Travis announce 'The Invisible Band (Live)' Record Store Day exclusive Vinyl release coming April 22

Record Store Day is coming April 22 and there are a number of strong releases set to be available that day, including this great title from Travis! (you can read my 2007 review of Travis when the band performed at House of Blues Anaheim HERE)...Robert Kinsler

ANNOUNCE THE INVISIBLE BAND (LIVE) RECORDED AT THE BAND’S CELEBRATED HOMETOWN GLASGOW SHOW IN MAY 2022 EXCLUSIVE RECORD STORE DAY VINYL RELEASE APRIL 22 LISTEN TO “FLOWERS IN THE WINDOW (LIVE)” HERE Following the 20th anniversary reissue of their critically acclaimed album The Invisible Band, multi-platinum selling Scottish rockers Travis return with the release of a special live album The Invisible Band (Live). The album will be released on vinyl on April 22nd, as part of Record Store Day 2023, and across streaming services on April 21st via Craft Recordings.   Recorded live at Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall on May 22nd, 2022 during their celebrated The Invisible Band in Concert anniversary tour, the live album sees the art school band play the seminal album front to back for the first time ever. “Playing The Invisible Band live was a lot of fun. There are so many memories folded into these songs for us and for everyone who came to the shows,” Fran reflects of the tour. “The tracklisting on this album worked really great live so we decided to record and film the final show in Glasgow. There is always a chance I'll get a sore throat when I know there is a taping coming up, but thankfully it all went without a hitch. I think it was the best we played the album that night.”   The announcement comes alongside the release of a captivating performance of one of the album’s standout hits, ‘Flowers In The Window (Live)’, which is available to stream or download today. “‘Flowers In The Window’ is one of our evergreen songs,” singer Fran Healy notes. “There are a couple of ways we play it during a show. The way we play it most is the busk, with us standing round the one microphone. On this tour we decided to do the full band version, which is the album version with Andy on piano duties.”   Returning to the studio with The Man Who’s co-producer Nigel Godrich (Radiohead, Beck, Paul McCartney) for The Invisible Band, Travis crafted a near-perfect 45-minute album praised by Q magazine for having some of “the best and most fully crafted” songs of their career to date.   Lead single “Sing” remains the band’s highest-charting single in the UK (No.3), while its follow-ups, “Side” and “Flowers In The Window,” saw the band consolidate their indie-pop formula, helping The Invisible Band to match its predecessor’s No.1 position in the UK album chart, while taking Travis into the US Top 40 and Top 10 in Germany, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Canada, New Zealand, Switzerland, Sweden, France, Italy and Norway. The Invisible Band 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition Box set is available HERE.   Released for the only time on vinyl for RSD 2023, this special 2-LP package comes on clear vinyl in a gatefold sleeve and includes exclusive unseen photography from Ryan Johnston. Pay a visit to your local independent record shop on Record Store Day (Saturday 22nd April) for the chance to pick up a copy. A list of participating shops can be found HERE. The album will also be released across streaming services on April 21st, and is available to pre-save HERE. Photo Credit: Ryan Johnston   About Travis: Formed in Glasgow in 1990, Travis (Fran Healy, vocals, guitar; Andy Dunlop, lead guitar; Dougie Payne, bass; Neil Primrose, drums) came of age during Britpop’s heyday, but always stood at a remove from that scene’s barely contained mania. When the Britpop hangover kicked in at the end of the ’90s, Travis’ gentle, uplifting songs were the perfect antidote for the chaos of the preceding years. From its title on down, Good Feeling set the mood: an upbeat album unafraid to wear its emotions on its sleeve. By the time Travis took to Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage in 1999, delivering a career-defining performance, they were poised to become household names, opening the door for a new generation of introspective songwriters to come through.   Entering the new millennium as one of the biggest bands in the UK following the success of sophomore album, 1999’s The Man Who (now certified 9x platinum, with over 2.7 million albums sold in the UK), Travis spent the remainder of the ’00s developing their sound without ever forgetting their core commitment to songwriting. The Invisible Band (2001) consolidated the group’s status as the grown-ups’ indie rock band of choice, while 2003’s 12 Memories revealed a newfound electronica influence. 2007’s The Boy With No Name was the band’s most eclectic album to date, and, in the years since, the group have only continued to build on their enduring appeal. 2008’s Ode to J Smith included the fan-favorite single ‘Something Anything’, while Where You Stand (2013) and Everything At Once (2016) returned Travis to the UK Top 5. Travis’ emotionally charged and deeply heartfelt ninth studio album, 10 Songs (2020), marked another new chapter in the band’s extraordinarily prolific and unflappable career.   Watch Travis videos in HD here. For more info, visit TravisOnline.com and follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and TikTok.     About Craft Recordings Craft Recordings is home to one of the largest and most essential collections of master recordings and compositions in the world. Its storied repertoire includes landmark releases from icons such as Joan Baez, John Coltrane, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Celia Cruz, Miles Davis, Isaac Hayes, John Lee Hooker, Little Richard, R.E.M., Joan Sebastian, and Traveling Wilburys. Plus, the catalogue recordings of celebrated contemporary acts including A Day to Remember, Evanescence, Alison Krauss, Nine Inch Nails, Taking Back Sunday and Violent Femmes, to name just a few. Renowned imprints with catalogues issued under the Craft banner include Fania, Fantasy, Fearless, Musart, Nitro, Panart, Prestige, Riverside, Rounder, Specialty, Stax, Vanguard, Varèse Sarabande, Vee-Jay and Victory, among many others. Craft creates thoughtfully curated packages, with a meticulous devotion to quality and a commitment to preservation—ensuring that these recordings endure for new generations to discover. Craft is also home to the Billie Holiday and Tammy Wynette estates which preserve and protect their respective names, likeness and music through day-to-day legacy management of these cultural trailblazers.   Craft Recordings is the catalogue label team for Concord. For more info, visit CraftRecordings.com and follow on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

