WE DO THE MASHED POTATO AND THE FUNKY CHICKEN

Travis

The Boy with No Name

  • AMG Review of The Boy with No Name

    Amg
    Stephen Thomas Erlewine
    All Music Guide

    Early in their career, Travis sounded like Oasis crossed with U2, and as the years rolled steadily on, they gradually replaced Oasis with Radiohead, without ditching that devotion U2. Travis may have cut out any of their overt ock influences, yet they retained the everyday, boys-next-door image that was so common in all the post-Britpop guitar bands, and that humility served them well on their 1999 sophomore effort, The Man Who, a commercial breakthrough that also established the soft, shimmering sound that was their signature. Unfortunately for them, not long after that album, they were eclipsed by Coldplay, another Radiohead-U2 fusion that managed to keep some sense of majesty to their music, something that Travis, sensible lads that they are, seemed to studiously avoid. In the wake of that simultaneous success and eclipse, the group survived some professional and personal struggles, taking four years to record their fifth album, 2007's The Boy with No Name. Far from being a long-gestating leap forward, The Boy with No Name offers a comfortable, familiar Travis, but there is a slight, subtle difference: the band has truly embraced their modesty, settling into their gentleness. There's a mild, untroubling weariness to their performances here that suits them quite well; it deepens the music, makes their deliberate tempos resonate, it makes the quietness feel contemplative, it even makes the cleanliness of the production feel right, a reflection of their maturity. If the melodies don't really dig in, they nevertheless float sweetly, meshing into the overall fabric and feel of the album. If the music never quite soars, it never seems as if the band is struggling in vain to achieve take-off, either. For the first time since The Man Who, Travis doesn't seem to strive to achieve something, they just exist, and their music is better for it. They're still ordinary, almost painfully so, but they don't seem pedestrian, they seem to have weathered some ups and downs, channeling that experience into an album that has a slight, yet palpable, emotional resonance that their predecessors often lacked.

Newbie
over 2 years ago
Blog post image preview

My first time trying on mog and it works really good.Ok, i'm recently hooked on Travis: The Boy With No Name. For those who have NO idea, go hear 'Selfish Jean' and 'Closer' from their album. Then you'll probably think Travis should hit the charts.

More >
Professor Puff's: "The Boy with No Name" by Travis
over 2 years ago
Blog post image preview

Were Travis ever cool? I can't tell. I used to listen to "The Man Who" and think that it was cool; it had nice melodies, it had those infectious early Coldplay guitar chimes, it was basically left over 80's pop without the weird clothes and big hair. But I'm listening to Travis' new album "The Boy with No Name" and it's almost exactly the same as "The Man Who", which was released in 1999. Their...

More >
It is so Brit!
over 2 years ago

Travis has released a track from the band's full-length, The Boy With No Name. I had listened Closer and have nothing to say much. It is so Brit! But let me tell you this track, Selfish Jean, is pretty different from what they've done before. It is pretty damn cool and fun and i'm excited to hear the rest of album. Enjoy!

More >
Travis Album Cover Revealed...
over 2 years ago
Blog post image preview

I didn't care that much for the last album, but I feel a resurgence from this band.

More >
Travis Album Cover Revealed...
over 2 years ago
Blog post image preview

I didn't care that much for the last album, but I feel a resurgence from this band.

More >
Professor Puff's: "The Boy with No Name" by Travis
over 2 years ago
Blog post image preview

Were Travis ever cool? I can't tell. I used to listen to "The Man Who" and think that it was cool; it had nice melodies, it had those infectious early Coldplay guitar chimes, it was basically left over 80's pop without the weird clothes and big hair. But I'm listening to Travis' new album "The Boy with No Name" and it's almost exactly the same as "The Man Who", which was released in 1999. Their...

More >
Demetri Martin=Video Star
over 2 years ago

Who says you can't make a video for the cost of a dozen t-shirts...Travis has done it and well...

More >
Ahhh Travis...
over 2 years ago
Blog post image preview

Such a great band...such a great show...I nicked the setlist from the sound board in the middle of the show (I think they had a few extras)La Zona Rosa July 26, 2007

More >
It is so Brit!
over 2 years ago

Travis has released a track from the band's full-length, The Boy With No Name. I had listened Closer and have nothing to say much. It is so Brit! But let me tell you this track, Selfish Jean, is pretty different from what they've done before. It is pretty damn cool and fun and i'm excited to hear the rest of album. Enjoy!

More >
Brand New Travis Song: Big Chair
over 2 years ago
Blog post image preview

Finally, after waiting for a long three-year, lads are back with an incredible new tune! It was exclusively on Radio 1 last night. Funnily enough, Chris Martin announced this new song first. I just can't stop listening to it since last night. It is already over 100 listens on last.fm. Lol I have been expecting Travis to come up with something between 12 Memories and The Man Who. Dark and mellow fo

More >
Travis - Closer
over 2 years ago
Blog post image preview

This is the new single from the band Travis, "Closer" off their new record The Boy With No Name. We have all been fans of these guys for a number of years.

More >
Made Me Smile :0)
12 months ago

This is funny, must have taken him heaps of retakes to get the T-Shirts down just so.. 'selfish jean" by travis

More >
Newbie
over 2 years ago
Blog post image preview

My first time trying on mog and it works really good.Ok, i'm recently hooked on Travis: The Boy With No Name. For those who have NO idea, go hear 'Selfish Jean' and 'Closer' from their album. Then you'll probably think Travis should hit the charts.

More >
I am back
about 1 year ago

Well, I am back to mog for another round. I just kind of forgot about mog because of school and stuff. Oh well, all that matters is I am back and I will be dedicated. I really don't know what to talk about for once...Hmm...I shall think of something, but hello for now. I will make a list, I suppose, for my next post.

More >

Top The Boy with No Name Listeners

© 2006-2009 Mog Inc. All Rights Reserved