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From the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

The Man Who

Travis

1999

The Man Who
Album Summary

The Man Who is the second studio album by the Scottish rock band Travis. The album was released on 24 May 1999 through Independiente. It saw a change in musical direction for the band, moving away from the rockier tone of their debut Good Feeling (1997). Four singles were released: "Writing to Reach You", "Driftwood", and the top 10 hits "Why Does It Always Rain on Me?" and "Turn". The Man Who initially received mixed reviews and sold slowly. Boosted by the success of "Why Does It Always Rain on Me?" and the band's appearance at the 1999 Glastonbury Festival, it eventually spent a total of 11 weeks at number one on the UK Albums Chart and brought the band international recognition. As of 2018, according to Concord Music, The Man Who has sold over 3.5 million copies worldwide. It was among ten albums nominated for the best British album of the previous 30 years by the Brit Awards in 2010, losing to (What's the Story) Morning Glory? by Oasis.

Wikipedia

Rating

3.03

Votes

12781

Genres

  • Pop
  • Rock

Reviews

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Sep 02 2021
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2

Listening to this was like eating saltine crackers dipped in skim milk.

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May 03 2022
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1

Every song on this album is what i hear when i think of riding in the back of the car while my dad drives us home in late October of 2006 and its 4 pm, kinda dark and raining and the car doesn't have a aux so we have to listen to NRJ Radio and they are playing the 11th most played song of the week and i am listening and feeling miserable because i have to do my math-homework when i get home because i have a test tomorrow and all i can think of is that the song thats on the radio is so bland that it makes me anxious even though i don't even really have a music taste yet because i am 9 years old but what i do know is that this aint it

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Sep 02 2021
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1

Where do I start with this dumpster fire? This is the type of music you listen to when you have no strong opinions about music. It's music for people whose idea of a bad day is that Starbucks got their mochacchino order wrong. Jangly, sad bastard shlock that desperately wants to be Radiohead. I hate that this band exists and if you enjoy this type of music, your taste in music sucks.

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Nov 18 2020
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3

just kinda soft rock stuff, kinda catchy background music and nowhere near as gay as coldplay. 3/5

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Sep 10 2021
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2

This is like if Coldplay or early Radiohead didn’t have a knack for good songwriting.

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Jul 09 2021
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2

The answer to the question, "What if Keane had a Bends-era Radiohead phase and did very little to hide it?"

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Mar 24 2023
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4

No one’s saying that this album is better than Born in the USA, right? Just that I like it a lot more. I had to rate today based on how much I loved relistening to this album that I had on almost constant rotation for a few months in 1999. I know every word and can still sing along. I still love some of the moments that happen throughout; a moment in Luv when Fran Healy’s voice seems to crack a little with emotion. Or maybe not. Maybe I’m just being 16 again and hopelessly romantic. Either way, I enjoyed this too, too much.

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May 20 2021
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2

Sounds like every young adult series’ music.

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Oct 19 2022
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1

Wild how clearly influenced by Ok Computer this record is. I feel like Travis owes Radiohead a billion dollars just based on the song "As You Are" alone. This isn't bad but it's like that meme where mom tells you we have Radiohead at home. This is the Radiohead at home. Update: Holy shit, even "The Last Laugh of the Laughter" (dumbass title) is literally just ripping off "Paranoid Android." This is egregious!

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Mar 30 2021
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4

Attractive voice with quiet acoustic guitar motifs. A bit boring, but still enjoyable to listen to.

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Jul 26 2022
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1

No, please remove this album from the list.

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Mar 28 2021
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1

The musical equivalent of the colour beige.

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Feb 08 2022
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5

A timeless sombre soft indie collection made for miserable Scots by miserable Scots. Love it. Almost every track is a stand out including miserable secret track.

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Feb 21 2021
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5

Perfect in every way. Used to listen to this constantly in the first few months of our marriage.

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Jun 23 2021
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5

Amazing album all the way through. Tons of great tracks with big sound. "Turn" especially. Sounds of the 90s which were refined from their first album. Secret song is also a surprising but great addition to the album

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Oct 03 2023
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3

The production on this album is incredible. The songwriting... less so. Which is kind of a shame, really. Godrich and Hedges are genius-level producers and I hate to see their talents wasted on such a bland and frankly boring album.

