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Take me away Feb 01, 2008
Bands who suddenly change their sound should be braced for a storm of controversy -- is their new sound good or terrible?
And Travis takes a sharp left turn in "12 Memories," a controversial evolution in the Brit-pop band's sound. It's more cynical, more sharply melancholy, more political, and experiments with their sound. While it may turn off people expecting a sunny listen, it makes up for its shortcomings with its beautiful writing and instrumentation.
"Take me away, take me away/You said that you were gonna stay/But you're always lying anyway," Fran Healy sings over a steady piano/guitar combo, sounding as cheerful as someone singing this anti-love song can. He talks casually about drinking, monotony, crazy lovers, and how "it's just the sound of one more rock star bleeding out..."
Things don't get much brighter with the soaring political pop-rocker "Beautiful Occupation," and the mournfully swirling "Reoffender." With that in hand, Travis expands into a series of musically striking, lyrically downbeat pop songs -- jagged little rockers, mournful piano pop, eerie ballads, dramatic Britpop, twinkly melodies, and a few lighter songs like "Somewhere Else," which are deliciously catchy but kinda confusing.
There's a distinct political edge to "12 Memories," despite its vaguely Beatles-esque feel to the album. Okay, it's not "All You Need is Love," but the darker, frustrated feelings in "12 Memories" are more in tune with the current times. Then, apparently having gotten their soapboxing out of their system, Travis focuses on the lonely, chilly ballads and pop-rockers.
Fran Healy's low, rough-edged voice is well-suited to the melancholy music, with its mellow swirling guitars, pianos and pretty Beatlesy harmony. And that music takes a newer, more experimental edge here, like the build-up of swirling sound in "Mid-Life Krysis" or the meandering, swelling, surreal lament and the tinkling soundscapes of the penultimate track. It adds to the moodiness, and gives the feeling that Travis is growing and changing.
The political themes may rub some listeners the wrong way, but they remain as explicit as they can be without naming names ("Half a million civilians gonna die today/They looked the wrong way"). Some songs become downright confusing ("You can't wake from this nightmare/And you invited everyone") and others are plaintive ("Hopelessly hoping our plan will wake up/Hoping it all will be fine").
"12 Memories" takes Travis to a more cynical, gloomier place, but the chilly, twilight beauty of the British pop-rock is undeniable. Not the best they have done, but certainly intriguing.
0 of 2 found the following review helpful:
 eh, Coldplay-lite Mar 10, 2007
This band is just ok. I enjoy The Man Who, but all other albums I've purchased have just been so-so, this one included.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Actually about 1 or 2 memories Oct 03, 2006
2 1/2
Nowhere near as memorable or effective as some of there better stuff, this mostly mechanical effort offers half baked pop concoctions, mostly of the annoying, catchy, pseudo-eclectic variety, as if any subtlety whatsoever has been lost on the band in favor of a straight and narrow, approach. While the band was never shy of talent for catchy songs, most of these 12 memories fade rather quick from underdevelopment. Thankfully we are seldom reminded of a more relaxed, assured band, a far cry from the tacky, lazy upbeat majority of this disc.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 Great Breakup Album! Jul 29, 2006
Quintessential Travis. Soulful lyrics, heartbreaking melodies, lovely narratives, also lots of references to losing lovers but not in a depressing way. Also, the twelfth memory is a hidden track! Great album when you're in the mood to reminise about past loves without the urge to jump out of a window.
Their Best Yet... May 12, 2006
For what is a highly political record,Travis come out on top with "12 memories".The opening tracks standout as having a certain chart-appeal,both "quicksand" and "the beautiful occupation" give a nod to the sound of late beatles.As does the single "re-offender"although this is a dark tale of domestic violence."Peace the f**k out" is reminicent of a Lennon political tune.It sounds as if the great man himself wrote it...and it seems to have the same influence on the mind."How many hearts" is yet another beatlesque song,but thats expected with a brit-rock band."Paperclips" slows things down and "somewhere else" sounds like a sure-fire hit single...with catchy hooks and lyrics,yet another song that reminds us of the original fab 4.The album continues with "love will come through" and "mid-life krysis" telling their own tales.Then my personal favourite "happy to hang around",yet another catchy tune and the beautiful sound of a band full of confidence.The album ends with "walking down the hill" and a hidden track "some sad song" both are kind of meloncholy but good songs nonetheless.This album,i believe,is travis' best yet,its full of good pop tunes about love and the pressures of life.A fantastic record !
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