Heave Media

Travis Reborn

Ode to J. Smith is an Ode to Revival

Travis

Ode to J. Smith

Released on Nov 04, 2008

Travis has always been a tad more partial to the softer side of rock music. The Glasgow band has released a constant stream of hits in the post-Oasis obsessed UK market, garnering worldwide attention after the release of The Man Who, an album that clearly paved the way for success of dreamy pop bands like Coldplay and Snow Patrol. Travis hasn't released a largely electric and rock driven album since their debut Good Feeling, but with their latest release they stray away from their typical melancholy sound and head back to their rock roots.

Ode to J.Smith starts out with the thunderous thump of piano and guitars crashing together on opening track "Chinese Burn." Vocalist Fran Healy's pensive warble mixes perfectly with the track, rising up forcefully then slowly coming back down and seeping into the existing musical landscape. The electric guitar riffs continue to dominate, as they pop during the opening seconds of the partial title track "J.Smith." The song builds momentum as crash cymbals intermingle with choral chanting, before surging into my favorite track on the album, "Something Anything." The song starts out heavy and dark, swelling to an arena rock worthy anthem of a chorus and followed by a perfect fit of a guitar solo towards the end of the song. The song is catchy, the music tight, and it's a testament to the fact that Travis know the formula for crafting memorable pop music.

Travis still delivers more melodic and simple sides of their music, with a switch in sound during the slow swooning "Broken Mirror." There are a few less memorable tracks that follow before getting to another gem, "Get Up." This track is reminiscent of numerous songs off The Man Who and The Invisible Band, yet is elevated by the added depth of the upbeat tempo and electric layered sound. As always Travis provides some more large and lush anthems, proving again that Coldplay took a cue from Travis's catalog when sitting down to write their own music. "Song to Self" is what I'd like to call movie music: music that would fit perfectly in a reflective moment in an important scene in a film. The song is strong yet not overbearing and is emotional without stepping over the line into becoming trite or fake in its sentiment.

Ode to J.Smith is the sound of an energized and renewed band. Travis had a sound that was good, yet was starting to become systematic. With their latest release they add depth to their work, experimenting and revisiting music, and create one of their best albums (if not the best) of their career to date.

Posted by Lisa White on Nov 11, 2008 @ 9:00 am