Travis "Ode to J. Smith" Album

Ode to J. Smith is the sixth studio album by Scottish alternative rock band Travis, released on 29 September 2008 in the United Kingdom and received generally positive reviews. The album was released in the United States on 4 November 2008.

The first single from the album, "Something Anything", was released on 15 September, and despite being generally well received by Travis fans gained very little airplay.

Ode to J. Smith entered the UK Album Chart at #20, lower than many people's expectations, who expected the album to make the Top 10. The album proceeded to spend a meager 3 weeks on the album chart before falling off. The album peaked at #122 on the Billboard 200. In an interview with Planet Sound, Dougie Payne claimed that the commercial reception the album had, made him believe that success is better measured by how proud you are of your work, before stating that he has played the album more than any other recorded by the band.

In the December 2008 issue of Q Magazine, Ode To J Smith appeared at number 28 on a list of the Readers' Best Albums Of 2008.

Here is a music video for my personal favorite track "Song to Self"

Tracks
1. "Chinese Blues" – 3:46
2. "J. Smith" – 3:04
3. "Something Anything" – 2:22 (Healy, Dougie Payne)
4. "Long Way Down" (Healy, Payne) – 2:39
5. "Broken Mirror" – 3:12
6. "Last Words" (Healy, Payne) – 4:11
7. "Quite Free" (Andy Dunlop, Healy, Payne) – 4:00
8. "Get Up" (Healy, Payne) – 3:13
9. "Friends" - 3:24
10. "Song to Self" - 3:46
11. "Before You Were Young" - 3:19
12. "Sarah" - 4:26 (Bonus Track - Japanese Edition Only)

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Travis

Travis are a Scottish alternative rock band from Glasgow, comprising Fran Healy (lead vocals, guitar, piano, banjo), Dougie Payne (bass guitar, backing vocals), Andy Dunlop (lead guitar, banjo, keyboards, backing vocals) and Neil Primrose (drums, percussion). Travis have twice been awarded British album of the year at the annual BRIT Awards, and are often credited with having paved the way for bands such as Coldplay, Keane and Snow Patrol. They have released six studio albums, beginning with their debut, Good Feeling, in 1997. Their latest album, Ode to J. Smith, was released in September 2008, to generally positive reviews.

Along with Cast, Ocean Colour Scene, Kula Shaker, and Embrace, Travis was one of the most prominent British trad rock bands in the mid- to late '90s. Following Oasis' lead of crafting down-to-earth, heartfelt songs in the vein of classic British bands from the '60s, Travis was more successful and enduring than some of their peers due to their lively, impassioned songwriting and performances. The group formed in Glasgow around 1990 as something of a lark for its members, singer/songwriter Francis Healy, guitarist Andy Dunlop, drummer Neil Primrose, and bassist Dougie Payne. After finishing their studies at art school a few years later, the foursome became more serious about Travis' potential and moved to London in 1996. Their self-released debut EP, All I Wanna Do Is Rock, came out in the fall of that year; with its earnest vocals and soaring guitars, it captured the spirit of British rock at the time, which was retreating from some of Brit-pop's artiness to a back-to-basics sound. Their second single, 1997's "U16 Girls," was released by Independiente Records, the new label headed by former Go! Discs director Andy MacDonald; a few months later, their critically acclaimed full-length debut, Good Feeling, arrived. Recorded in a matter of days with top producer Steve Lillywhite, the album included hit singles like "Happy" and "Tied to the '90s" and immediately entered the Top Ten of the U.K. charts. The following year, Travis began sessions with star producer Nigel Godrich for the follow-up to Good Feeling, recording in six studios in as many months. Though it was a slower, darker affair, when The Man Who appeared in 1999 it eclipsed Travis' previous successes, going platinum six times in the U.K. and spawning more hit singles such as "Why Does It Always Rain on Me?" and "Writing to Reach You." Nominated Select Magazine's Album of the Year (and finishing in the Top Ten of many other publication's year-end lists), The Man Who appeared on U.S. shores in early 2000, just in time for a tour with their musical big brothers, Oasis. Debuting at the number one spot on the U.K. album chart, The Invisible Band was issued in June 2001 just prior to stateside summer gigs with Dido. Two years later, the band issued 12 Memories, which was followed in late 2004 with the singles collection Singles. Travis finally returned with an album of all-new material in the spring of 2007 entitled The Boy with No Name, whose arrival was announced by the release of the single "Closer." Travis opted for an edgier sound on Ode to J Smith, which was released in early fall 2008 in the U.K. and later in the season in the U.S.

"Sing" by Travis. A very nice song! Never tired of listening to it!

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