Travis - 'Selfish Jean'
Aww....lovely Travis. Comfy like an old sweater, warm and cosy like your thickest and softest socks, and as floppy as a bogey windmill. There are many things that lovely Travis don't do. They don't swear (except in their serious songs about issues), they don't fall over drunk on the floor after duffing up a nun up for looking at them funny, and they don't do fast songs which make you want to jig about. That's for Jack Penate, right?
Well, as this clip from Jools Holland shows, that last rule seems to have been broken, which can only mean it's time to lock up your nuns (and tell them to put their fingers in their ears). Someone has reminded Fran Healey's mob that there's more to life than making softypop confections that melt like an ice-spider's thinnest web on a hot day.
Someone has also pointed out that any song which uses Iggy Pop's immortal 'Lust For Life' as a rhythmic template is automatically a BAZILLION times more brilliant than any other type of song you could care to name. They may have also mentioned Guillemots and 'Trains To Brazil'.
That self-same someone has clearly had a bit of a word about Fran's singing, which was borderline 11-year-old girl on the band's last few songs. In fact, their last single 'Closer', was so wet I didn't bother reviewing it. After all, what were they gonna do, CRY?
'Seflish Jean' is, thankfully, cut from meatier cloth. It's a lyrical swipe at a nasty girl who would probably do very well in the Big Brother house. And it re-introduces the great big Fran Travis "WOOOOOAAAAA!" to the band's lexicon of sounds. And make no mistake, when Fran Travis sings "WOOOOOAAAAA!", flowers blossom in the belly, clouds part, and the sun greets you like your best friend has just come back from a long holiday with a massive present.
This, then, is the welcome return of the band who once sang "I'm so happy, cos you're so happy", rather than those mimsy swots who've spent the last 8 years moaning about the weather. Look! This is what it was like....
Isn't it great? It's like SUMMER HAS FINALLY ARRIVED. IT'S LIKE WHY DOESN'T IT ALWAYS RAIN ON ME. IT'S LIKE WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEEEEEEEN, BRILLIANT-TRAVIS????
OK, slight over-reaction, but you've got to admit this is a massive step in the right direction...
PS: All that fuss about the hour-glass lyric in the Paramore song. Is it REALLY as good as "you keep the chocolate biscuits wired to a car alarm"? No. It is not.
Download: Out now
CD Released: July 9th
(Fraser McAlpine)
Comments
Good review. Actually listening to it more its a pretty good song, way better than 'Closer.' I thought they had lost it a bit when I heard 'Closer,' this song revives them from that I say.
Pretty accurate review... congrats :)
My older brother also met Travis last week... and the Feeling... lucky twerp
hmmf
But anyways...
The song doesnt really stick out to me... but i agree when you say its better than alot of their other songs :)
Lovin Travis they make me proud to be Scottish :D :D Love this song. Nice and up beat - although I do love their slow slushy songs too.
And don't get me started on the Paramore lyric - it's bloody genius dude. And so is the thing about chocolate biscuits! Is there anything about Chocolate biscuits that ISNT genius?
I'm thrilled this is the new single - it's my second favourite song on the album, after Closer!
The beginnig still sounds like reach for the stars by sclub7