The Invisible Band

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This article is about the album by Travis. For the band, see The Invisible (band).

The Invisible Band
Studio album by
Travis
Released11 June 2001
Recorded2000–2001
Studio
Genre
Length45:27
Label
ProducerNigel Godrich
Travis chronology
The Man Who
(1999) 		The Invisible Band
(2001) 		12 Memories
(2003)
Singles from The Invisible Band
  1. "Sing"
    Released: 28 May 2001
  2. "Side"
    Released: 17 September 2001
  3. "Flowers in the Window"
    Released: 25 March 2002

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, achieved in half a year.

Recording[edit]

The Invisible Band 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 at Ocean Way Studios, Los Angeles, 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".[2]

Godrich was strict with Travis and rejected their initial work, which the band members found dispiriting.[2] Eventually, after a serious argument, the mood settled.[2] Healy felt it was good for Godrich to work with "melodic" bands such as Travis as well as more experimental acts such as Radiohead.[2] The group began to make progress after a session experimenting with unusual instruments such as a tanpura.[2]

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic71/100[3]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[4]
Entertainment WeeklyA−[5]
The Guardian[6]
Los Angeles Times[7]
NME8/10[8]
Pitchfork6.1/10[9]
Q[10]
Rolling Stone[11]
Spin6/10[12]
Uncut[13]

The Invisible Band received positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 71 based on 17 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews".[3]

Q wrote: "While the wheel remains un-reinvented, The Invisible Band finds its mark with unerring accuracy".[10] 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".[3] Q also listed it as one of the best 50 albums of 2001.[14]

Track listing[edit]

All tracks are written by Fran Healy except where indicated

No.TitleLength
1."Sing"3:48
2."Dear Diary"2:57
3."Side"3:59
4."Pipe Dreams"4:05
5."Flowers in the Window"3:41
6."The Cage"3:05
7."Safe"4:23
8."Follow the Light"3:08
9."Last Train"3:16
10."Afterglow"4:05
11."Indefinitely"3:52
12."The Humpty Dumpty Love Song"5:02

Personnel[edit]

Adapted from the album liner notes.[1]

Charts[edit]

Certifications[edit]

Certifications for The Invisible Band
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[51] Gold 35,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[52] Gold 50,000^
France (SNEP)[53] Gold 100,000*
Germany (BVMI)[54] Gold 150,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[55] Gold 7,500^
Norway (IFPI Norway)[56] Platinum 50,000*
Sweden (GLF)[57] Gold 40,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[58] Gold 20,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[59] 4× Platinum 1,200,000^
Summaries
Europe (IFPI)[60] 2× Platinum 2,000,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Information from the album booklet.
  2. ^ a b c d e McLean, Craig (22 November 2021). "The Invisible Band at 20: Travis on the album that almost finished them". The Independent. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  3. ^ a b c "Reviews for The Invisible Band by Travis". Metacritic. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  4. ^ Wilson, MacKenzie. "The Invisible Band – Travis". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
  5. ^ Weingarten, Marc (15 June 2001). "The Invisible Band". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 3 April 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  6. ^ Costa, Maddy (8 June 2001). "Bland ambition". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  7. ^ Hilburn, Robert (10 June 2001). "Feel-Good Pop From the Heart (and Soul)". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  8. ^ "Travis : The Invisible Band". NME. 9 June 2001. Archived from the original on 5 August 2002. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  9. ^ Rockermann, Kristin Sage (12 June 2001). "Travis: The Invisible Band". Pitchfork. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  10. ^ a b "Travis: The Invisible Band". Q (178): 122. July 2001.
  11. ^ Sarig, Roni (21 June 2001). "Travis: The Invisible Band". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 23 October 2007. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  12. ^ Greenwald, Andy (August 2001). "Travis: The Invisible Band". Spin. 17 (8): 138–39. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  13. ^ "Travis: The Invisible Band". Uncut (51): 88. August 2001.
  14. ^ "The Best 50 Albums of 2001". Q. December 2001. pp. 60–65.
  15. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Travis – The Invisible Band". Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
  16. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Travis – The Invisible Band" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
  17. ^ "Ultratop.be – Travis – The Invisible Band" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  18. ^ "Ultratop.be – Travis – The Invisible Band" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  19. ^ "Travis Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
  20. ^ "Danishcharts.dk – Travis – The Invisible Band". Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
  21. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Travis – The Invisible Band" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  22. ^ "Eurochart Top 100 Albums - July 07, 2001" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 19, no. 28. 7 July 2001. p. 15. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  23. ^ "Travis: The Invisible Band" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
  24. ^ "Lescharts.com – Travis – The Invisible Band". Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
  25. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Travis – The Invisible Band" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
  26. ^ "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 24, 2001". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
  27. ^ "Italiancharts.com – Travis – The Invisible Band". Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
  28. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Travis – The Invisible Band". Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
  29. ^ "Charts.nz – Travis – The Invisible Band". Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
  30. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  31. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Travis – The Invisible Band". Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
  32. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Travis – The Invisible Band". Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
  33. ^ "Travis | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
  34. ^ "Travis Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
  35. ^ "ARIA End of Year Albums Chart 2001". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  36. ^ "Jahreshitparade Alben 2001". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  37. ^ "Rapports Annuels 2001". Ultratop. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  38. ^ "Chart of the Year 2001" (in Danish). TOP20.dk. Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  39. ^ "European Top 100 Albums 2001" (PDF). Music & Media. 22 December 2001. p. 15. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 August 2020. Retrieved 17 November 2021 – via World Radio History.
  40. ^ "Top de l'année Top Albums 2001" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  41. ^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  42. ^ "Best of Albums 2001". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  43. ^ "Top Selling Albums of 2001". The Official NZ Music Charts. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  44. ^ "Årslista Album – År 2001" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  45. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2001". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  46. ^ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2001". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  47. ^ "Top 50 Global Best Selling Albums for 2001" (PDF). IFPI. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 November 2008. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  48. ^ "Year in Review – European Top 100 Albums 2002" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 21, no. 2/3. 11 January 2003. p. 15. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 January 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021 – via World Radio History.
  49. ^ "Top de l'année Top Albums 2002" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  50. ^ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2002". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  51. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2001 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  52. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Travis – The Invisible Band". Music Canada. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  53. ^ "French album certifications – Travis – The Invisible Band" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  54. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Travis; 'The Invisible Band')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  55. ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Travis – The Invisible Band". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  56. ^ "IFPI Norsk platebransje Trofeer 1993–2011" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  57. ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 2003" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2011. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  58. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('The Invisible Band')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  59. ^ "British album certifications – Travis – The Invisible Band". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  60. ^ "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 2002". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
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