A bought this album with no previous knowledge of Travis, but primarily after hearing of the success that it enjoyed in Britain, both critically and commercially. Thank God for hunches. Fran Healy's voice is simply angelic, occupying a nearly identical octave range as Thom York from Radiohead, minus York's always-present sense of panic. I would be hard-pressed not to pay top-billing to see them live with Oasis, and one has to wonder who may be opening for whom in the future. I would think that they are winking at both the listener and Oasis themselves by beginning "Writing to Reach You," with the same chord progression as "Wonderwall," but that is where the similarities cease between the two groups, and Travis sets out to achieve one of the most hypnotically beautiful and melodically stunning albums to come out of Britain, or any other country for that matter in many, many years. No real need for me to recommend it to everyone, because anyone who truly appreciates great music will have this album soon enough. Travis have truly opened up their own niche in the Brit-pop lexicon, combining professional musicianship and Fran Healy's devastating vocals and equally beautiful and heartfelt lyrics. Bliss. Enjoy.

and now it carries me back. I'm pretty sure I made it through a year of school because of this album. The Man Who explores a wide variety of emotional themes. "Writing To Reach You" and "Why Does It Always Rain On Me?" are the standout tracks, but the whole thing is really a lyrical and instrumental tour de force. Buy this album so you, too, can listen to it compulsively for months, then remember those months of your life every time you return the CD to the player. Radiohead refuses to get this emotional, and Coldplay will do it, but usually arena-style. Both of those bands make good albums for other times, but you can play this in a quiet room and calmly soak it up. And who doesn't need an album like that?

Although some of the first Travis songs I ever heard came from The Invisible Band ("Sing", "Side"), I have to say that this CD is the superior one. Alas, there's no prominent hit like a "Sing" that haunts the radio waves, but unknown classics like "Why Does It Always Rain On Me?" and "Luv" prove more effectual; and in turn so does the entire album. If you've heard anything off The Invisible Band then you will certainly love The Man Who. This CD makes you think, relax and dance (want to, at least) all at the same time. Other reviews note that Travis works like a cross between heavyweights Oasis and Radiohead. That's very true. And that's okay. These songs are all great; and very memorable. Here's an overview of the ten tracks:

1. Writing To Reach You - 5/5 - a very catchy, up-beat song. And since there's not a lot of up-beat songs on The Man Who, it really stands out. The verse `the radio is playing all the usual / and what's a wonderwall anyway?' is great; and is an obvious nod to Oasis. Funny, but smart at the same time. A perfect start to the CD...

2. The Fear - 3.5/5 - although one of the weaker songs on the album, it is more mellow and laid back compared to the opener. It falls short of the depressing tones latter tracks offer, and is not quite cheery enough to stand out. Isolating, but good nonetheless.

3. As You Are - 4.5/5 - very simplistic lyrics seem to work wonders for this one. The singer's voice is almost too mellow for comfort. And yet you'll feel very contented listening to this. It's a song about being `different'; and the screeching midway through is certainly just that. Great solo as well (something Travis is not known for).

4. Driftwood - 4/5 - `home is where the heart is / but your heart had to roam': one of the great lines within the song. The guitar work here is excellent--some of the best on the CD--but the lyrics (minus the above line and a few more) are a bit more average.

5. The Last Laugh Of The Laughter - 4/5 - this entire song is very reminiscent of Radiohead. Sadly, the way they used the French sayings (`c'est la vie', `tout ma vie') didn't really seem to fit. But the way the singer sings the title makes up for it.

6. Turn - 5/5 - although released as a single (while still receiving a five-out-of-five), I believe there a few other songs that might outdo this one. It has all the qualifications of a hit single: a good beat, good lyrics, and an overall enjoyable sound. And the lyrics really stand out.

7. Why Does It Always Rain On Me? - 5/5 - this is probably my favorite song on The Man Who and of the band. The sound is very mellow at first, but picks up to become more up-beat and pop-ish (don't be deceived) in the chorus. When contemplating the title, the singer wonders: `was it because I lied when I was 17?'. Splendid!

