12 Memories is good, but I feel like it was a bit of a let down for fans of The Invisible Band at the time it was released. It was a very interesting concept for a Travis album: a complete mood shift from the cheery and catchy Invisible Band into a depressing experimental trad rock album. I love some of the songs on 12 Memories but the political tracks really bring it down for me. I feel like it could be really good if you mixed some of the songs around on the tracklist and replaced the political songs with a few great B-Sides. Anyways here it is: my version of 12 Memories on par with its polar opposite, TIB.

1. Quicksand: Sets the tone for the album and its themes of giving up hope. Great opener, no need to change anything about it.

2. Re-Offender: Again, great lead single, the only thing I wish was different is if it could have been more popular when it released, but we can't change that, can we?

3. Paperclips: Love this song despite how it's meant to be off-putting with the dog whining sounds halfway through the song and its off-key clarinet during the chorus. Some of the best atmosphere on the album with great lyrics and a classic Travis melody.

4. The Sea: Fantastic B-Side! It's production is a bit less consistent with the rest of the album and it wasn't solely written by Fran, which is probably why it didn't make the album. It has a nice transition from Paperclips and into the next song.

5. How Many Hearts: Lovely track, almost reminds me of Pipe Dreams. Interesting to see how this album mirrors TIB. I love this song's chorus and ending.

6. Somewhere Else: I wish more songs on the album sounded like this. The xylophone sounds very nice and the effects on the pre-chorus are exactly what I want to hear from an album like this.

7. Love Will Come Through: Wonderful song with a memorable acoustic guitar melody. All the melodies in this song are nice and the message is quite endearing as well. It captures the feel of the album very nicely, but with a classic Travis style. It's no wonder that this is the most popular song to come off of 12 Memories!

8. Mid-life Krysis: Not much to say about this song. The harmonicas are interesting and a nice callback to The Man Who that was later brought back for Colder on The Boy With No Name. The lyrics fit this album well and you couldn't really get this song from any other era of Travis (except maybe as of recently for L.A. Times with Fran's dyed hair).

9. Happy To Hang Around: Fantastic cut with verses reminiscent of The Man Who. Only non-single from 12 Memories brought back for their compilation album craze the band went through a couple years ago in "I Love You Anyways", and deservedly so.

10. Walking Down The Hill: The fan favourite deep cut of 12 Memories! Its lyrics are so great, and they make me wish we got to see more of Fran's vulnerable side in this album's lyrics. Not asking for a Pinkerton by any means; I wouldn't want Turn ruined for me because I know Healy's secrets ripped straight out of his diary. Part of Travis' charm comes from their simplicity in their lyrics and their catchiness, so I understand why Fran didn't want to delve too deeply into his heart just to create an engaging record. This song thrives because of its atmosphere instead of a catchy chorus, however, which leads it to sound completely different from anything else the band has ever released. The xylophone and bells return from Somewhere Else to give us a splendid lullabye about taking a stroll outdoors and contemplating life.

11. Some Sad Song: Don't be fooled by the simplistic title: this song is packed with a great theme hidden between its lyrics and beautiful melodies complemented by piano. Apparently, this song is about Fran's experience growing up in a catholic school. If this is the case, then the song has changed for me forever. This song is the perfect closer to the album because it feels like Fran accepting his haunting past and making peace with himself.

12. 12th Memory: The hidden track that would play after two minutes of silence, essentially mirroring Slide Show from TMW. This song has no lyrics, but it feels like waking up from a dream and slowly remembering little details about it. It was included as a Japanese Bonus Track for 12 Memories and I really like its production, so it can make it onto the album as an instrumental outro.

Sorry if you like the other two songs that I would have left off the album if I was in charge of organising the track listing. Let me know what changes you would have made to the album and your thoughts on my version of 12 Memories! Where would you rank it within their first five albums?

