Travis: The Boy With No Name

Travis
The Boy With No Name
Epic/Independiente Records [2007]









Fire Note Says: A solid return to a working formula.

Album Review:
Travis should be one of the more successful bands in the US right up there with Coldplay. Their near perfect classic The Man Who [1999] hit way before anyone had heard of “Yellow” but that really is the luck and twists of the music world. The Boy With No Name marks the bands fifth album and is a return to their more trademark sound of well-crafted pop songs that leave you humming along every time and fitting perfectly into a nice sunny day. I do feel that Travis will constantly try to live up to the high bar they set on The Man Who but this album feels more like the band’s true soul compared to their last release 12 Memories which was a very somber affair. For The Boy With No Name, Travis refocuses and not only returns to form but adds some new tricks such as the catchy track "Under The Moonlight" featuring new star KT Tunstall on backing vocals, which if it gets some airplay could easily give back Travis some of that much due star status. At first listen, The Boy With No Name can seem like a “same old, same old” affair but give it several spins before judgment. The songs creep into your head and don’t go away, which is why Travis are truly skilled at their craft.

Key Tracks: "Closer", "Battleships", "Under The Moonlight"

Bands With Similar Fire:
Coldplay
Keane
Snow Patrol

Official Travis Website
Travis MySpace
Travis Info [Allmusic]
Epic Records
Independiente Records

-Reviewed by Natalie Colibri