09-10-2010, 13:11
released Oct 5th, 2010
![[Image: o45394p2oq8.jpg]](http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/dro400/o453/o45394p2oq8.jpg)
from the album - Sing Me To Sleep
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bd6DkvWK_fM
from allmusic
Bio
Francis Healy is the frontman and main songwriter of Travis, one of the most successful Britpop groups of the late â90s and early 2000s. Born in England in 1973, he moved to Glasgow as a child and remained in Scotland for the entirety of his youth, eventually relocating to London as a 23 year-old alongside bandmates Andy Dunlop, Neil Primrose, and Dougie Payne. The four had already honed Travisâ sound while living in Glasgow, and they wasted little time establishing a buzz in their new home. Featuring production from U2 architect Steve Lillywhite, Travisâ debut album, Good Feeling, was released in 1997. Although it didnât sell well, it did earn the band a European tour alongside Oasis, and Travis began establishing its reputation as a solid live act.
Travis hit their stride around the turn of the millennium, when both The Man Who and The Invisible Band sold several million copies apiece. Healy handled almost all of the songwriting duties himself, and his gentle, melodic music became a hallmark of the latter-day Britpop sound, with younger groups like Coldplay and Keane citing Travisâ albums as a major influence. The momentum halted in 2002, though, when Primrose broke his neck jumping into a shallow swimming pool. The band took a break while he recovered, eventually returning in 2003 with 12 Memories. Travis continued releasing albums as the decade drew to a close. Meanwhile, Healy began writing material for a solo album, Wreckorder, which he released in 2010.
Album Review
The first solo effort from Travis frontman Fran Healy, Wreckorder is a soft, moody, and introspective affair that draws upon Healy's taste for melodic singer/songwriter pop and alt-folk. Hewing closest to the darker, less radio-friendly aspects of Travis' catalog, Wreckorder may be a bit of a challenge to fans hoping for something along the lines of such catchy Travis songs as "Sing" and "Why Does It Always Rain on Me?" That said, there are certainly some standout moments here, including Healy's duet with Canadian chanteuse Neko Case on "Sing Me to Sleep," the brooding, rolling anthem "Shadow Boxing," and Sir Paul McCartney's bass-playing cameo on the wry, tango-meets-reggae ballad "As It Comes." Healy's yearning, earthy croon is well intact here, and although he doesn't try to upstage his main band's act, longtime Travis fans and anybody in the mood for heartfelt, smartly crafted folk-pop should find much to enjoy on Wreckorder.
Track Listing
1 In the Morning Healy 2:51
2 Anything Healy 4:15
3 Sing Me to Sleep Healy 4:00
4 Fly in the Ointment Healy 3:10
5 As It Comes Healy 2:45
6 Buttercups Healy 3:55
7 Shadow Boxing Healy 4:33
8 Holiday Healy 3:41
9 Rocking Chair Healy 3:05
10 Moonshine Healy 2:31
from the album - Sing Me To Sleep
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bd6DkvWK_fM
from allmusic
Bio
Francis Healy is the frontman and main songwriter of Travis, one of the most successful Britpop groups of the late â90s and early 2000s. Born in England in 1973, he moved to Glasgow as a child and remained in Scotland for the entirety of his youth, eventually relocating to London as a 23 year-old alongside bandmates Andy Dunlop, Neil Primrose, and Dougie Payne. The four had already honed Travisâ sound while living in Glasgow, and they wasted little time establishing a buzz in their new home. Featuring production from U2 architect Steve Lillywhite, Travisâ debut album, Good Feeling, was released in 1997. Although it didnât sell well, it did earn the band a European tour alongside Oasis, and Travis began establishing its reputation as a solid live act.
Travis hit their stride around the turn of the millennium, when both The Man Who and The Invisible Band sold several million copies apiece. Healy handled almost all of the songwriting duties himself, and his gentle, melodic music became a hallmark of the latter-day Britpop sound, with younger groups like Coldplay and Keane citing Travisâ albums as a major influence. The momentum halted in 2002, though, when Primrose broke his neck jumping into a shallow swimming pool. The band took a break while he recovered, eventually returning in 2003 with 12 Memories. Travis continued releasing albums as the decade drew to a close. Meanwhile, Healy began writing material for a solo album, Wreckorder, which he released in 2010.
Album Review
The first solo effort from Travis frontman Fran Healy, Wreckorder is a soft, moody, and introspective affair that draws upon Healy's taste for melodic singer/songwriter pop and alt-folk. Hewing closest to the darker, less radio-friendly aspects of Travis' catalog, Wreckorder may be a bit of a challenge to fans hoping for something along the lines of such catchy Travis songs as "Sing" and "Why Does It Always Rain on Me?" That said, there are certainly some standout moments here, including Healy's duet with Canadian chanteuse Neko Case on "Sing Me to Sleep," the brooding, rolling anthem "Shadow Boxing," and Sir Paul McCartney's bass-playing cameo on the wry, tango-meets-reggae ballad "As It Comes." Healy's yearning, earthy croon is well intact here, and although he doesn't try to upstage his main band's act, longtime Travis fans and anybody in the mood for heartfelt, smartly crafted folk-pop should find much to enjoy on Wreckorder.
Track Listing
1 In the Morning Healy 2:51
2 Anything Healy 4:15
3 Sing Me to Sleep Healy 4:00
4 Fly in the Ointment Healy 3:10
5 As It Comes Healy 2:45
6 Buttercups Healy 3:55
7 Shadow Boxing Healy 4:33
8 Holiday Healy 3:41
9 Rocking Chair Healy 3:05
10 Moonshine Healy 2:31