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Rating:
THE REVIEW
Flipping through the years the daisy of "I love you/I don't love you," Travis ended up being orphans of my love. And to think that all the premises for a long and passionate story were there. Initially, it was the classic love at first sight: "The Man Who," dated 1999. Then, as in every classic love story, came the disappointments, the flirts with other men (over 2 million new listeners?!?) of "The Invisible Band" and the more classic "you're not what you used to be" of "12 Memories." So much love gone to waste, once again, how many other bands will betray us? But like in a well-written book, we remained friends, and I still care for them, and I know they will be great again, that an accident and the pressures of a major label cannot put Healy and Co. in crisis...
But now I prefer to talk about "The Man Who" which, for the title alone, a quote from the Coen Brothers' movie "The Man Who Wasn't There," would deserve all the awards it won upon release. The Travis were placed right from their debut with "Good Feeling" in 1996, in the already crowded ranks of the Brit-Pop groups. To the group initially, this association with Oasis was convenient, as they were already opening their concerts. With "The Man Who," however, the band strongly dissociates from this scene and is rather bored by it.
As the first track and single of the album says, the fast and thrilling "Wraiting To Reach You": "...The radio is playing all the usual And what's a wonderwall anyway...". I am not a fan of the easiest, most cliché and banal brit-pop, but we talk about something completely different when we listen to this album. Never before had another band from Glasgow managed to render the idea, the atmosphere, and the air of their city in this way. Yes, not even the most inspired Belle & Sebastian.
Constant rain, mist, and leaden sky characterize the album which remains an absolute peak in their discography. Made unique by melodic masterpieces such as "Turn," engaging and almost made for being sung in chorus by the audience in concert, the sweet and melancholic "Why Does It Always Rain On Me," and the smooth "Driftwood." An album that would deserve a 5 in the small pond of Travis's production, a 4 in the sea of brit-pop, and a 3 in the great ocean of music. But it's spring, daisies and loves bloom again, and for me, "The Man Who" is a 4!
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Summary by Bot
The review praises Travis' 1999 album The Man Who as a standout work in their discography and the Britpop scene. It highlights the melancholic and atmospheric qualities that capture Glasgow’s mood. Key tracks like "Turn," "Why Does It Always Rain On Me," and "Driftwood" are emphasized as melodic masterpieces. The reviewer expresses a lasting affection for the band despite some later disappointments. Overall, the album earns a solid rating for its artistic strength and charm.Tracklist Lyrics Videos
Travis
Travis are a Scottish band from Glasgow, associated with post-britpop and known for melodic, often melancholic pop-rock. Reviews repeatedly single out 1999’s “The Man Who” as their defining masterpiece, with later highlights including “The Invisible Band,” the darker and more politically reflective “12 Memories,” and subsequent returns to a classic ballad-heavy approach on albums like “10 Songs” and “L.A. Times.”18 Reviews
Other reviews
By ste84
"The music molded with my words, the songs created a sort of plagiarism: it was as if I were writing what they told me to write..."
"For 45 minutes my pen had never stopped, it never hesitated nor made a single mistake... the person who received that letter was 'astonished'."
By definitelyalex
"The album is a collection of ten ballads suspended between rock and folk where emotions and atmospheres reign supreme."
"The mark left by 'The Man Who' on British music is still clear and has inspired many new bands like Coldplay, Starsailor, Keane."
By GrantNicholas
"The story makes the rounds in newspapers and televisions, the album skyrockets to number one, and Travis explode."
"The Man Who is an absolute masterpiece, an album that will influence countless bands in the years to come."