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Aug 15 2021
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3

À mon humble avis, la suite manquante du groupe de mots désignant cet album n'est certainement pas "speaks french". J'en veux pour preuve le morceau The Last Laugh of the Laughter au cours duquel le chanteur croit duper son audience avec un baragouinage qui ne fera plaisir qu'aux non-francophones : "It's the last laugh of the laughter Sur la dernier page do chapitre On the last day of the year Ma vie Tout ma vie When the spotlight fade away" dit-il selon la retranscription qu'en fait Google. Bien évidemment, le chanteur ne fait, dans la chanson, pas une seule de ces fautes à l'oral et prononce d'ailleurs admirablement bien les passages en français. Mais peu importe. En resumé : un projet ni fait ni à faire.

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Mar 28 2021
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3

The man who what, Travis? The man who what? It's been 22 years and we still don't fucking know, damn it.

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Nov 16 2021
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2

Tasteful, gentle, soporific. I was expecting proto-indie-filler, with completely forgettable tunes, and it was marginally better than that. But I never need to hear this album again in my life. The production is a little bit edgier and interesting than I expected (thanks, Nigel Goodrich), but at best, at its most hard-rockin', this comes across as OK Computer Lite. Actually, I'm just listening to the coda of As You Are, and this is the worst case of Thom Yorke wannabe-ism I have ever heard. I don't hate this, as it is custom made to be un-hatable, but it has no grit at all.

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Sep 20 2021
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2

A weak attempt at a Beatles facsimile, which I found was not uncommon in the 90's. Oasis did similar productions, and I would argue they did it with more passion and balls. Nothing flat offensive about the album, it was just relentlessly forgettable.

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Sep 30 2023
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1

No longer content to mimic Oasis, Britpop bands of the late 90’s turned their eye to aping Bends and OK Computer-era Radiohead. I’m applying The Rule (TM) here: If you haven’t heard anyone talking about an album in 20 years, you don’t need to hear it before you die.

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Sep 20 2023
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3

As a Britpop scholar I found this so derivative of everything else. I know this one has its fans but it’s just lifting wholesale riffs from Oasis and Blur songs that were like 3-5 years old. Why Does it Always Rain on Me is great though

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Jan 10 2022
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5

I'm surprised I'm not familiar with this band or album, because the sound/style is pretty similar to some of my favorites. Good find.

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Jan 08 2022
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5

Strong emotional ties with this one

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Dec 20 2021
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5

Loved this album. Great balance of folk and rock

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Sep 30 2021
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5

Best song is the hidden track "blue flashing light", perhaps because it has not been overplayed; the drumming is unusual at points, but not in a bad way; Fran can really sing, this is especially obvious on "as you are"; not sure why there is a song half in French?!?

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Sep 23 2021
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5

I like the beginning of this one. It has an alternative sound, which is my jam. I really liked this album and would look up more of this band. I’m surprised I didn’t hear more of it when it was new.

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Jul 23 2021
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5

I liked this one. Best one in a while.

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Mar 26 2021
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5

Спокойно, нормально

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May 08 2021
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5

Keimzelle eines Gefühls des richtigen Ankommens in Köln, so jung, noch so viel übrig, das danach trachtete, versaut zu werden. This album was the soundtrack on the journey of ‚the man who‘ I was about to become. Forever 5.0

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Oct 10 2024
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4

being a doofus with extremely limited knowledge, the main thing i was thinking of was rush of blood to the head-era coldplay which i only found out afterwards this predates by like three years. so ig rly the point of origin here is more bends era radiohead? neither of these are especially exciting comparisons for me tbh but this is prob my fave between all three,,,a real warmth is achieved here somewhere between the vocal delivery and the personal-feelin lyrics and the comfy winter vibe, and if its nothing mindblowing i find it very inviting regardless. comfortably uninsistent while still making room for some big choruses and the like, its rly nice! whole project has been full of little one-off experiences that it feels nice to unexpectedly have in my memory bank...cant believe im coming up on 100 days without having missed a single one so far, woooo

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Oct 07 2024
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4

Starts off really great and fizzles out a bit at the end. Favorite tracks are "Writing to Reach You", "As You Are", and "Driftwood". 4 stars.

