Travis - Ode to J.Smith

Here's a music review of Scotland's favorite band, Travis, and their new album Ode To J.Smith. You've probably been listening to Keane or Coldplay this year, and after Coldplay's last album (the blah and boring X&Y), I really like Viva La Vida. And the energy on Keane's new album, Perfect Symmetry, is mental and full of 80's dance rock vibes... I'm a big fan. However, if you want to cut to the source and feel Brit-rock at it's core... you need to get into Travis! 

Travis basically taught all these chaps to put on their knickers, so it would be wise to check out their new album Ode To J.Smith. In my opinion, there are 3 bands in the Brit-Rock Triumvirate: Radiohead, Coldplay, & Travis. Sure, Radiohead gets the experimental tag after branching out, and Coldplay has more of an arena-like U2 vibe than anyone else... but Travis... oh Travis, they write the best songs.

After releasing The Boy With No Name in 2007 and making an absolute stellar album with Brian Eno and Nigel Godrich lending a hand, the lads from Glasgow came back with a self produced, self released album in 2009... Ode To J.Smith. They put it out on their own record label and decided to make a more straight-ahead rocking Travis album, instead of a breezy and melancholy one. In short, the rock is back.

I must say, they have succeeded brilliantly. I'll be honest, it took me a couple listens, whereas their other albums immediately stick better... but this album roars back and cuts across all that Scottish "dreegh" (translation: rainy weather) and brings back the Travis of yesteryear. Now, I am slightly addicted to this record, and it has become my soundtrack for biking through the cold autumn days of Colorado.  Yeah, the songs are catchy and well-written, but they have a raw feeling to them... full of crackling electric guitars and a sustaining rock & roll drive. When I'm huffing up a mountainous street on my single-speed, it gives me the extra energy to kick it up a notch. With the gritty electric guitars and percussion, you can hear the band recording these songs without all the studio wizardry...  just plain rocking out as one collective machine. 

As far as the album, here are my picks:

Chinese Blues,  abrasive guitars with a bouncy melody... a good intro to the album's sound.

Get Up, with it's rhythmic bounce and expectant crescendos and urgent lyrics; i love it. 

Last Words, a classically addicting  and brilliant Travis melody... insanely catchy. It will be on repeat!

I give it an 8/10. Give it a shot for yourself, and inject some Brit-Rock into your November!