| Travels with Myself and Another | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | Future of the Left |
| Cover: | TWMAA_FOTL_cover.jpg |
| Released: | 22 June 2009 |
| Recorded: | February–March 2009 |
| Genre: | Post-hardcore, noise rock |
| Length: | 32:57 |
| Label: | 4AD |
| Producer: | Richard Jackson Future of the Left |
| Prev Title: | Last Night I Saved Her from Vampires |
| Prev Year: | 2009 |
| Next Title: | The Plot Against Common Sense |
| Next Year: | 2012 |
For the 1978 memoir of the same name, see Martha Gellhorn.
Travels with Myself and Another is the second studio album by Future of the Left.
Around summer 2008, the band started performing new tracks such as "Drink Nike" and "The Hope That House Built" at live shows. An additional 3 new songs ("VDFA," "Cloak the Dagger," and "Distant Jabs at a Soul," the last of which contains an instrumental section nearly identical to the ending of "Stand by Your Manatee") were captured on the live album Last Night I Saved Her from Vampires. In November 2008, the band cancelled the rest of their tour dates for the year in order to finish writing the second record. It was recorded at several sessions in studios in Wales and was released on 22 June 2009 on 4AD.
The track listing was confirmed by Andy Falkous on 27 March 2009, in a blog post on the band's MySpace page.[1]
The album was leaked online on 22 April, eight weeks before its release date. Falkous, posting a blog on the subject, said: "I'm not angry (in fact I don't blame you, unless you leaked it, in which case I WILL KILL YOU), just a little worried that the record we made will get lost amongst the debris and leave us playing shows [...] - fifteen people and a world of disillusion."[2]
On 18 May, a pre-ordering system was set up on the band's website which allowed an immediate download of the album, with the CD or LP being sent out closer to the June release date.
The album was awarded a 9/10 score by Clash Music, with the review instructing the reader to "just buy a copy, and PLAY IT FUCKING LOUD." The NME also gave the album a positive review, awarding a rating of 8/10. Ben Patashnik writes: "Travels... feels like a product of 2009, a coruscating reaction to everything that makes us mad but which is never self-righteous or preachy." Andrew P Street of Time Out Sydney concluded "Let's draw a line in the sand right here, people: either this is your favourite album of this year, or you're just plain wrong."[3]
| Publication | Accolade | Recording | Year | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rock Sound | Albums Of The Year[4] | - | 2009 | 9th | |
| The Guardian | Critic' Poll 2009[5] | - | 2009 | 17th | |
| The Fly | The Top 50 Albums Of 2009[6] | - | 2009 | 10th | |
| Pitchfork | 100 Tracks Of 2009[7] | Arming Eritrea | 2009 | 97th | |
| Pitchfork | Honourable Mentions[8] | - | 2009 | - | |
| NME | 50 Best Albums Of 2009[9] | - | 2009 | 18th | |
| NME | 50 Best Tracks Of 2009[10] | Arming Eritrea | 2009 | 31st | |
| Clash | Top 40 Albums Of 2009[11] | 2009 | 20th | ||
| Drowned In Sound | Top Albums Of 2009[12] | - | 2009 | 21st | |
| AV Club | Top 25 Albums Of 2009[13] | - | 2009 | 14th | |
| No Ripcord | Top 50 Albums Of 2009[14] | - | 2009 | 18th | |
| Dandelion Radio | John Peel Festive 50[15] | Arming Eritrea | 2009 | 49th | |
| Village Voice | Pazz & Jop Lists Albums[16] | 2009 | 67th | ||
| Village Voice | Pazz & Jop Lists Singles[17] | Arming Eritrea | 2009 | 224th |