The Scottish band Travis is beloved by fans throughout the world, but the group has never really been appreciated in America. Meanwhile, British bands like Snow Patrol, and even the hugely successful Coldplay have been influenced by Travis. According to a 2007 article in Britain’s Telegraph, Coldplay’s Chris Martin, has said that “Travis were the band that invented Coldplay and lots of other bands.
This group of four Scots-made up of Fran Healy, Dougie Payne, Andy Dunlop, and Neil Primrose-came together in the mid 1990s and have released five albums as well as a collection of singles. The first album, 1997’s Good Feeling, attracted fans and was viewed favorably by critics. However it was The Man Who released in 1999 that catapulted them to major fame. The album included hits such as “Why Does It Always Rain On Me?,” “Driftwood,” and “Writing to Reach You.” Two years later came the third album The Invisible Band which furthered their recognition by both fans and critics alike with tracks like “Sing” and “Side.”
About a year after the release of Travis’s third album, drummer Neil Primrose suffered a life-threatening spinal injury while swimming in France during their tour. Lead singer Fran Healy said that the group came close to disbanding because of Neil’s accident; they didn’t want to go on as Travis if all four members weren’t in the band. Amazingly Primrose made a full recovery, and in 2003 Travis released the noticeably darker 12 Memories. Songs like the political “Beautiful Occupation” did not flow with the usual pleasant, relaxing sounds of the band’s previous work, and did not go over well with some fans. The album still, as their previous releases, was favored well with critics.
Their latest release was 2007’s The Boy With No Name, named for Healy’s new son that he and his wife were unable to come up with a name for. The first single “Closer” marked a transition back to the earlier sounds of Travis prior to 12 Memories yet garnered both positive and negative reviews. The band is currently preparing for the tentatively set 2008 release of their sixth studio album, Ode to J. Smith.
These Scots have had an amazing career so far and have influenced many bands that seem to get more attention, particularly in the United States. If you like Coldplay, Snow Patrol, or even Keane then you should definitely give Travis a listen. With five albums released so far, it was quite difficult to narrow down a list of the band’s songs to just ten, but here they are:
All I Want To Do Is Rock: This was one of the lead singles off their debut album. It combines Healy’s trademark vocals with an edgier, more rock sound. Although the album was a not a major seller, this was the song that introduced the band to the public.
Sample lyric: “all I want to do is rock/if this was any other day/I’d turn and walk the other way”
Album: Good Feeling
My Eyes: Okay, although this list may read otherwise, Travis doesn’t just write songs about falling in love or having children, but this single from 2007 is another written about the birth of Fran’s son Clay. The lyrics might just soften the heart of even the most jaded listener.
Sample lyric: “deep in my heart/I’m afraid I’m dying/I’d be lying if I said I’m not/welcome in, welcome in/shame about the weather”
Album: The Boy With No Name
Sing: The lead single off the hugely successful third album, the lyrics to “Sing” were written by Healy about his wife Nora and her shyness when it came to singing around him. It’s cheery, soothing-basically, classic Travis. The song was Britain’s most played radio single the summer of its release.
Sample lyric: “baby, you’ve been going so crazy/lately nothing seems to be going right/solo, why do you have to get so low/you’re so…/you’ve been waiting in the sun too long”
Album: The Invisible Band
Flowers in the Window: Also off the third album, this song is another lovely track with a gorgeous melody and lyrics that are just plain sweet. It makes just about anyone want to fall in love, get married, and have lots of babies running around.
Sample lyric: “and there is time, time, time/to plant new seeds and watch them grow/so there’ll be flowers in the window when we go/wow, look at you now/flowers in the window/it’s such a lovely day/and I’m glad that you feel the same
Album: The Invisible Band
Driftwood: Listen to this 1999 release and you are sure to think of someone in your life that fits the lyrics. It’s about that person you know that just isn’t doing anything with his or her life-in essence, he or she is driftwood. Somehow the band is able to make such a depressing subject sound so downright happy and upbeat.
Sample lyric: “low is where your heart is/but your heart has to grow/drifting under bridges/never with the flow”
Album: The Man Who
Closer: This was the first single off their most recent release. What makes this such a special song is that it marked a return to the melodic, soothing sounds that fans adored prior to 2003’s darker 12 Memories, which pushed some listeners away. Healy’s vocals will make you swoon if the words don’t.
Sample lyric: “I’ve had enough of this parade/I’m thinking of the words to say/ we open up unfinished parts/ broken up/it’s only love”
Album: The Boy With No Name
Walking Down The Hill/Some Sad Song: So this is cheating; however, the justification for putting two songs at number four is that “Some Sad Song” is the hidden track at the end of “Walking Down The Hill.” Travis’s fourth album mirrored Healy’s reported depression. There is a gloom to these tracks, but wow, what beauty. The melancholy atmosphere created in “Walking…” is what really makes this song. Listen to this with eyes closed, quiet your mind, lie in the dark, and prepare to be transported to another place. “Some Sad Song” is a beautiful piano piece with lyrics so raw it almost makes the listener feel as if he or she is eavesdropping on something very private. These songs may not be as well known as others, but they are some of the band’s finest.
Sample lyric (“Walking…”): “we got it all/we got it made/I don’t know how I got here/but I’m holding on for the crash”
Sample lyric (“Some…”): “in the church /one day you’ll get hurt/ take a pill /don’t tell me how to feel”
Album: 12 Memories
Writing to Reach You: Not only is this one of the best tracks on the band’s second album, it is also one of the best of the band’s entire career. The inspiration for the song was Letters to Felice by Franz Kafka. It has all the makings of the perfect Brit pop/rock song: smart lyrics paired with an upbeat yet melancholy sound. It also has one of the best references to another band-Oasis (see lyric below).
Sample lyric: “every day I wake up and it’s Sunday /whatever’s in my eye won’t go away /the radio is playing all the usual/and what’s a wonderwall anyway”
Album: The Man Who
Humpty Dumpty Love Song: This is another bit of loveliness that is adored by many fans. It starts off very quietly musically, but as the song continues there is this gorgeous combination of guitar paired with strings. It is another tale of a broken heart, but written in a way that stands out from the typical “woe is me” tune.
Sample lyric: “you slept with all my men/I’m never going to get it/together again/ all of the physicians/and mathematicians too /failed to stop my heart /from breaking in two
Album: The Invisible Band
Why Does It Always Rain On Me?: For those that know Travis it is really no surprise that this one tops the list. It is arguably their best song and it is definitely the song they are most known for. Almost every time the band plays it live, the rain starts to fall. Guess someone upstairs likes the song too.
Lyric: “I can’t sleep tonight /everybody saying everything’s alright /still I can’t close my eyes /I’m seeing a tunnel at the end of all these lights
Album: The Man Who
