L.A. Times

Dig beneath the surface, the lyrics make plain Healy's claim of the album being a personal record but the trick that Travis pulls off with L.A. Times is that it is engaging on the surface thanks to colorful melodies and shifting arrangements--the very things that beg for subsequent listens, the ones where themes reveal themselves.

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.

Travis continue to subtly experiment with their sound, and on this 10th studio set it regularly pays dividends. [Aug 2024, p.40]

Short and to the point, ‘L.A. Times’ is 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. A real charmer.

L.A. Times is a largely uneven effort, with some quality moments but many more that are a conundrum. Even if Healy could convey strong feelings in places, some of the themes come across as sappy, petty, or just bitter, which brings into question just how much he really had to share. It is worth acknowledging that Travis take more risks than we have seen in over a decade.

It's introspection with a keen ear for accessible melodies that help sweeten the bitter pills with which he's self-medicating. [Aug 2024, p.105]

Overall, 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.