Travis 'Ode to J Smith' album

The Scottish alternative rock band from Glasgow, Travis consists of: Fran Healy (lead vocals, guitar, piano, banjo), Dougie Payne (bass guitar, backing vocals), Andy Dunlop (lead guitar, banjo, keyboards, backing vocals) and Neil Primrose (drums, percussion). Travis have twice been awarded British album of the year at the annual BRIT Awards, and are often credited with having paved the way for bands such as Coldplay, Keane and Snow Patrol. They have released six studio albums, beginning with their debut, Good Feeling, in 1997. Their latest album, Ode to J. Smith, will be released on November 4th via Fontana International/Red Telephone Box Records.

Following a short UK tour, where the band tested some new material, Travis recorded their Ode to J. Smith in two weeks, having been inspired by the speed and simplicity of their recording session with Beatles engineer Geoff Emerick while participating in a BBC program celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album. It was announced around this time that the band had split amicably from their long-time record label Independiente. They had "come to the end of our deal and decided to go as it was time to start afresh" according to Fran Healy.

In early June 2008, a vinyl EP of the song J. Smith was announced online as the first release from Ode to J. Smith for June 30. It is an EP limited to 1000 copies and is not an 'official' single, instead more of a taster of the album for fans.

Fran Healy said, "The album is called Ode to J. Smith partly giving a heads up to the key song and partly because all the songs are written about nameless characters or to nameless characters."

They released through their own Red Telephone Box record label the lead single Something Anything in September which is now impacting Alternative. Early reviews have been very positive, some calling it Travis' best record ever.

press quotes
Ode To J Smith is Travis’s loudest, edgiest and most arresting record since their debut. Written in 5 weeks and recorded in just 14 days, it’s the sound of a band re-born, re-inspired and re-energised.

"On their sixth album, the band finally display a disregard for expectations and turn the guitars up to 11."- Independent On Sunday.

"Flitting joyfully between gonzo rock opera (no, really), Silver Sun shining power-pop and their Good Feeling debut, it's a joyous racket. Always better as underdogs, it's a band whose only link to their past is great melodies. 8/10" - Planet Sound

"This album is certainly a rush. Their re-embrace of rock is a move forward, rather than a step back – a return to form." - BBC Music

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Travis - Ode to J Smith