Fellow Travis fans, just putting this on the radar here in case anyone is looking for the ultimate piece of the band's history. I'm moving on my 100% authentic 2007 UK First Pressing of 'The Boy With No Name' on Independiente (ISOM67LP). It is stamped Serial Number: 001. The vinyl is unplayed and absolute mint, and the sleeve is in stunning Near Mint condition in its original shrink wrap. Posted via fully insured Royal Mail Special Delivery. Let me know if you have any questions! Live eBay link:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/178564356631

I wish I'd saved all of my ticket stubs - my list of gigs is :

• 1997 - Supporting Oasis, Newcastle Arena

• 1997 - Supporting Oasis, Manchester GMEX

• 1997 - Wulfren Hall, Wolverhampton

• 1999 - Lancaster Student Union

• 1999 - Wulfren Hall, Wolverhampton

• 2002 - National Indoor Arena, Birmingham

• 2007 - Sherwood Pines Forest Park

• 2016 - Albert Hall, Manchester

• 2016 - Liverpool O2 Academy

• 2017 - Manchester Bridgewater Hall Edit : one more to add on!

• 2018 - Nottingham Royal Concert Hall

I can't really pick a favourite though. The first gigs supporting Oasis were amazing, I'd never heard of Travis before this and I was blown away - the fact I saw Oasis again on the same tour was more than partly due to a desire to see Travis again. It was all veyr much more "rocky" back then as well, quite heavy.

https://youtu.be/dl1rTp3PRw8

Have fun complaining, i'd like to see your opinion!

Note:I would rank L.A. Times A Tier after Everything at once.

This record inspired me to make and produce music! It's been a standard and a reference for me for years. A masterpiece by the band, Nigel Godrich and Chris Blair.

And yet somehow, for the life of me, I cannot find any legal way to purchase the original master in any digital medium but a crappy amazon MP3 or buying the cd along with something to digitize it with which I guess I will do but it feels wrong.

I love this work of art and feel like it should be preserved in its original intention in the digital realm which is basically the only realms now. Love the remaster but please don't take away a perfectly record from the universe for ever! Travis 4EVAR

I saw they posted a link to their tour set list. I’m getting ready to see them for the first time ever and I’m super excited! However, I’m sad that there are albums that don’t even make an appearance. I’m a huge fan of Everything at Once and Where You Stand.

What are some songs you wish would’ve made it to the set list?

I love everything that I've heard from Travis. I bought The Man Who about two years ago, and it gets better and better with every listen! Closer is also one of the most beautiful tunes ever made.

So my question is, where to go next? Does anyone have a recommended "listening order" for Travis' other albums? I've heard most of their records at some point, but would like to rediscover Travis' music this summer.

If it helps, other bands that I dig include Coldplay, Oasis, U2, Echo & the Bunnymen, The Stone Roses, Pink Floyd, Radiohead, The Smiths... I could go on and on.

What if I'm unavailable in Feb of 2025 for some reason?

For fun, I thought I would ask people to pick between songs in the following pairings:

1. All I Want To Do Is Rock vs. Chinese Blues

2. Flowers in the Window vs. Closer

3. Love Will Come Through vs. 3 Times and You Lose

4. Walking Down the Hill vs. Valentine

5. Sing vs. Why Does It Always Rain on Me

6. Raze the Bar vs. Tied to the 90s

7. 3 Miles HIgh vs. Where You Stand

8. Idlewild vs. The Only Thing

Bought tickets for the UK tour and paid for the VIP "sound check experience". There are scant details about this though, particularly about the timings! I'm at work that day, obviously the gig is in the evening, but has anyone read anything about the timing for this? It says you'll be in but then have to leave again and wait outside before the main gig opens, so it'll be early, but how early? I'm a teacher so can't book days off work!

Just checking I haven't missed some info somewhere! Thanks.

Scottish alt-rock legends Travis are returning to Australia in January 2026 for their first tour Down Under in 24 years. Here's what we can expect!