The Invisible Band Explained

The Invisible Band
Type:studio
Artist:Travis
Cover:Travis - The Invisible Band - album cover.jpg
Released:11 June 2001
Recorded:2000–2001
Studio:
Genre:
Length:45:27
Label:
Producer:Nigel Godrich
Prev Title:The Man Who
Prev Year:1999
Next Title:12 Memories
Next Year:2003

The Invisible Band is the third studio album by the Scottish rock band Travis, produced by Nigel Godrich. It was released on 11 June 2001 in the United Kingdom by Independiente and a day later in the United States by Epic Records. The songwriter, Fran Healy, said the title referred to the band's status of having famous songs, but not being famous themselves.

The Invisible Band spent four weeks at the top of the UK Albums Chart, selling more copies in that time than their previous album, The Man Who (1999), achieved in six months.

Recording

The Invisible Band was recorded at Ocean Way Recording, Los Angeles. It was produced by Nigel Godrich, who also produced the previous Travis record, The Man Who (1999). According to the Travis songwriter, Fran Healy, Godrich arrived for the sessions in a bad mood. Healy said Godrich was frustrated after the gruelling recording sessions for Radiohead's albums Kid A and Amnesiac, and so "took it out on us because he couldn't take it out on Radiohead".[1]

Godrich was strict with Travis and rejected their initial work, which they found dispiriting. Eventually, after a serious argument, the mood settled. Healy felt it was good for Godrich to work with "melodic" bands such as Travis as well as more experimental acts such as Radiohead. The group began to make progress after a session experimenting with unusual instruments such as a tanpura.

Critical reception

At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, The Invisible Band received an average score of 71 based on 17 reviews, which indicates "generally favourable reviews".[2]

Q wrote: "While the wheel remains un-reinvented, The Invisible Band finds its mark with unerring accuracy". While Launch also said of the album, "Songs like the stirring 'Side', the delicate 'Dear Diary', and the glistening 'Follow the Light' are among the best and most fully crafted of Fran Healy's short but accomplished writing career".[2] Q also listed it as one of the best 50 albums of 2001.[3]

Personnel

Adapted from the album liner notes.[4] Travis

Additional musicians

Additional personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2001)Peak
position
Europe (European Top 100 Albums)[5] 2
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[6] 36

Year-end charts

Chart (2001)Position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[7] 72
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[8] 51
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[9] 82
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[10] 18
Europe (European Top 100 Albums)[11] 19
French Albums (SNEP)[12] 145
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[13] 40
Irish Albums (IRMA)[14] 14
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[15] 48
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[16] 70
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[17] 43
UK Albums (OCC)[18] 7
Worldwide Albums (IFPI)[19] 39
Chart (2002)Position
Europe (European Top 100 Albums)[20] 99
French Albums (SNEP)[21] 145
UK Albums (OCC)[22] 78

Notes and References

  1. Web site: McLean . Craig . 2021-11-22 . The Invisible Band at 20: Travis on the album that almost finished them . 2023-11-17 . . en.
  2. Web site: Reviews for The Invisible Band by Travis. Metacritic. 1 August 2013.
  3. News: The Best 50 Albums of 2001. Q. December 2001. 60–65.
  4. Information from the album booklet.
  5. Eurochart Top 100 Albums - July 07, 2001. Music & Media. 19. 28. 15. July 7, 2001. November 17, 2021.
  6. Book: Salaverri, Fernando. Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002. 1st . September 2005. Fundación Autor-SGAE. Spain. 84-8048-639-2.
  7. Web site: ARIA End of Year Albums Chart 2001. Australian Recording Industry Association. 26 August 2020.
  8. Web site: Jahreshitparade Alben 2001. austriancharts.at. 26 August 2020.
  9. Web site: Rapports Annuels 2001. Ultratop. 26 August 2020.
  10. Web site: Chart of the Year 2001. TOP20.dk. da. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110929032700/http://top20.dk/chart/2001. September 29, 2011. July 6, 2021.
  11. Web site: European Top 100 Albums 2001. December 22, 2001. November 17, 2021. Music & Media. 15. World Radio History. August 23, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200823190032/https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/00s/2001/MM-2001-12-22.pdf. live.
  12. Web site: Top de l'année Top Albums 2001. SNEP. fr. 26 August 2020.
  13. Web site: Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts. German. GfK Entertainment. 26 August 2020.
  14. Web site: Best of Albums 2001. Irish Recorded Music Association. 26 May 2022.
  15. Web site: Top Selling Albums of 2001. The Official NZ Music Charts. 8 November 2020.
  16. Web site: Årslista Album – År 2001. Sverigetopplistan. Swedish. 26 August 2020.
  17. Web site: Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2001. hitparade.ch. 26 August 2020.
  18. Web site: End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2001. Official Charts Company. 26 August 2020.
  19. Web site: Top 50 Global Best Selling Albums for 2001. IFPI. https://web.archive.org/web/20081117003957/http://www.ifpi.org/content/library/top50-2001.pdf. November 17, 2008. February 1, 2023.
  20. Year in Review – European Top 100 Albums 2002 . . 21 . 2/3 . 11 January 2003 . 15 . World Radio History . November 17, 2021 . 25 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210125105415/https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/00s/2003/MM-2003-01-11.pdf . live .
  21. Web site: Top de l'année Top Albums 2002. SNEP. fr. 26 August 2020.
  22. Web site: End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2002. Official Charts Company. 26 August 2020.