... So I thought I'd take a break from my normal genre and review their album "12 Memories" instead.
Now, first of all, I have to point out that this album, their fourth, marked a decided change in direction from their previous ones. Most people are used to Travis producing cheery, jaunty ... Read review
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12 Memories - Travis
Travis's self-produced fourth album, 12 Memories, is lush and gorgeous, drenched with ... more
strings and piano, which add a lazy, dreamlike quality to songs such as first single "Re-Offender" and opening track "Quicksand", and even the occasional bit of exper...
12 Memories - Travis
Travis's self-produced fourth album,12 Memories, is lush and gorgeous, drenched with ... more
strings and piano, which add a lazy, dreamlike quality to songs such as first single "Re-Offender" and opening track "Quicksand", and even the occasional bit of experi...
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strings and piano, which add a lazy, dreamlike quality to songs such as first single "Re-Offender" and opening track "Quicksand", and even the occasional bit of experimentation (a dog whining in the background of "Paperclips" is an appropriately creepy effect). But it's also lyrically their darkest album, even by Travis's standards. Never the happiest of bands, at least on record (after all, they broke through by singing "Why Does It Always Rain on Me?"), they colour 12 Memories throughout with a morose (but, tellingly, never bitter) resignation (the aforementioned single "Re-Offender", about being trapped in an abusive relationship, is a perfect example of this). That's probably down to circumstances: in the two years since their last album (The Invisible Band), they nearly disintegrated when drummer Neil Primrose was badly injured in an accident. But he--and the band--have recovered, and are sounding better for it. Frontman Fran Healy, arguably one of the nicest men in popular music, manages to deliver an anti-war message on "Peace the Fuck Out" that's more pleading than angry, and all the more affecting. 12 Memories is exactly the sort of album that Radiohead should be making right now--it's accessible and poignant, with an undercurrent of real-world frustration and paranoia running throughout. Travis's best album to date is also their bravest, by some distance. --Robert Burrow
strings and piano, which add a lazy, dreamlike quality to songs such as first single "Re-Offender" and opening track "Quicksand", and even the occasional bit of experimentation (a dog whining in the background of "Paperclips" is an appropriately creepy effect). But it's also lyrically their darkest album, even by Travis's standards.Never the happiest of bands, at least on record (after all, they broke through by singing "Why Does It Always Rain on Me?"), they colour12 Memoriesthroughout with a morose (but, tellingly, never bitter) resignation (the aforementioned single "Re-Offender", about being trapped in an abusive relationship, is a perfect example of this). That's probably down to circumstances: in the two years since their last album (The Invisible Band), they nearly disintegrated when drummer Neil Primrose was badly injured in an accident. But he--and the band--have recovered, and are sounding better for it. Frontman Fran Healy, arguably one of the nicest men in popular music, manages to deliver an anti-war message on "Peace the Fuck Out" that's more pleading than angry, and all the more affecting.12 Memoriesis exactly the sort of album that Radiohead should be making right now--it's accessible and poignant, with an undercurrent of real-world frustration and paranoia running throughout. Travis's best album to date is also their bravest, by some distance.--Robert Burrow
A review by Pmshack99 on 12 Memories (Explicit Version) - Travis February 11th, 2005
Author's product rating:
Originality
Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics
Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks
Mixed
How does it compare to the artist's other releases
Good
Value for Money
Good
Advantages:
some good tracks
Disadvantages:
not the Travis some people would expect
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
Generally I'm an r & b girl when it comes to my choice of music (which may be obvious from the albums I generally choose to review). But I have always had a soft spot for Travis (who are quite patently NOT r & b, I think you will agree!), since they are effectively the local band around here. So I thought I'd take a break from my normal genre and review their album "12 Memories" instead.
Now, first of all, I have to point out that this album, their fourth, marked a decided change in direction from their previous ones. Most people are used to Travis producing cheery, jaunty singalong type tunes, like "Sing" or "Why Does It Always Rain on Me?" But this album has a much darker side to it, as you probably could see from the first single release from the album "Re-Offender" and I would go as far as to say it can even be a bit depressing at times. So if you are expecting a happy Travis, you're going to be a little disappointed.
The fact of the matter is this though - rubbish things happen in your life. War happens, people break up, people are abused physically and emotionally by other people . . . and Travis are not going to sugarcoat that in this album.