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Oct 07 2024
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4

Before Coldplay came along and knocked them off their perch, Travis were the best post-Britpop tunesmiths around and this here Man Who probably counts as their magnum opus. Going for it is a light, shimmery indie sound inspired by classic Radiohead and a batch of really excellent evergreen singles. Writing To Reach You, Driftwood, Why Does It Always Rain On Me? and Turn all bang in a kinda awesome but wussy way. 3rd track As You Are is also a grower, starting with streaks of I Would Like To Teach The World To Sing and then a bit of added epic Radiohead growl. If there is a downside to the album is that many of its deep cuts are simply too sleepy and relaxed and it judders to a halt actually with closer Slide Show. Bonus Track Blue Flashing Lights the band show all their claws though in a raucous spitting tale of domestic disturbance. 4 stars.

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Oct 06 2024
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4

mi è piaciuto molto più di quanto sperassi, mi aspettavo il solito indie brit mugugnato e invece no! un ascolto molto piacevole

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Mar 10 2021
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4

I liked all of it. Quite solemn, but the production is very bright and clear. Nice!

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Oct 16 2024
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3

“What’s a wonderwall anyway” is a pretty funny line

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Jul 17 2024
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3

radiohead in a different dimension. has highlights but mostly forgettable

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Aug 11 2022
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2

After listening to this I can confirm that Travis are pretty much the beige, mid-tempo, pop rock band I thought they were. However, what they lack in fun and excitement they make up for with craft - these songs contain really solid melodies and progressions, the format is just a little bit dull for 2022.

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Dec 23 2022
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1

Remembered this as dull, soulless beigery. Listened without prejudice in case it’s aged well. It hasn’t. I’d remembered it correctly. (IMHO)

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Aug 30 2022
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1

Whiny the Album Do I hate music?

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Apr 27 2022
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1

Put simply, this is the kind of music I remember college dorm dudes playing from their lower bunks on acoustic guitars because of the misunderstanding that college girls liked sensitive guys. 'The Man Who' is sensitive guy music, lots of feelings expressed, sad feelings that we hope might make you girls want to hold us guys with our heads resting snugly between your breasts. ‘Everyday I wake up alone,’ singer Fran Healy laments (his go-to emotion) on ‘As You Are,’ ‘because I’m not like the other boys.’ Another song asks the musical question, ‘Why Does It Always Rain on Me?’ giving rise to yet another question: ‘Why don’t you just get out of it, moron?’ Besides, that’s simply your own delusion anyway, no doubt grounded in some repressed fear you’ve not yet successfully dealt with. 'The Man Who' dredges it all up, in all its weary pessimism, both lyrically and it's accompanying music. There was only one instrumental solo on the entire album, when at 2:40 on ‘As You Are’ Travis finally delivered a fairly decent, brief guitar solo that did rock, temporarily. So, it is down there in these boys, they just have to dig for it. Mostly, though, the melodies, overall tunes, instrumental accompaniments, tempo, etc are soft, slow, and sad. The popular 1970’s soft rock band, Bread, sung and played harder than these guys. The one exception was ‘Driftwood,’ a rare uptempo tune, and with some decent, Dylan-esque lyrics to boot: ‘You’re driftwood, hollow and of no use. Waterfalls will find you, bind you, grind you… So, I’m sorry that you turned into driftwood, but you’ve been drifting for a long, long time.’ Following that respite from relentless self pity, though, we returned right back to… well, the next song title says it all: ‘The Last Laugh of the Laughter.’ I must have missed the last laugh, or I guess it happened before the composition of the song. At any rate, no laughter transpired. Not even a grin, until the final and morbidly slow closer, ‘Slide Show,’ and the most restrained castanets performance I believe I’ve ever heard. It found myself whispering ‘Ole’ with the vigor of said college dude after a Valium and a couple of PBRs. This whole alt folk/rock genre often strikes me as contrived ‘cool.’ That’s not accusatory, I’m just tossing it out there for consideration. What I would like to expose for fact, though, is the unfortunate misunderstanding of the sensitive guy, playing these Travis tunes, ever attracting any girl reaction. Consider with whom, generally, are college girls actually having sex? The bad boy, that’s who! They might eventually marry the sensitive guy, but they’re fucking the bad boy. So, to whom this may concern, if you’re genuinely looking to get laid, then stop learning these self-pitying Travis songs, and cover some Van Halen ones instead.

