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Ode to J. Smith | 
 enlarge | Artist: Travis
Label: Fontana Universal
Category: Music
List Price: $15.98
Buy New: $10.44
You Save: $5.54 (35%)
New (39) Used (13) from $8.67
Rating:  14 reviews
Sales Rank: 3138
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 4.9 x 0.4
MPN: 7622
UPC: 044003997622
EAN: 0044003997622
ASIN: B001G1L3R6
Release Date: November 4, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Most orders shipped within 24 hours. All items include original artwork and packaging. We ship FIRST CLASS International/Domestic for single disc orders. Satisfaction Guaranteed!
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| Tracks:
| • | Chinese Blues | | • | J. Smith | | • | Something Anything | | • | Long Way Down | | • | Broken Mirror | | • | Last Words | | • | Quite Free | | • | Get Up | | • | Friends | | • | Song to Self | | • | Before You Were Young |
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Album Description
Ode To J. Smith by Travis is 11 tracks of their loudest, edgiest and most arresting record yet. The album was recorded at Rak Studios in London and produced by Emery Dobyns (Antony & The Johnsons, Patti Smith, Battles) and mixed at Electric Lady Studios in NY. Healy says this album was 'born out of a rush of creative urgency, a need to make a record; it has to be amazing...the most cohesive thing we've ever done. When you move so quickly, there is little time to reflect. You have to be decisive.' In 12 years, Travis has sold ten million records, numerous accolades, headlined festivals all over the world.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 9 more reviews...
 Ode to a Great Album January 6, 2009
Like most TRAVIS fans, I came in during the time of Good Feeling and The Man Who -- those two albums quite literally opened my eyes as I found the music and the band I've been craving.
The weird thing about "Ode to J. Smith" was that it didn't strike me as a TRAVIS album at first. Each album prior, even '12 Memories', was met with one listen being enough to say "yes, this is Travis and I love this band." "Ode to J.Smith" didn't do that for me. I had initial disappointments and said flat out that this was more or less the same, but just not as good.
But that said, the songs haunted me when they weren't being played. My ears were telling me to put that album back on again and really, I couldn't stop playing the record for days. It is indeed a fantastic album that is different but somehow familiar. You cannot simply say that this album is like "The Man Who" or "The Invisible Band" or "The Boy With No Name". It has a sound of its own and it shows that the band is trying new things, which is a great sign of longevity. If I had to put a label on this one, I would say that it's like they were at "12 Memories" and kept building upon that.
There may not be your iconic Travis ballad here but what you have are songs that are musically more rich, instrumentally more vibrant, and lyrics that are more meaningful. "Ode to J. Smith" is just an extension of the incredible library they've provided so far and if it all ends here, I'd think that they ended right before they hit their highest level. I can't wait to hear what else this band has in store for us because I know it's going to be their best work.
 Whatever. December 6, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I was introduced to Travis by way of "Why Does It Always Rain On Me?" in early 2000. I rushed to buy "The Man Who" and was completely satisfied with that album. The following year I was first in line to get "The Invisible Band" and was equally, if not more, satisfied. I went back and got "Good Feelings" and was slightly disappointed. "12 Memories" was somewhat disappointing as was "The Boy With No Name".
So, here is "Ode To J. Smith", right on the heels of "The Boy With No Name" a year and a half ago. I'll admit this is a grower. On first listen nothing really grabbed me, but upon closer inspection, several songs began to sink their hooks into me like the album opener "Chinese Blues", "J. Smith", "Long Way Down", "Last Words", "Quite Free", "Song To Self" and "Before You Were Young". The rest I continue to struggle with just exactly how I feel about them.
The sound of this album isn't exactly a stretch for the band. In fact, they still sound maudlin and morose in too many spots. Sure there's hints of "Good Feeling" since the band utilizes more guitars this time out, but really, it's not that much like "Good Feeling".
After mulling this album over all week long, I find that "The Man Who" and "The Invisible Band" remain my favorites. "Ode To J. Smith" is neither here nor there. It's not bad, but it's not great, it just is. I keep wondering if this is it for Travis. I feel they are a talented band that could do so much more, but this is the third album in a row that has been just okay. To me, Travis have the potential to be bigger, but they don't pick great producers and engineers, and the band doesn't seem interested in trying to be more experimental with their sound. They don't seem inspired to push the limits of their particular brand of music.
