I'm not a fan TRAVIS, but this album is fun: Short and crisp songs, drier, rockier sound like the late 70 / early 80. A very good opener with "Chinese Blues", a passiger finale with "Before You Were Young" and an ingenious "J. Smith", a 3-minute rock opera with choral interlude. Healy sings sometimes like Bono. And somehow all fits together.
Who to whiny songs like "Why Does It Always Rain On Me?" stands here although definitely landed in the wrong movie, but should still remain until the end. "Ode To J. Smith" is not the pop or rock-Olympus, it is not spectacular - but a really tasty morsels for in between. Well done!