First-ever vinyl reissue for Travis' '12 Memories' due out Aug. 13, 2021

More great news for fans of groundbreaking band Travis...Robert Kinsler

FIRST-EVER VINYL REISSUE FOR TRAVIS’ 2003 ALBUM 12 MEMORIES   Multi-BRIT Award-winning band’s fourth studio album features singles "Re-Offender," "The Beautiful Occupation," and "Love Will Come Through" Available August 13th from Craft Recordings

Click here to pre-order   On August 13th, the first-ever vinyl reissue of UK Top Five album 12 Memories from Travis continues the reissue streak from the Scottish rock band. Cut at London’s Metropolis Studios, the pressing features all original packaging replication including photography by Anton Corbijn. Available for pre-order today, the album will be released on standard black vinyl, with a limited white pressing available exclusively at Travis’ official UK store. Meanwhile in the US, Newbury Comics will offer an exclusive Black Ice edition.   None other than Sir Elton John raved that 12 Memories would “take you on a real journey… like The Beatles’ Revolver”. And, just like The Beatles in 1966, Travis were at a critical juncture when it came time to record their fourth album and the follow up to the multi-Platinum international breakthrough The Invisible Band.   Travis / Photo courtesy of the artist Coldplay had launched a career patterned on Travis’ The Man Who-era song writing, while frontman Fran Healy was secretly battling depression. With the Iraq War newly raging in the background, the group began to look outwards in their song writing, penning socially conscious singles like “Re-Offender,” which dealt with domestic abuse, and “The Beautiful Occupation,” which was inspired by the US invasion of Iraq. If “Love Will Come Through” was more like the Travis of old, it was filtered through a darkness that defined much of 12 Memories, with the album as a whole taking on tinges of electronica, and the band rocking with a harder edge than before.   Fran Healy comments “12 Memories was an album from a dark passage in our timeline. Neil was recovering from his near death swimming pool accident, the UK and US were about to go to war in Iraq, and I was feeling burnt out by the volume of work which the past two records had generated. This was a reaction to all this. It alienated many fair weather fans, and made many hardcore fans happy. It was also a big part of Neil’s physio. What resulted was an overall darker affair.”   12 Memories is the third vinyl reissue from Travis so far in 2021. It follows 2007’s The Boy With No Name (re-released May 28th), and the first-ever vinyl release for debut album, Good Feeling (April 2nd). To celebrate the reissues, the band are remastering their seminal promotional videos in HD—check them out here.   Click here to pre-order 12 Memories on vinyl.     Tracklist – 12 Memories:   Side A 1. Quicksand 2. The Beautiful Occupation 3. Re-Offender 4. Peace The Fuck Out 5. How Many Hearts 6. Paperclips   Side B 1. Somewhere Else 2. Love Will Come Through 3. Mid-Life Krysis 4. Happy To Hang Around 5. Walking Down The Hill 6. Some Sad Song     About Travis: Formed in Glasgow in 1990, Travis (Fran Healy, vocals, guitar; Andy Dunlop, lead guitar; Dougie Payne, bass; Neil Primrose, drums) came of age during Britpop’s heyday, but always stood at a remove from that scene’s barely contained