And that's what makes "Ode To J. Smith" so disappointing. If they did this in two weeks, and this was the most original thing they could come up with, maybe it's time to call it quits. Sure, I noticed a small bit of experimentation on "J. Smith" with the orchestration and chorale segments, but it seemed tacked on, not well thought out. It was interesting for, oh, 30 seconds, and then it was gone.
So, I'm hoping against hope, that the next album bears better fruit. Here's where I place "Ode To J. Smith" in context of Travis's other albums.
1997 Good Feeling: Four Stars
1999 The Man Who: Four Stars
2001 The Invisible Band: Four and a Half Stars
2003 12 Memories: Two and a Half Stars
2007 The Boy With No Name: Three and a Half Stars
2008 Ode To J. Smith: Three Stars
A return to form and an ode to J. Smith November 29, 2008
Travis have never released a record on the same level as "Good Feeling" in terms of sheer rockiness. With the release and subsequent skyrocket to success of "The Man Who", Travis made their name as a Britpop quartet that put out unoffensive, melodically beautiful guitar songs, and with their follow up, "The Invisible Band", which housed the ever-popular track "Sing", they only secured their foothold in that musical niche. However, "12 Memories", which included some of Travis' darkest and most lyrically edgy material to date, suffered in record shops, and perhaps the entire reason behind that is because they diverted from their formula. After a four year hiatus, with their popularity continually on the downward decline as time passed, they returned with "The Boy with No Name", borrowing from "The Man Who" and "The Invisible Band" with happy, unoffensive tracks like "Closer" and "Selfish Jean" and even taking that to the next level with songs like "Under the Moonlight" and "My Eyes".
Well, Travis are back after merely over a year with a brand new album, and it seems like they are returning to the "Good Feeling" days. Think of "Ode to J. Smith" as a love-child between "Good Feeling" and "12 Memories" - two of the least popular Travis records. Combined with the fact that this was released on their own independent record label, Red Telephone Box (which implies that there would be a lack of giant record label-funded publicity), this album is almost destined to suffer in the charts. It's a shame, really. "Ode" is 11 tracks of magnetic energy, which tells the tale of a nameless character, in stark contrast to the introspective lyrics of past Travis outings. Whether it's the boundless energy of "Quite Free", or the frail darkness of "Broken Mirror" (which hearkens back to the 12 Memories track, "Paperclips"), the album starts off with a bang, and takes us through an eleven-track tour of the life of J. Smith, right up to the brilliantly climactic closing tracks "Song to Self" and "Before You Were Young".
The album is not without its more upbeat tracks, however - songs like the titular "J. Smith", "Something Anything", and "Long Way Down" are energetic enough to keep the album moving along at a good pace.
Of course, fans of the more "Sing"-esque tracks may want to find solace elsewhere, because a great majority of these tracks are more dark and edgy, if anything. But if taken for face value, Travis have accomplished something great, and that is a completely unexpected but absolutely brilliant album.
ode to indie music November 23, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I think this is Travis' weakest album..I don't know what all the hype was about. This has a little more rock to it..but most of the catchy hooks are obsolete. Supposedly , this one was written and recorded in two weeks..and it shows. I've always liked this band, though..and there's a subtle beauty that underlies the muisc. Good stuff..just not "GOOD FEELING" good.
Pretty good, but not their best work November 22, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
It is doubtful that Travis will be able to replicate the top to bottom quality of the Man Who again. That said, this album is closer to their first two albums than to the more recent.
Some tracks are keepers like Something Anything, J. Smith, and but some are forgettable like Before You Were Young and Broken Mirrors. The rest are somewhere in between. Long Way Down could have been on Good Feeling, Get Up could have been on 12 Memories, Last Words on Invisible Band, and Friends sounds like some of their B-sides.
All in all the album does grow on you after a few listens, but it will not be remembered as one of their best... 3.5 stars
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