12 Memories
by Travis
  • Record Label: Sony
  • Release Date: Oct 14, 2003
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 31 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 31
  3. Negative: 1 out of 31

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  1. Thomas
    Oct 14, 2003
    5
    We don't need anymore CDs from these guys. We've gotten the point. Nice music for nice people. Inoffensive music noone could possibly hate, and noone could possibly adore. Should sell like hotcakes, then.
  2. anshumans
    Oct 24, 2003
    6
    well the new album is not as strong as their previous works.. for me the invisible band is still the best. or perhaps the more u listen to it..the more it can grow on you.. not a bad effort record overall though!
  3. walkabout_88
    Mar 11, 2017
    6
    Travis' fourth LP sees the band trying to distance themselves from the sound they had perfected up to that point, favouring darker and more experimental turns. 12 Memories certainly lacks cohesion and even finds the place for unusual, overtly political songs that probably felt needed in the year 2003 (The Beautiful Occupation; Peace the F**k Out). Some songs feel as almost unfinishedTravis' fourth LP sees the band trying to distance themselves from the sound they had perfected up to that point, favouring darker and more experimental turns. 12 Memories certainly lacks cohesion and even finds the place for unusual, overtly political songs that probably felt needed in the year 2003 (The Beautiful Occupation; Peace the F**k Out). Some songs feel as almost unfinished (Paperclips; Happy to Hang Around), and it's unclear what direction Travis might take - the subsequent, more conservative 2007's The Boy with No Name provided an answer.
    The safest bet here is Love Will Come Through, which counts as one of the best polished songs the quartet has ever recorded, though opening track Quicksands and closing track Walking Down the Hill, as imperfect as they are, hint at a more interesting record that never came to fruition.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

89
#89 Most Discussed Album of 2003

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
64

Generally favorable reviews - based on 22 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 22
  3. Negative: 0 out of 22
  1. E! Online
    58
    Gone are the inspired melodies and sweet emotional turns of their past triumphant albums, replaced by boring philosophical musings and wafer-thin tunes.
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  2. Launch.com
    80
    Weighted with tunes that approach middle age with tension and caution.
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  3. Entertainment Weekly
    83
    Buttressing these sentiments (and singer Fran Healy's dewy voice) is just the type of production Travis needed: jarring guitar solos, zigzagging harmonies, snow-crunching percussion.
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