Travis, a Scottish band you have probably never heard of, has made many great albums and singles in their time as a band. Do not let the unpopularity of Travis change your viewpoint on their music, they have made many great works and continue to do so.

Their most recent release has been a single called “Kissing in the Wind” released in late 2019. Although, as previously stated, this band does not get a lot of recognition that they deserve, I truly believe they deserve more credit for their work. With their alternative rock and indie style of music, they have worked together to produce some very good songs and exceptional albums.

Travis consists of four members: Fran Healy, the lead singer, Dougie Payne, the bass guitarist, Andy Dunlop, the banjo player, and Neil Primrose, the drummer. The band has been playing together from 1990 to the present.

They have not had much attention in America as a band which contributes greatly to their unpopularity. Most of their support comes from the U.K. and in Europe. They have had many great albums, my favorite being Where You Stand.

This 2013 album was a well appreciated album and a “re-awakening” for the band. Where You Stand, with its explosive opening song, “Mother”, to its very slow ending song, “The Big Screen,” has stood out to me as one if their bests.

With their most popular album The Man Who released in 1999, containing some of their best tracks such as “Why Does it Always Rain on Me?”, “Turn”, and “The Last Laugh of the Laughter,” the album Where You Stand re-awoken the true lyricism of Fran Healy. Fran Healy has always had this lyricism, however.

The album The Invisible Band includes one of Travis’ best singles “Sing”. This song has been widely recognized as one of their best and has made an appearance in the Netflix show The Office. I do not, however, want to express how Travis is an excellent band by a few hit songs, but by a combined effort of all their work.

They have produced some of the most underrated and prestigious works since their time as a band. With their beginning album, Good Feeling, and their initial rock genre to their shift to more alternative and indie style music. Their well appreciated rock songs include “All I Wanna Do is Rock” and “Tied to the 90’s.”

The album The Man Who signified a great maturity for the band as well as their shift in genres. An excellent display of alternative rock music is given in the song “Why Does it Always Rain On Me?” Their most recent single “Kissing in the Wind” expresses a chill tune that truly expresses who Travis is as a band.

The albums in between such as Where You Stand, The Boy With No Name, The Invisible Band, and, Everything At Once show the band’s alternative and indie rock style as well as expresses Fran Healy’s deep understanding of music and lyricism.

Travis has produced great music for decades. The question of why they never really made it big in America is a difficult question to answer. I think that Travis should have a lot more recognition that they have right now.

Although, they are a pretty popular band in the U.K. their popularity in America has never really existed. Travis has demonstrated a unique understanding of alternative, indie, and rock music throughout the years with their work and I believe more people should listen to their music.