12 Memories

The last album did little for the band's image. Musically I find it an absolute joy to listen to yet lyrically Healy seemed to be writing from the outside looking in, as opposed to the inside out. Sing and Side commanded the radio waves for long enough and the band slowly retreated. They simply wanted to be out of the limelight.

The Invisible Band however did not leave a great after taste. It was almost too sweet, too pleasurable a listen. Once The Strokes and Coldplay's more aggressive Rush of Blood... arrived Travis had swiftly been put into the background, but myself and a small number of people knew, just knew that their fourth album would be something to reckon with, and with five stars glaring and truly glowing pride, I am here to say that 12 Memories is an astonishing record.

The three main subjects of this album are domestic abuse, relationships and national leaders (more specifically, you Mr Blair). Healy reaches further into his private emotions than ever before and has written a number of effective, poignant songs that I would argue are as efficient as anything Neil Young has written. Peace The F**k Out stands as one of the very, VERY few protest songs in recent years (and how timely). It isn't really a protest song either, but more a pledge for Tony Blair to change. Again, there are no superfluous words. The lyrics are terse and the message is aggressive. And the wonderful thing is it feels so natural. I would hate if Healy wrote a political song just because fans and critics want him to, but it clearly is not the case here. The songs regarding domestic abuse are indeed harrowing but never offputting. Their awkward subject matter is communicated through such lyrical and musical poetry that I would argue it is a more pleasurable listen than any pop song about love in the charts today. Then of course the love songs arrive and you wonder why anyone has a problem with Travis at all. After all, all you need is love, and Healy has got some beeeuuutifull songs under his belt on this record, which leads me to Somewhere Else.

Track seven should be a single, and if not it should be the number one requested song at every gig of their's until Fran writes a better one! The piano motif, Fran's stunning, soft voice, the drums that are more prominent in this album than ever before, and Andy's exceptional guitar playing, punctuating key moments in this song create a heavenly ballad about simply wanting to be somewhere else. Coldplay are a wonderful band but I would say this song connects with me more on a personal level than Coldplay's epic, ethereal music ever will.

The musicianship is above and beyond the band's best. I would argue Quicksilver and The Beautiful Occupation have as many spine-tinglingly good moments as any on Abbey Road or Revolver. And this continues right through to the very last track, where simple piano chords accompany a beautifully produced synthesiser beat on Some Sad Song. It's all sumptuous stuff.

So here it is guys, put aside your personal grifts with Healy's goody two shoes image, your assumptions of everything the band are about and buy/borrow/steal this album (ideally from a friend : ). Listen to it, but like all great albums give it time. It ages better than the most vintage of wines and no doubt will leave a far better, longer lasting taste.