8. Luv - 5/5 - I always enjoy when bands throw in a rarely used instrument in one of their songs. And the harmonica works beautifully on this track. In the song, the vocalist is speaking directly to Luv (maybe a person, maybe the feeling); which makes the song very likable. It's one of the more serene tracks on The Man Who.

9. She's So Strange - 3.5/5 - the one sounds more like it belongs on Good Feeling, Travis' almost-unknown debut. Its lyrics scream for attention, whereas the tune is as laid back as ever. Along with "The Fear", this is one of the weakest on the album. But again, still decent.

10. Slide Show - 4.5/5 - this is a rather typical closer for the type of CD this was. And that's perfectly fine. It brings certain amounts of depressing vibes while still managing to seem up-beat. It's diversity, though not its lyrics, are what make it so pleasing. The guitar work is also very alluring. The only reason it's not perfect is because the hidden track is about ten times better (exaggeration).

xx. Hidden Track - 5/5 - I think the title for it is "Blue Flashing Lights"; as if that makes a difference. Although all ten tracks have seemed to be diverse enough, this one is easily the most atypical, out-of-the-ordinary Travis song you'll ever hear. It's vulgar, coarse, and even features a few swear words. The lead singer seems to be letting go of some (choice word) overwhelming hostility. And that makes for my favorite song on the album. I always skip to this one first and THEN let the album play through. It's just that awesome. Do not overlook it!

Although The Man Who is very comparable to their beloved 2001 album, The Invisible Band, I will once more state that this album is better. It's just more well-rounded and so overly diverse that you can't ignore or dislike any of the songs. And the unchecked aggression that you hear on the hidden track makes it worth the purchase alone. It just shows how amazing the CD is as a whole. And timeless gems like "Why Does It Always Rain On Me?", "Luv", "Writing To Reach You", and "Turn" are all worthy of radio time, no doubt. If you own and enjoy The Invisible Band then I highly recommend this CD as well. And if you don't know much about Travis, just listen to the 30-second samples above. You can decide from there. This is a brilliant release from a band that doesn't get the attention or respect they deserve. Even if it seems they want to be invisible, don't let them.

I origianlly wrote a review of this when it was import-only. This disc is so good I decided to write another review for the domestic release. It is very true one can see a direct link between Radiohead and Travis, but I mainly attribute that to Fran's vocals and not much else. What Travis do so well is write beautiful songs with some simple, yet gorgeous melodies. This is not very experimental nor is it groundbreaking, just a wonderfully straight forward pop record. (after all, quadruple platinum in the U.K. must mean something) Those who were patient and waited for the domestic version get the extra bonus of 2 more songs that appear as the last hidden tracks. If you like what they do, I also suggest picking up their first, more up-tempo debut, "Good Feeling", as well as the single to "Turn", which has an awesome cover of the Brittney Spears hit, Baby One More Time. (You just gotta hear it, believe me)

Travis is currently touring the states, they put on an amazing live show, so go see them if you can.

I bought this album a couple of months ago,expecting a couple of good hits and the rest fill-ins,but I was pleasantly surprised. Most of the songs are very good.'Writing to Reach You' is a wonderful track,with a beautiful chorus,my favourite of the album.'The Last Laugh of Laughter' reminds me of the Beatles' 'Michelle' with its French lyrics in the middle.I can never get tired of listening to it.'Turn' is the fastest song on the album, the closest they get to fast rock'n roll.I really like the way it starts up slow and then slowly gets faster.'Why does it always Rain on me' is the hit of the album,what made the band famous.'Driftwood' is a sweet song,with a catchy melody.The rest aren't as good as the ones I have just mentioned,bhut still round off the album well.The album can sometimes get frustrating, wishing that some of the songs were faster and harder.This is no OK Computer.Travis' songs are not as complex nor have as many mix ups.Radiohead are still on another level. But Healy's Yorke(from Radiohead) like voice is superb,and the album simply makes you feel good,not having to listen to anymore techno or rap.I strongly recommend it.