The three singles released from this album are, for me, undoubtedly the standout tracks. "The Beautiful Occupation" sounds cheerful and upbeat on the surface with its wailing guitars and rocky chorus, but it has a bitter ring to it - just like the lyrics. This song is about war and how we don't really think about what is going on because we only see it on the news - "read it in the headlines/watch it on the tv/put it in the background/stick it in the back stick it in the back" - and I think it is also making a dig at the way the media deals with war. It is quite obviously an anti-war song because there is a very cynical tone to it - "You don't need an invitation/to drop in upon a nation".
"Re-Offender" is a song referring to domestic violence and written from the point of the abused person within the relationship, rather than the viewpoint of an observer. It begins initially with very melancholy chords and the music is very sparse in the first verse but then the chorus kicks in and the music becomes stronger. The use of repetition in the lyrics "You say you love me/ then you do it again/you do it again/ You say your sorry's/ then you do it again/you do it again and again and again and again and again" rams the point home and gives you the feeling of almost being trapped inside the song. I love the music to this song, which is very string-led with what seems like a full orchestra in it at times. When I hear it, it's stuck in my head for hours.
And, if you don't remember it as a single, you will certainly remember "Love Will Come Through" from the Royal mail adverts. It's probably most recognisably Travis in the fact it is a bit more cheerful than the other songs. It's quite folky in style and fairly simple but I love it, especially the lyrics which I find very sweet - "Love will come through/it's just waiting for you" and "if the world isn't turning/your heart won't return anyone, anything, anyhow". This and "Re-Offender" are my favourite tracks on the album.
Of course, albums which only produce good singles and all fillers otherwise are a bit of a waste of space, and Travis obviously realise this as they have produced a few other quality tracks for us to enjoy. There's the opening track "Quicksand", which doesn't even sound instantly recognisable as Travis - it sounds to me more like a song from the eighties, and Fran doesn't even sound like himself on it. Then there's "Peace The F**k Out", a rocky tune and another political commentary - I like to believe it is slagging off politicians ("I don't care if your tie is straight/your lies are crooked and you're gonna pay") but I guess, like a lot of songs, this is open to interpretation. I also like "Mid Life Krysis" which sounds part U2, part Deacon Blue (it's a good thing, honest!) and is in possession of a very catchy chorus. The best non-single in my opinon though is "Happy to Hang Around" - this is a deceptively mellow, laidback tune but the lyrics are, unsurprisingly, not mellow or laidback. This song seems to be about having feelings for someone but not even trying to get them - "And I'll never get into your heart/ no I don't even want to start" - possibly because the person in question treats them like dirt? Midway through the tune becomes less mellow and more angry.
However, with the good comes the bad, and there are other songs which simply do not make the grade.The middle of the album contains "How Many Hearts", "Paperclips" and "Somewhere Else" all of which are slightly bland and never seem to really get going. Then the last two songs, "Walking Down the Hill" and the hidden twelth memory "Some Sad Song" continue the dull theme, although "Walking Down the Hill" contains a surprisingly catchy but depressing hook.
Still seven good tracks out of twelve ain't bad at all, as far as I'm concerned, and this makes the album pretty good value for money, considering you can currently buy it for a mere £5.97 on amazon.co.uk or £6.99 on cdwow. I would say that if you liked the three single releases from the album as much as I did, you would probably enjoy the album and it would be worth buying it. However, if you're a Travis fan generally but not sure if this album would be for you, it would probably be a better bet to buy their newer album "Singles" with all of their hits on it. Really, the choice is yours!