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Nov 07 2024
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5

The album cover reminds me of Bourne Identity that intense ass scene when he goes to stay at that house where he thinks the family is gone but then they come back and he's being hunted around the farm land by that sniper in the trees and they're running at each other in the high weeds. Damn that's an epic movie. I should probably watch it again, that scene is so tense. Anyway, this album was the perfect mood for this dreadful day (11/7/24), it met me exactly where I was at. Jesus Christ republicans are fucking stupid. It seems really unfair that a person with a quarter of a brain cell has a vote that counts equal (actually probably counts way more) than mine. At least the Celtics are good...

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Oct 24 2024
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5

One of my favourites, Scotland Forever

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Oct 18 2024
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5

This is my kind of album! Sad indie boy makes good acoustic music. <3

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Sep 18 2024
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5

I've never heard of this band, and they are great! Awesome Scottish rock. I would totally buy this album.

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Jul 25 2024
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5

it comes as absolutely no surprise to me that the cadre of whiny dadrockers at the top of the reviews didn't like this one. sorry that music can occasionally just be simple and beautiful???? it's wild how so many stagnant, stuck-up rock fans consider this kind of music's existence a personal affront and get so upset that they start spluttering and stammering and spitting out the same weirdly homophobic arguments that have been levelled at any genre remotely soft or emotional, from emo to alt rock to electronica. i don't know how to tell you this, but sometimes men have nice voices and sing pretty songs. IT'S GOING TO BE OKAY!!!! that being said - is this worthy of 1001 albums? debatable. but did i personally like it a whole lot? yes ❤️ yes i did!

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Jun 06 2024
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5

Very nice album! Almost every track is a hit! I never listen it before. As for, it is even better than Oasis.

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Oct 26 2023
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5

Very Mello perfect for a quiet night in

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Oct 18 2023
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5

I really enjoyed everything about this album!

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Jul 28 2023
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5

Dit was echt een fijne verrassing. Ik had weer middelmatige Britse jaren 90 rock verwacht, maar dit was echt super goed. Beetje combi tussen Keane en een rustige Oasis ofzo. Ik twijfel tussen 4 en 5 sterren, en dan doen we vaak toch maar het voordeel van de twijfel.

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Jun 13 2023
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5

It's odd that a number of people on here give this a crap score due it reminding them of a bad period in their lives at the turn of the century. It reveals their age. Well this reminds me of happy days so there. However listening objectively there are a number of fairly moody anthemic ballads that have a similar structure and were fairly popular at the time. They are well played and sung and are quite enjoyable despite the current trend to slag off anything from this era. It's good, easy listening.

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May 05 2023
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5

I gave Kanye a 3 so I gotta give these guys a 5, and then reconsider my rating system later. No, really, Travis was good listening.

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Apr 30 2023
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5

This is a brilliant album from start to finish. The first time I listened to it, it was immediately on my top list. Blue Flashing Lights is one of the best hidden tracks in the history of hidden tracks. The entire album is gold from start to finish.

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Mar 06 2023
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5

Definitely belongs on any list of music that defined the 90s. Was everywhere. And it's exquisite on headphones. Very slick.

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Feb 06 2023
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5

Love it, reminds me of why I got this album the first time. Like pulling a warm blanket over yourself on a cold morning.

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Dec 21 2022
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5

Fantastic. Need to listen to this more, but it sounds a bit like a slightly folkier version of Radiohead.

