Tempered quick shot - quite successful

The double-page spread in the middle of the booklet gives direction. It shows the four band members who cry out from mouths wide open. Now it seems from reading the previous reviews two types of Travis fans give. Those who already have the debut Good Feeling appreciated and this rock sound may not be missing on the last sheets, but at least were happy about this facet in the back catalog of Travis. And then there is the handset which just the "smooth, supple sound, where you can almost slip" (quote bassist Dougie Payne) love with Travis became famous and coined their big hits. Zother group is this album certainly upset and feel like the rock sound as a fake. Many of these fans have Travis then maybe never seen live, where a tearjerker like "As You Are" regularly mutates into a kind of Hard Rock ballad and what precisely guitarist Andy seems to have always been thrilled. "Ode To J. Smith" is indeed although noisy at every nook and corner, Fran Healy's songwriting remains thoroughly Travis. What a fun, the band must have had in the two weeks of studio time is to listen to the disc from beginning to end. And the quality of the songs is also true. "Chinese Blues" is a usual strong opener, "J. Smith" one of the best Travis songs ever. The well-known banjo was excavated in "Last Words" back and gives this beautiful song again its distinctive touch. With "Quite Free" then comes another wonderful ballad that perfectly with the songs on "The Man Who" can be measured itself. Only the advance single "Song To Self" does not fit with their bloated synth sounds really to rest, but the great overall picture can not tarnish large. Without much fuss just anyway to shake a strong album out of his sleeve, can already doubt what all the musicians drift for years always in their studios. Therefore, and due to the high quality of the songs five stars.