mania. When the Britpop hangover kicked in at the end of the ’90s, Travis’ gentle, uplifting songs were the perfect antidote for the chaos of the preceding years. From its title on down, Good Feeling set the mood: an upbeat album unafraid to wear its emotions on its sleeve. By the time Travis took to Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage in 1999, delivering a career-defining performance, they were poised to become household names, opening the door for a new generation of introspective songwriters to come through.   Entering the new millennium as one of the biggest bands in the UK following the success of sophomore album, 1999’sThe Man Who (now certified 9x platinum, with over 2.7 million albums sold in the UK), Travis spent the remainder of the ’00s developing their sound without ever forgetting their core commitment to songwriting. The Invisible Band (2001) consolidated the group’s status as the grown-ups’ indie rock band of choice, while 2003’s 12 Memories revealed a newfound electronica influence. 2007’s The Boy With No Name was the band’s most eclectic album to date, and, in the years since, the group have only continued to build on their enduring appeal. 2008’s Ode to J Smith included the fan-favourite single ‘Something Anything’, while Where You Stand (2013) and Everything At Once (2016) returned Travis to the UK Top 5.   Travis’ emotionally charged and deeply heartfelt ninth studio album, 10 Songs (2020), marked another new chapter in the band’s extraordinarily prolific and unflappable career. 10 Songs is yet another body of work that showcases the band as one of the UK’s finest songwriting exports. Recently, the band announced their return to the stage, with a slew of UK dates beginning in May 2022.   Watch Travis videos in HD here. For more info, visit TravisOnline.com and follow on Facebook, Instagram,  Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok.   About Craft Recordings:  Craft Recordings is home to one of the largest and most essential collections of master recordings and compositions in the world. Its storied repertoire includes landmark releases from icons such as Joan Baez, John Coltrane, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Celia Cruz, Miles Davis, Isaac Hayes, John Lee Hooker, Little Richard, R.E.M., Joan Sebastian, and Traveling Wilburys. Plus, the catalog recordings of celebrated contemporary acts including A Day to Remember, Evanescence, Alison Krauss, Nine Inch Nails, Taking Back Sunday and Violent Femmes, to name just a few. Renowned imprints with catalogs issued under the Craft banner include Fania, Fantasy, Fearless, Musart, Nitro, Panart, Prestige, Riverside, Rounder, Specialty, Stax, Vanguard, Varèse Sarabande, Vee-Jay and Victory, among many others. Craft creates thoughtfully curated packages, with a meticulous devotion to quality and a commitment to preservation—ensuring that these recordings endure for new generations to discover. Craft is also home to the Billie Holiday and Tammy Wynette estates which preserve and protect their respective names, likeness and music through day-to-day legacy management of these cultural trailblazers. Craft Recordings is the catalog label team for Concord Recorded Music. For more info, visit CraftRecordings.com and follow on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music.

