''Travistan'' is
Travis Morrison
Travis Morrison (born December 16, 1972) is an American musician and web developer from the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C., United States. He is best known as leader of indie-rock band The Dismemberment Plan and as a solo artist.
...
's solo debut album, released in 2004 by
Barsuk Records
Barsuk Records ( ) is an independent record label based in Seattle, Washington, that was founded by the members of the band This Busy Monster, Christopher Possanza and Josh Rosenfeld, in 1998 to release their band's material. Its logo is a draw ...
. The record is named after the van that Morrison rode in during his former band
The Dismemberment Plan
The Dismemberment Plan was a Washington, D.C. based indie rock band formed on January 1, 1993. Also known as D-Plan or The Plan, the name was derived from an industry phrase used by insurance salesman Ned Ryerson in the popular comedy '' Ground ...
's last tour.
Reception
''Travistan'' received mixed reviews. It currently has a 56 out of 100 on the review aggregate site
Metacritic
Metacritic is a website that review aggregator, aggregates reviews of films, TV shows, music albums, video games and formerly, books. For each product, the scores from each review are averaged (a weighted arithmetic mean, weighted average). M ...
, indicating "Mixed or average reviews."
The album is often noted in discussions of the music journalism website ''
Pitchfork
A pitchfork (also a hay fork) is an agricultural tool with a long handle and two to five tines used to lift and pitch or throw loose material, such as hay, straw, manure, or leaves.
The term is also applied colloquially, but inaccurately, to th ...
'', as it marked one of the first moments when, after establishing itself as a critical powerhouse, the
e-zine
An online magazine is a magazine published on the Internet, through bulletin board systems and other forms of public computer networks. One of the first magazines to convert from a print magazine format to being online only was the computer magaz ...
turned on an artist to whom it had previously given enthusiastic support.
The album was one of the rare albums to get a 0.0 rating, with reviewer Chris Dahlen describing the album as "one of the most colossal trainwrecks in indie rock history."
Barsuk Records co-founder Josh Rosenfeld described the effects of the review "immediate and disastrous"; ''Pitchfork''s managing editor later said that the site had become more careful in issuing very negative reviews as a result.
Responding to ''Pitchfork''s review, Morrison said:
Other critical reviews compared the album negatively to work of Morrison's previous band
The Dismemberment Plan
The Dismemberment Plan was a Washington, D.C. based indie rock band formed on January 1, 1993. Also known as D-Plan or The Plan, the name was derived from an industry phrase used by insurance salesman Ned Ryerson in the popular comedy '' Ground ...
. Zeth Lundy of ''
PopMatters
''PopMatters'' is an international online magazine of cultural criticism that covers aspects of popular culture. ''PopMatters'' publishes reviews, interviews, and essays on cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, fi ...
'' wrote, "This is quite literally as disappointing as records get, made all the more so by Morrison's solid resume with the Dismemberment Plan." Lundy singled out the tracks "Get Me Off This Coin", "My Two Front Teeth, Parts 2 and 3" and "Song for the Orca" for criticism.
Not all reviews were negative, though. Noel Murray of ''
The A.V. Club
''The A.V. Club'' is an American online newspaper and entertainment website featuring reviews, interviews, and other articles that examine films, music, television, books, games, and other elements of pop-culture media. ''The A.V. Club'' was cre ...
'' wrote "''Travistan'' is odd but oddly listenable, with a bright mood sparked by Morrison's spirit of discovery. It's one extended, refreshing 'Why not?'."
''
Stylus Magazine
''Stylus Magazine'' was an American online music and film magazine, launched in 2002 and co-founded by Todd L. Burns. It featured long-form music journalism, four daily music reviews, movie reviews, podcasts, an MP3 blog, and a text blog.
Addi ...
''s Anthony Miccio, in response to the album's criticism, wrote, "After hearing the crap people have said about this album I'm bummed that people are so quick to reject what doesn't fit their immediate logic. It's ironic that folks would get off on shredding an album that's about trying to be kind and honest at the same time."
Track listing
Personnel
Credits adapted from AllMusic.
[Travistan – Travis Morrison](_blank)
Allmusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...
. Retrieved 15 June 2011
*
Travis Morrison
Travis Morrison (born December 16, 1972) is an American musician and web developer from the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C., United States. He is best known as leader of indie-rock band The Dismemberment Plan and as a solo artist.
...
– bass guitar, drum machine, guitar, melodica, organ, percussion, piano, sampling, synthesizer, xylophone
* Phil Brazena – violin
* Dan Doggett – double bass
* Mike Dugan – bass guitar, drum machine, guitar, melodica, organ, percussion, piano, sampling, synthesizer, xylophone
* Amanda Fazzone – choir, chorus
* Megan Katcher – viola
* Josh LeBar – double bass
* Corinne Lynch – viola
* Jason McGerr – drums
* Kendall Nordin – choir, chorus
* Tiffany Shanta – violin
* Travistani National String Orchestra – strings
* Travistani Women's Chorus – choir, chorus
* Sean Urban – violin
* John Vanderslice – background vocals
* Christopher Walla – audio production, bass, drum machine, guitar, melodica, organ, percussion, piano, producer, sampling, synthesizer, xylophone
* Don Zientara – audio production, producer
References
External links
Barsuk Record's page on ''Travistan''
{{Authority control
2004 debut albums
Barsuk Records albums
Travis Morrison albums
Albums produced by Chris Walla