closer" and "Selfish Jean" and even taking that to the next level with songs like "Under the Moonlight" and "My Eyes".

Well, Travis are back after merely over a year with a brand new album, and it seems like they are returning to the "Good Feeling" days. Think of "Ode to J. Smith" as a love-child between "Good Feeling" and "12 Memories" - two of the least popular Travis records. Combined with the fact that this was released on their own independent record label, Red Telephone Box (which implies that there would be a lack of giant record label-funded publicity), this album is almost destined to suffer in the charts. It's a shame, really. "Ode" is 11 tracks of magnetic energy, which tells the tale of a nameless character, in stark contrast to the introspective lyrics of past Travis outings. Whether it's the boundless energy of "Quite Free", or the frail darkness of "Broken Mirror" (which hearkens back to the 12 Memories track, "Paperclips"), the album starts off with a bang, and takes us through an eleven-track tour of the life of J. Smith, right up to the brilliantly climactic closing tracks "Song to Self" and "Before You Were Young".

The album is not without its more upbeat tracks, however - songs like the titular "J. Smith", "Something Anything", and "Long Way Down" are energetic enough to keep the album moving along at a good pace.

Of course, fans of the more "Sing"-esque tracks may want to find solace elsewhere, because a great majority of these tracks are more dark and edgy, if anything. But if taken for face value, Travis have accomplished something great, and that is a completely unexpected but absolutely brilliant album.

Ode to J Smith Poster

Ode To J. Smith by Travis is 11 tracks of their loudest, edgiest and most arresting record yet. The album was recorded at Rak Studios in London and produced by Emery Dobyns (Antony & The Johnsons, Patti Smith, Battles) and mixed at Electric Lady Studios in NY. Healy says this album was 'born out of a rush of creative urgency, a need to make a record; it has to be amazing...the most cohesive thing we've ever done. When you move so quickly, there is little time to reflect. You have to be decisive.' In 12 years, Travis has sold ten million records, numerous accolades, headlined festivals all over the world.

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