New music: Bahamas, Joey Molland, Travis, Blue Öyster Cult

Early October is being met with the arrival of a slew of fantastic new album releases.

Artist: Bahamas

Title: Sad Hunk (Brushfire Records)

You might like if you enjoy: Bahamas, Dave Matthews, Donavon Frankenreiter

Tell me more: Bahamas (the moniker for Toronto, Canada-based singer-songwriter/self-taught guitar master Afie Jurvanen) has returned with "Sad Hunk," his first full-length album since 2018's Earthtones. The good news for fans of the artist is that his winning streak of delivering nuanced and intimate originals blending pop, rock, R&B, soul, folk and even Caribbean styles continues to be fully on display across the 10-track LP. The nimble "Trick To Happy" is a breezy and confessional ride where the artist wonders if there is "Is there a trick to being happy" as he admits "life is moving past me." The beautiful acoustic ballad "Half Your Love" showcases his expressive baritone vocals while simultaneously examining how to mine the deepest reaches of romantic bliss. Other standouts on the new LP include the driving "Own Alone" (bolstered by some flashy guitar licks), the playful blues-tinged "Done Did Me No Good," acoustic surf rocker "Up With The Jones," true genre mash-up "Wisdom Of The World" and self-deprecating "Not Cool Anymore." The witty and literate songs that fill the disc are delivered with authenticity and artful arrangements, each adorned with inviting and skilled guitar work. Information: BahamasMusic.net.

Artist: Joey Molland

Title: Be True To Yourself (Omnivore Recordings)

You might like if you enjoy: Badfinger, the Beatles

Tell me more: Classic rock aficionados often cite the story of Welsh/English rock band Badfinger as one of the era's most tragic tales. Despite being the first non-Beatles artist signed to Apple Records and scoring a number of timeless hits (including "Come and Get It," "No Matter What," "Day After Day," and "Baby Blue"), the band was struck with the suicide of several members (Pete Ham in 1975, Tom Evans in 1983) and sudden death of Mike Gibbins following a brain aneurysm in 2005. Singer-guitarist Joey Molland – the band's only surviving member of the quartet's classic early '70s lineup – is set to release his first album of new material (Be True To Yourself) in nearly 10 years on Friday, Oct. 16. And what a glorious collection of power pop it is. Lovingly produced by Mark Hudson (who also co-wrote the tracks with Molland), Be True To Yourself explodes with tunefulness, exceptional song craft and undeniable hooks associated with Badfinger's best recordings. The shimmering "Better Tomorrow," Beatlesque "Rainy Day Man," dreamy "Heaven," melodic power pop ballad "Loving You" and chamber pop foray "Be True To Yourself" only begin to paint a sonic picture of the magic displayed across "Be True To Yourself." Among the notable names contributing to the recording are Julian Lennon (who also took the amazing front and back cover photographs seen on the album), Micky Dolenz, Jason Scheff and Steve Holley. Information: OmnivoreRecordings.com.

Artist: Travis

Title: 10 Songs (Red Telephone Box)

You might like if you enjoy: Travis, Blur, early Coldplay

Tell me more: Travis is back with one of the best albums of their 30-year history, the stunning 10 Songs. Co-produced by lead singer Fran Healy and Robin Baynton (Coldplay, Florence & The Machine), 10 Songs marks both a dramatic step forward and a decidedly deep connection with the Glasgow, Scotland-based band's rich past. The group's Post-Britpop sound is there to be sure, but there is a mature tone across the disc that finds Healy tackling life with an especially perceptive and sensitive touch. The album is filled with songs that look at love and its mysterious reach, all delivered sans cliche. The gorgeous opener "Waving At The Window," touching "The Only Thing" (featuring guest vocalist Susanna Hoffs), yearning "Nina's Song" and sparse piano-anchored "No Love Lost" are poignant reminders of how special Travis remains. In addition to Healy, Travis' all-original lineup includes lead guitarist Andy Dunlop, bassist Dougie Payne and drummer Neil Primrose, all of whom whose refined musicianship adds welcome layers to 10 Songs. Information: TravisOnline.com.

