L.A. Times is the tenth studio album by the Scottish rock band Travis, released on 12 July 2024 through BMG Rights Management. It was produced by Tony Hoffer and received generally positive reviews from critics.
| L.A. Times | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 12 July 2024 | |||
| Studio | Dave's Room (North Hollywood, Los Angeles) | |||
| Length | 32:12 | |||
| Label |
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| Producer | Tony Hoffer | |||
| Travis studio album chronology | ||||
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| Singles from L.A. Times | ||||
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Critical reception
edit| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 71/100[1] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
| Clash | 7/10[3] |
| Mojo | [4] |
| MusicOMH | [5] |
| PopMatters | 6/10[6] |
| Record Collector | [7] |
| Uncut | 7/10[8] |
| Under the Radar |    [9] |
L.A. Times received a score of 71 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on nine critics' reviews, which the website categorised as "generally favorable" reception.[1] Mojo felt that "it's unlikely to set anything alight, but LA Times still leaves a warm glow",[4] while Record Collector called it "introspection with a keen ear for accessible melodies that help sweeten the bitter pills with which he's self-medicating".[7] Uncut commented that "Travis continue to subtly experiment with their sound, and on this 10th studio set it regularly pays dividends".[8]
Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic commented that "Travis aren't attempting to revive the hunger and ambition that fueled them as young men, they're testing the creative boundaries of middle age as they take stock of the state of a world in tumult."[2] Clash's Robin Murray described it as "a succinct example of Travis' musicality. A mixed bag, it's held together by feverish energy, and some of the band's mainstays – the emotional curiosity, the willingness to think outside the box, and those empathetic vocals".[3] Lee Campbell of Under the Radar remarked that L.A. Times is "at times wistfully joyful, yet also menacing and dark. It could be their most personal and exposed record in years, and as a result its honesty really strikes a chord."[9]
MusicOMH's Chris White found that "it's hard not to admire a band who, a generation on from their heyday, continue to craft their undemanding but eminently listenable songs with passion and charm".[5] Writing for PopMatters, Patrick Gill summarised that "the record does not deliver a consistent or compelling message, despite moments of quality that have always been present for a band of their caliber".[6]
Track listing
editAll tracks are written by Fran Healy; "Alive" written with Tony Hoffer; "L.A. Times" written with Dougie Payne, Andy Dunlop and Neil Primrose.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Bus" | 3:23 |
| 2. | "Raze the Bar" | 3:05 |
| 3. | "Live It All Again" | 3:23 |
| 4. | "Gaslight" | 3:23 |
| 5. | "Alive" | 2:48 |
| 6. | "Home" | 3:05 |
| 7. | "I Hope That You Spontaneously Combust" | 2:18 |
| 8. | "Naked in New York City" | 4:23 |
| 9. | "The River" | 2:16 |
| 10. | "L.A. Times" | 4:08 |
| Total length: | 32:12 | |
Note
- A deluxe edition includes stripped versions of all tracks on a second disc.
Personnel
editTravis
- Fran Healy – lead vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, piano, backing vocals, programming, art direction
- Dougie Payne – bass guitar, double bass, backing vocals
- Andy Dunlop – electric guitar, acoustic guitar, piano, keyboards, backing vocals
- Neil Primrose – drums, percussion
Additional contributors
- Tony Hoffer – production, mixing, programming, keyboards
- Stewart Cole – trumpet
- Jacob Scesney – saxophone
- Devon Taylor – trombone
- Dave Cooley – mastering
- The Indian – mixing
- Cameron Lister – engineering
- Steve Olmon – engineering assistance
- The Indian – Dolby Atmos mixing
- Stefan Ruiz – all photography
- Joe Waghorn – design
- Chris Martin – choir vocals on "Raze the Bar"
- Brandon Flowers – choir vocals on "Raze the Bar"
Tours
editL.A Times Promo Tour
editThe "L.A Times Promo Tour" was the warm up tour for the L.A Times album which was made up of 15 shows across the United Kingdom and the United States in 2024 with the first show starting in Little Hadham on the 6 July 2024[10] and the last show in Alcester on the 25 August 2024.[11]
Raze the Bar Tour
editThe "Raze the Bar Tour" is the main associated tour for the L.A Times album. The tour started in Amsterdam on the 26 August 2024[12].
The tour includes concerts around the world such as the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, Mexico and a number of shows in the United States[13].
Charts
edit| Chart (2024) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[14] | 15 |
| Scottish Albums (OCC)[15] | 1 |
| Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[16] | 76 |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[17] | 75 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[18] | 2 |
| UK Independent Albums (OCC)[19] | 1 |
References
edit- ^ a b "L.A. Times by Travis Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
- ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "L.A. Times – Travis | Album". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
- ^ a b Murray, Robin (11 July 2024). "Travis – L.A. Times | Reviews". Clash. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
- ^ a b "Travis – L.A. Times". Mojo. August 2024. p. 81.
- ^ a b White, Chris (12 July 2024). "Travis – LA Times | Album Reviews". MusicOMH. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
- ^ a b Gill, Patrick (16 July 2024). "Travis' Tenth Studio Album L.A. Times Lacks Consistency". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
- ^ a b "Travis – L.A. Times". Record Collector. August 2024. p. 105.
- ^ a b "Travis – L.A. Times". Uncut. August 2024. p. 40.
- ^ a b Campbell, Lee (11 July 2024). "Travis – L.A. Times (BMG)". Under the Radar. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
- ^ {{cite web | url=https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/travis/2024/church-end-little-hadham-england-13aba179.html and the last show in
- ^ {{cite web | url=https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/travis/2024/ragley-hall-alcester-england-6352a647.html
- ^ {{cite web | url=https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/travis/2024/paradiso-grote-zaal-amsterdam-netherlands-1357b975.html.
- ^ {{cite web | url=https://www.buildhollywood.co.uk/work/travis-raze-the-bar-tour/
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Travis – L.A. Times" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
- ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Travis – L.A TImes". Hung Medien. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Travis – L.A. Times". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
- ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
External links
edit- L.A. Times at Discogs (list of releases)