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Nov 23 2022
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5

Really great album. Just well above average songs from start to finish. Highlights are Writing to Reach You, Why does it always rain..., She's So Strange...could go on. 4.5/5

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Nov 23 2022
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5

one of the best albums of the 90s

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Sep 07 2022
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5

Some of my favorite hidden tracks on a CD, too bad digital doesn't exactly capture the "magic" of hidden tracks.

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Aug 02 2022
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5

Surprisingly good. Voice sounds like Radiohead

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Jul 25 2022
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5

Another great memory from the 90’s. I first heard Travis while watching MTV’s with the “Why does it always rain on me? "video. I loved that kind of music and also loved Driftwood. I don’t think I heard the full album until a few years later but still it has a good place in my youth memories. I knew a girl who was the #1 fan of this guys, and for many years I would only see her at their gigs lol. We got together later but it wasn’t in the cards I guess, we never got to see them live while together neither. I recently learn she saw me with my girlfriend at their last gig here and it broke her hart (her words). I won’t be risking going to their next show (which is next month) because they’re hers. Hope she does go, this band is great and she deserves to be happy. I have my vinyl and my memories nevertheless. This album deserves its place on this list as it is a great time stamp and because it has great timeless songs like Slideshow, that song will always get me.

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Jul 19 2022
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5

How in the heck have I never heard of this band? Dude's soothing vocals are calming, and it reminds me of the early 2000s indie rock/folk era that became super popular at the time. This album sounds timeless, though, and I ended up listening to hours of Travis. What a great find. 5/5.

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May 24 2022
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5

A classic from the end of the 90s. Sombre and melancholy at times. This is one for a cold winter's night, wrapped up in front of the fire. Such a brilliant album that I listened to a lot, back in 1999.

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May 16 2022
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5

This was really interesting. I liked it.

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Apr 25 2022
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5

What a gorgeous album. I hadn't heard this album before and really enjoyed it, every single song was beautiful. Will revisit this multiple times in the future.

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Apr 19 2022
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5

Best song is the hidden track "blue flashing light", perhaps because it has not been overplayed; the drumming is unusual at points, but not in a bad way; Fran can really sing, this is especially obvious on "as you are"; not sure why there is a song half in French?!? Extra point for being Scottish!

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Mar 06 2022
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5

A classic. Their 2nd album. One of the best modern British albums.

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Mar 01 2022
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5

I loved this album back in the day. Nice mellow rock.

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Jan 23 2022
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5

A deserved classic from the 1990's. Beautiful songs, an album that's worth another listen time and time again

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Dec 13 2024
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4

Never really listened to this all the way through. I can see why it sold a gazillion copies. I like it. Downcast, melodic, simple songs.

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Dec 12 2024
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4

Never even heard of these guys before, but I really liked this. Got some Radiohead vibes going on.

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Dec 11 2024
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4

Favorite Track: Writing To Reach You

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Dec 11 2024
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4

Sounds remind me of Oasis and Crowded House and the vocalist reminds me of Thom York. Some mellow radio hits from a Scottish Band... Writing To Reach You The Last of the Laughter Why Does It Always Rain On Me?

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Dec 11 2024
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4

I’ve listened to this off an on for a number of years. Never been a diehard fan but a great album.

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Dec 11 2024
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4

Loved it. A time capsule, and “She’s so strange” was a fab surprise!

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Nov 28 2024
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4

Este es uno de mis discos favoritos de fines de los 90. Probablemente el punto más alto que alcanzaría Travis. Un disco de canciones reposadas y bellas.

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Nov 28 2024
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4

Schoenenstaarmuziek van de broertjes van Radiohead. (Of zijn het ze zelf?) Gelukkig zit er een leuke inhaker met hitpotentie in, met de vrolijke vraag waarom het altijd op mij regent, dat maakt zo'n album net een puntje meer de moeite waard.

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Nov 21 2024
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4

it kinda reminded me of a radiohead album but with bearable vocals. actually had a nice time with it

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Nov 15 2024
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4

Fair play I enjoyed this. Imagine being a die hard Travis fan though. I did read once that after this album they were on the way to super-stardom, but then Coldplays first album came out a year later and everyone forgot about them. What might have been. Simpsons: No

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