Artist: Blue Öyster Cult

Title: The Symbol Remains (Frontiers Music s.r.l.)

You might like if you enjoy: Blue Öyster Cult, classic rock

Tell me more: Before the release of Blue Öyster Cult's outstanding new release The Symbol Remains, it had been nearly two decades since the classic rock quintet had last issued a new studio album (2001's Curse of the Hidden Mirror). The great news is The Symbol Remains was well worth the wait, an epic return where the American rockers prove they have plenty to say musically and lyrically. Rich harmonies, in-the-pocket riffs, prog-rock virtuosity and an obvious chemistry among the players add up to 14 tracks that hit their mark. Indeed, dueling guitar leads between Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser and Richie Castellano on "Nightmare Epiphany" recall the thrilling firepower the two greats display at any BÖC concert.  The band's long-recognized wide-ranging signature approach to creating songs that tap into a mix of rock styles plays out here; the razor sharp rockers "That Was Me" and "Box In My Head," dark goth-tinged "Edge of the World," infectious riff rocker "The Machine" (enhanced by a super melodic chorus), blues rocker "Train True (Lennie's Song)," driving "The Return of St. Cecilia," and colorful tale "Florida Man" are among the killer cuts on The Symbol Remains. In addition to the aforementioned Roeser and Castellano, BÖC's long-time lineup features singer-guitarist Eric Bloom, bassist Danny Miranda and drummer Jules Radino. Information: Blueoystercult.com/.

Robert Kinsler

Travis release wonderful new track “Waving At The Window”

I have been loving the parade of fantastic advance tracks from Travis' forthcoming album 10 Songs. Check out the wonderful "Waving At The Window" released today...Robert Kinsler

Travis release new track “Waving At The Window”

New album 10 Songs out this Friday

“They’ve still got it.” - Stereogum

"Travis proves they are alive & well with 10 new songs." American Songwriter

“The poignant pull of Travis is overwhelming.” - Uncut 8/10

“The Scots serve up a reminder of their enduring ability to concoct indelible melodies and timeless songs.” - Sunday Times

Ahead of the release of their album 10 Songs this Friday, Scottish legends, Travis, have today released a romantically reminiscent new track titled “Waving At The Window”.

Listen to “Waving At The Window’ HERE

Co-produced by both Fran and Robin Baynton (Coldplay, Florence & The Machine), and recorded at RAK Studio, 10 Songs is about the way life comes at love and what love does to weather those challenges. It’s grown-up. There’s sizzling synergy in abundance and benefits from the almost psychic sense of mutual attunement that comes from being in a band whose line-up hasn’t changed in its entire collective lifetime. 

10 Songs is available as Standard CD, Heavyweight vinyl plus Deluxe 2CD and Deluxe 2LP (red and blue vinyl) including 10 Demos.  In addition to the limited edition 10” of “Valentine”, the band’s official store features exclusive album merch bundles with limited signed art prints.

Pre-order 10 Songs HERE.

Twitter

Instagram

YouTube

Facebook

travisonline.com

Travis share video for new song "The Only Thing" featuring Susanna Hoffs

Travis is set to return with the band's first new album in almost four years, the highly-anticipated 10 Songs, due on Oct. 9, 2020 via BMG. The band's last studio album was 2016's winning Everything At Once. The latest advance track is "The Only Thing," which has been unveiled via a great new Fran Healy-directed video. The song was written by Healy as a could-be duet, and fortunately fate brought the Bangles' Susanna Hoffs into the project and her vocals align perfectly with Healy on the track.

Watch the newly-released music video for Travis' "The Only Thing" featuring Hoffs. What a great song! Robert Kinsler

Watch the video HERE on YouTube.