Advantages: thought provoking lyrics, beautiful songs Disadvantages: some weak songs
...(not including their singles collection) 12 memories did not have the same success as their two previous albums the Man Who and The Invisible band. It is a shame as I quite like this album and would rate it higher than The Invisible Band and perhaps even the Man Who (I still think their first album Good Feeling is my favourite). I like the CD cover. The black and white photos within photos of the band members works really well and makes me want to ... ...11 tracks listed so why 12 Memories. There had to be a hidden track)
The CD starts off with Quicksand. I am not sure if this would be one I would have started with, as it is one of the weaker songs on the album. It's a mid tempo song that makes use of a cello to great effect. I am a lover of strings within pop music. On this album Travis have got up onto their soapboxes and written songs about "Issues". There are a number of songs that are serious ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Pass Disadvantages: Unmemorable, not many stand-out tracks
For those of you who don’t know, the Saturday before Christmas I went to see Travis and the Kings of Leon in concert at the Alexandra Palace. It was an excellent concert, and by the time Christmas was over, I had gone and purchased the two most recent albums by Travis and the debut by Kings of Leon. Now I was going to review the Kings, but Andy.mack has already written a superb one, so it’s not really worth my while trying to top him! This meant ... ...(I already had one before my shopping spree) – “The Man Who” and “The Invisible Band” have both been covered numerous times, so my only option left was the album “12 Memories”, and here we are. This is my first music opinion, so please be gentle.
-=The Band=-
Fran Healy – Vocals, Guitar, Piano
Neil Primrose – Drums
Andy Dunlop - Guitar
Doug Payne - Bass
-=12 Memories=-
The first song on the album is “Quicksand”. Not be honest, this is not ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: A reasonable enough record Disadvantages: Not up to their usual standard; protected from conversion to MP3
...have changed. Travis’s fourth record, 12 Memories, while still high on the acoustic guitars, is an altogether more melancholy affair. Think music from the bottom of the ocean: it’s dark, it’s heavy, it’s lumbering in places, and it’s certainly not easy to get to grips with.
Where once Fran Healy penned light, breezy tunes about Driftwood and catchy classics like Why Does It Always Rain On Me?, he’s now developed an angry side. It’s still raining ... ...– the angriest track on 12 Memories, and also the best – encompasses this rage into one big ball of anger and then explodes. It’s acoustic armageddon.
Single Re-Offender – that murky Travis tune that was omnipresent on the air waves in the run up to this album’s release – is equally as sinister, a solemn story of domestic violence. “You say your sorrys, and then you do it again,” Healy howls, reprising the general theme from Blue Flashing Light ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Mature, interesting and far from dull Disadvantages: Not the Travis some may expect.
...mood and fascinating production made 12 Memories the band's least commercial album to date.
Of course, the tunes here at still beautiful pop songs at heart. Somewhere Else is as touching as the best of the band's ballads, although the raw, bluesy bridge adds a bitter twist to the otherwise sweet song. Third single Love Will Come Through is melancholy but lyrically optimistic, and the jangly guitars match those of the band's previous two albums. ... ...so dark, spiteful and adventurous as 12 Memories, and actually managed to pull it off well. Here's hoping they haven't taken the poor sales and chart positions of the album and its singles to heart and that they expand on some of the ideas explored here with the next record. ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Great Songs/production/lyrics Disadvantages: not the most original
Travis were treading water a little bit in my opinion with their previous release and with '12 Memories' they came back with a more mature sound and a more musical approach to the songs, rather than just reworking 'why does it always rain on me'. Originality might not be travis' strong point but when something works it works so why change from your style just to be 'original'. What theyve done with this record is produce a piece of work that gives ... ...they've achieved it, and they sound good for it too! From the track 're-offender to the melancholy sounds of 'Happy to hang around' the consistency really works and creats a great sounding record. The lyrics are maybe a bit depressing for some listeners but if your into a little less than happy words then this is for you, personally it is right up my street and i loved the album. Stand out tracks for me were 'Happy to hang around' and 'Walking down ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Label / Distributor: Independiente / Sony Music/Arvato Services
Pieces in Set: 1
Format: Performer
EAN: 5099751276128
Titles on disc 1
1.: Quicksand
2.: Beautiful Occupation
3.: Re Offender
4.: Peace The Fuck Out
5.: How Many Hearts
6.: Paperclips
7.: Somewhere Else
8.: Love Will Come Through
9.: Mid Life Krysis
10.: Happy To Hang Around
11.: Walking Down The Hill
12.: Walking Down The Hill
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Listed on Ciao since : 27/10/2003
Additional notes
Album Notes: '12 Memories' is the fourth album from Glaswegian four piece Travis. Recorded at the Real World studios in Bath and in their own makeshift studio in West Scotland, the album is lyrically darker than their previous work but the band still manage to keep hold of the acoustic rock sound that they are known for. The single 'Re-Offender' is also included.
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