Travis – 12 Memories
Travis first record Good Feeling came to us about 6 years ago. These boys seemed poised for some big things. Then The Man Who hit in 2000and they become big rock stars. The Invisible Band help continue their upward travels with a few hit singles. Well after a freak accident to their drummer and about 18 months off to find themselves we get to hear 12 Memories.
The real stands on this release are The Beautiful Occupation, Reoffender, and Love Will Come Through. The latter two being released in another form already. The Beautiful Occupation made its debut on a Warchild album but it is back again here. The song is an over produced little anti war jingle. There was too much work done to it. The chorus has a background vocal that should not exist ever again. The song worked on the Warchild album. It was much rawer and more effective. The song still has a good emotional quality. Reoffender is a solid Travis song, which deals with the tough issue of domestic violence. The song has a brilliant chorus “you say you love me but you do it again” the song is very emotional and it really works. Love Will Come Through appeared on the soundtrack to Moonlight Mile last year. The track has Travis doing what they do best singing about love.
This album also has its downside. The rest of the album is very poorly written and just sounds so rushed. “Quicksand” has Fran (singer) giving his worst vocal performance ever. Then we have there protest song “Peace The Fuck Out” which evokes the same amount of emotional as does the Black Eyed Peas protest song. Then we are treated to the track “Paperclips”. The song has the repeating line of “now paperclips memories hold together all these melodies” way too much for my liking. Tracks like Mid-Life Krysis and Happy To Hang Around have just such some very bad lyrics for example “ill never get into your heart and I don’t even want to start”
The album is a big disappointment. Travis have giving us three wonderful albums. Now we get this mess. The albums only saving grace is those three standout tracks. Huge letdown
By John Siwicki
