The Boy With No Name

Travis | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 4, 2011)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Independiente
• ASIN: B000O77SKY
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #55,857 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Travis seemingly disappeared after the arguably forgettable 12 Memories but the sound of the Scottish group's daydream-pretty guitar rock endured thanks to Keane, Snow Patrol, and especially Coldplay. More than three years later, Travis is playing catch-up with their fifth studio album, The Boy with No Name. Predictably, it's a well-crafted affair, bursting to life with tunes that celebrate life's minor victories such as "Closer," "Battleships," and "My Eyes." But as a comeback effort it feels flawed, let down by both melodies that disappear into the ether as quickly as they come out of the speakers ("One Night," "3 Times You Lose") and those that clumsily attempt to tweak the formula ("Eyes Wide Open," "Selfish Jean"). --Aidin Vaziri

Product Description

Vinyl LP pressing of Travis's 2007 album. The fifth album overall by these Scottish Pop/Rockers is their most consistent release to date and is overflowing with great melodies and dynamic musical twists and turns. 12 tracks including the first single 'Closer'. Sony. --This text refers to the Vinyl edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Back to form, May 14, 2007

By 

K. Gray "you know, that guy" (Oneonta, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Boy With No Name (Audio CD)

After the dark, protest-song side trip that was 12 Memories, Travis have returned to what they do best (and did FIRST, long before Coldplay, Starsailor, or any other). This album sits very nicely next to The Man Who and The Invisible Band, and while it doesn't reach the brilliance of the former, it most certainly is equal to or better than the latter. There are bittersweet lyrics, happy jangly guitars, and even some violin here and there in the songs, and the textures work very well. These guys are decent musicians.

As in albums past, Fran's lyrics remain in "forced rhyme" mode, which can occasionally grate on the ears, and sometimes just plain don't make sense ("I wake up to find you lying awake with your hands in your head..." Eww!), but most of the time they work. I also like some of more experimental sounds Travis pursues (experimental for Travis, anyway), especially the bass-driven song, Big Chair. Unfortunately, this album also contains what is arguably the WORST Travis song ever, New Amsterdam. There is a hidden song called Sailing that makes up for this misstep, however.

I find Travis to be a band that, like CAKE or some others bands, sounds best when they stick to their time-tested formula. Some bands need to rework their sounds from album to album to keep it interesting for themselves and others (Radiohead, to name one), but Travis has a pop-perfect sound that is utterly timeless. Why mess with it?

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Intimate!!!, May 8, 2007

By 

Nse Ette (Lagos, Nigeria) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Boy With No Name (Audio CD)

Travis return with their brand of melodic but melancholic rock, and that choir boy voice, aped since by fellow Brits Coldplay and Keane.

Titled after lead singer Fran Healey's son who was nameless for a while after being born recently, "The boy who had no name" opens with the downbeat Simon & Garfunkel-like "3 times and you lose", followed by the upbeat Motown-like "Selfish Jean".

Lead off single "Closer" is a rather dreamy, melancholic tune, with superb, echoing vocal effects.

Other standouts are "Big chair", the sweeping "Eyes wide open" (with edgy guitars), the touching "My eyes" (which seems to be about Healey's son), the ballads "One night" (pretty and jangly), "Out in space" (complete with alien-like effects), and the woozy "Colder". "Under the moonlight" features KT Tunstall.

Tight harmonies, beautiful guitar and piano work, and personal lyrics, just what we've come to expect from Travis!!

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of Better Travis Albums, May 12, 2007

By 

Samuel Beckett (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Boy With No Name (Audio CD)

I've been a Travis Fan since 'The Man Who'. I actually liked 12 memories, but understood that it was far too dark for most people.

Thankfully, this album is upbeat and has a ton of GOOD songs.

Battleships, Big Chair, Closer, and My Eyes could get plenty of airtime. Check out the bonus song at about 5:50 on the last track -- it's terrific!

If you've liked Travis in the past, this album will *NOT* disappoint.