CD Review: " The Boy with No Name Album" by Travis
Reviewer: Charlotte King

Release date 07th May 2007


After a three year absence Travis release their 5th studio album ‘The Boy With No Name’. Following on from the various personal and professional mishaps that beset the band including the drummer Neil Primrose’s near fatal swimming accident and failure of their fourth record ’12 Memories’ to reach the success of previous releases ‘The Invisible Band’ and ‘The Man Who’.

During their time away other bands have enjoyed huge success ploughing the land that Travis had previously occupied including Coldplay. So with Nigel Godrich master producer at the helm Travis set about rediscovering themselves their music and putting that flag back into the territory they once controlled as the premier band in the UK responsible for some of the most poignant indie ballads of the last 15 years.

The finished product does no disappoint and is a masterpiece that should see Travis reclaim their crown. From the opening track on the album ‘Three Times And You Lose’ which is a beautiful anthem into the riotous ‘Selfish Jean’ with its ‘Lust for Life’ guitar and drums followed by the first single on the album ‘Closer’, which is a song to fall in love to and shows Travis at their absolute best. The video for the new single is also excellent and features a cameo by Ben Stiller.

The album continues with possible future hit ‘Big Chair’ with it dark lyric of loneliness coupled with funky rhythms. Stand out track on the album for me was ‘My Eyes’ which is the story of Fran becoming a father for the first time and you can not help but be moved by such a emotional piece. In fact the album title is a nod to Fran Healy’s son as they could not decide on a name for the little boy whom after may weeks of being ‘the boy with no name’ they called him Clay.
Every track on the album wants to take you on journey of emotional ups and downs and with their new found confidence and hopefulness which the band themselves describe as ‘guarded optimism’ Travis are most definitely back!
 

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