Travistan

Travistan is Travis Morrison's solo debut album, released in 2004 by Barsuk Records. The record is named after the van that Morrison rode in during his former band The Dismemberment Plan's last tour.

Travistan
Studio album by Travis Morrison
Released	30 September 2004
Recorded	2003–2004
Genre	Indie rock
Length	42:12
Label	Barsuk
Producer	Chris Walla, Don Zientara
Travis Morrison chronology
Travistan (2004) All Y'All (2007)

Unlike the last two Dismemberment Plan albums, Travistan's lyrics rely mainly on wit rather than introspection. The album's musical themes tend to meld familiar indie rock textures and more unusual Frank Zappaesque ideas. It largely steers clear of the funk, soul and hip hop influences of his previous work with The Dismemberment Plan.

Reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	56/100[1]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
Alternative Press	4/5[3]
Blender	[4]
Pitchfork	0.0/10[5]
Spin	B[6]
Stylus Magazine	B+[7]
The Village Voice	B+[8]

Travistan received mixed reviews. It currently has a 56 out of 100 on the review aggregate site Metacritic, indicating "Mixed or average reviews."[1]

The album is often noted in discussions of the music journalism website Pitchfork, as it marked one of the first moments when, after establishing itself as a critical powerhouse, the e-zine turned on an artist to whom it had previously given enthusiastic support.[9][10] 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."[5] 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.[11]

Responding to Pitchfork's review, Morrison said:

I just got the sense [Pitchfork] thought I was a rock star and they wanted to take me down a peg, but I don't think it occurred to them that the review could have a catastrophic effect... Up until the day of the review, I'd play a solo show, and people would be like, 'That's our boy, our eccentric boy.' Literally, the view changed overnight... I could tell people were trying to figure out if they were supposed to be there or not. It was pretty severe, how the mood changed. The review isn't the story. The reaction to it is. The seriousness with which everyone takes Pitchfork is kind of mind-boggling.[10]

Other critical reviews compared the album negatively to work of Morrison's previous band The Dismemberment Plan. Zeth Lundy of PopMatters 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.[12]

Not all reviews were negative, though. Noel Murray of The A.V. Club 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?'."[13] Stylus Magazine'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."[7]

Track listing

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Get Me Off This Coin A"	1:00
2.	"Change"	2:25
3.	"Born in '72"	3:13
4.	"My Two Front Teeth, Parts 2 and 3"	5:18
5.	"Get Me Off This Coin B"	0:45
6.	"People Die"	4:22
7.	"Song for the Orca"	3:12
8.	"Any Open Door"	3:53
9.	"Get Me Off This Coin C"	0:57
10.	"Che Guevara Poster"	4:17
11.	"The Word Cop"	2:50
12.	"Angry Angel"	3:32
13.	"Get Me Off This Coin D"	1:44
14.	"Represent" (hidden track)	4:45

Personnel

Credits adapted from AllMusic.[14]

• Travis Morrison – 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

1. "Reviews for Travistan by Travis Morrison". Metacritic. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
2. Theakston, Rob. "Travistan – Travis Morrison". AllMusic. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
3. "Travis Morrison: Travistan". Alternative Press (197): 148. December 2004.
4. "Travis Morrison: Travistan". Blender (31): 138. November 2004.
5. Dahlen, Chris (September 27, 2004). "Travis Morrson: Travistan". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
6. Beaujon, Andrew (November 2004). "Travis Morrson: Travistan / Say Anything: Say Anything Is a Real Boy". Spin. 20 (11): 119–20. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
7. Miccio, Anthony (October 1, 2004). "Travis Morrson – Travistan – Review". Stylus Magazine. Archived from the original on October 13, 2012. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
8. Christgau, Robert (November 16, 2004). "Consumer Guide: Sonic Refuges". The Village Voice. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
9. Wilmoth, Charlie. "All Y'All Haters". Dusted. Retrieved 2007-12-18.
10. du Lac, Freedom (April 30, 2006). "Giving Indie Acts A Plug, or Pulling It". Washington Post.
11. "The Pitchfork Effect". Wired.
12. Lundy, Zeth (October 6, 2004). "Travis Morrison: Travistan". PopMatters. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
13. Murray, Noel (October 4, 2003). "Travis Morrison: Travistan". The A.V. Club. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
14. Travistan – Travis Morrison. Allmusic. Retrieved 15 June 2011

External links

• Barsuk Record's page on Travistan