Hi, I'm Michael or Mike as I seem to getting called by everyone in work at home and in college! I lo...
Hi, I'm Michael or Mike as I seem to getting called by everyone in work at home and in college! I love reading your opinions and also the comments you leave me
Member since:10.05.2001
Reviews:69
Members who trust:39
Introduction *************
Travis are back with their third album nicely titled “The Invisible Band” but this album just cements what a lot of us knew already, that this band are tops and will be around for a long time! The previous albums “Good Feeling” and “The Man Who” which became one of the most popular indie records ever follow the same sort of indie type pattern as this album.
The Songs **********
The opening to the album is the top 5 hit smash “Sing”. Sing, with its catchy tune and cool food fight video was a great concoction. It begins the album in a freaky sort of way and when I first played it, I thought there was something wrong with it because it makes this sort of whirring, off key drone leading into bells and the great banjo accompaniment which compliments the song perfectly. The drums and guitar parts also are well polished in this track making the song sound completely polished and Fran sings rather well here not straining too much on the top notes. A good catchy track I especially like the banjo accompaniment as I think it is just great, you don’t hear it that often.
“Dear Diary” is a slower track resulting in the song being of a more relaxing nature, Fran and the instruments all play their parts in a gentler way in keeping with its eerie and relaxing mood. This is a good track to play when you want some relaxation particularly like the repeated riff in the guitar part, which is played quite high up the scale.
“Side” is one of those tracks that you just
know will be a release of this album. In my view, it is a much catchier track then “Sing” it has more of a melody and the lyrics are better and have more meaning. The guitar plays the intro to the song well and on the whole, this song works well. I can see this track being the next release, let’s wait and see. With lyrics such as “The grass is always greener on the other side” and “And when you die they’ll set you down and take you through” Look out for this track in the future.
The guitars also begin the intro to the next track “Pipe Dreams” and then are joined by the piano or keyboard and then Fran singing. The lead singer is often accompanied by the ahhing of the backing singers (probably the rest of the band) going up and down the scale.
The other favourite of mine is “Flowers in the Window” which is also sure to be a single release. Beginning with a quiet beat and then various instruments such as the banjo (again) is used in syncopation (offbeat) especially in the chorus. This is another one of those stand out tracks as I’ve said, again it has to due with the catchy tune especially in the chorus and the use of the offbeat banjo which I think really works well again. Also the samples such as the sound of the see and the sound of sea gulls help give the listener a perfect picture, I can see this music video involving being at the beach. This will be a great track and apparently, they have had this track since they started out but couldn’t find the magic in the song they first had in the demo tape. Finally it is out on their third album and it is magical.
“The Cage” is a nice relaxing tune almost nautical with the various plunks on the top part of the piano. Fran’s voice is well-managed using dynamic in his voice softly in keeping with the tune. The guitar part once again is a great contributor to the track.
The dynamic filled “Safe” is a good song as it has a great guitar part as well as a great drum part and singer of course. It is again another one of those sing along rack which will be in your mind all day if you let it! Fran’s voice on times has an added echo to it creating more texture and more mystery. The song finishes with a synthesised whirring at the end.
The slurs used in Fran’s voice in “Follow the Light” is effective in this track and creates a contrast to the other tracks on the album. Words such as “It’s alright, just follow the light and don’t be afraid of the dark” make this song the ever more special. This is a nice love type track which I’m sure could become a release if needs be.
“Last Train” begins rather strangely with the use of the guitars strumming rather hard to create or break a mood. The use of ‘drips’ by the woodblock I think and the sound of the changing from each note on the guitar creates another eerie mood. An organ type sound is also evident as the song progresses.
The riff that is played by the guitars in the next track “Afterglow” reminds me a bit of the Stereophonics track “Not up to You” and then a second guitar parts plays on top this riff in a higher key which compliments the tune. I’m not too keen on this song for some reason, I feel Fran’s voice is not up to it’s usual standard on this track. Again the riff is used nearer the end along with a bit of decoration. The ending to this track tended to get rather tedious as it gradually progressed up the scale. A good ending thought with the “Ahem” at the end.
Another slow track begins. “Indefinitely” is rather mellow in sound and has a nice guitar accompaniment complimenting the vocalist. A good use of strings in this track creating a relaxing mood. The track finishes with the sound of an alarm clock going off which leads into the final track nicely.
The last track “The Humpty Dumpty Love Song” is a great love song, which is very slow in tempo and gentle in sound. The various sounds such as the sound of horse’s hooves are evident. This song involves a partial part of the nursery rhyme (hence the title). The strings are very effective in creating the relaxing and romantic mood along with elements of more emotion throughout use of guitars and the change in tempo changing the moods. The merging or classical and modern instruments work well in this song and the harp and strings finish off the track and album nicely giving a long drawn out climatic ending that ends abruptly.
Conclusion ***********
In this album there are many characteristics which are carried throughout this album including the use of bells and synthesised sounds.
This album is great if you are looking for an album to listen to for reasons such as to relax and sing along to. If you are looking for a Travis album which is different in style and begins to change from such as “The Man Who” there is no point as Travis mainly keep to the same pattern as before. On the whole though, I enjoy listening to this album, the best track on there include “Sing”, “Side” and finally my favourite “Flowers in the Window” as I said above.
If you are a Travis fan and liked “The Man Who” then this album is worth buying.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Id have to agree 'Side' is an amazing song! Brilliant writing! Roberts
Excelle 11.08.2001 02:02
While I own 'Good Feeling', I think Travis plunged down a very steep hill after that album, and 'Turn' and 'Sing' annoy me in equal proportions! Good op though!
vikstar 05.08.2001 15:22
Great op. Don't like 'em meself, but you've got excellent writing skills. Keep up the good work. V x
The Invisible Bandmarks no major change in direction for Travis but this is no bad thing. ... more
That Travis are the most simplistic of the post-Radiohead groups may not sound like the heartiest of compliments but it undoubtedly accounts for their massive app...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
The Invisible Band marks no major change in direction for Travis but this is no bad thing. ... more
That Travis are the most simplistic of the post-Radiohead groups may not sound like the heartiest of compliments but it undoubtedly accounts for their massive ap...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Advantages: Easy to listen to, excellent lyrics, good musical accompaniment, great album to work to Disadvantages: None really, apart from the fact that there were only 12 tracks
Advantages: Great sound of and tunes written by Fran Healy. Includes the excellent releases such as 'Turn,' Writing to Reach You,' and 'Why Does It Always Rain on Me?' Disadvantages: ?
very helpful by (100%):
![River Is Wide, The [Remastered] - Forum (The)](http://imagesb.ciao.com/iuk/images/products/small/251/prod_small-6006251.jpg)
