How on earth did this one pass me by? I was under the impression that following Pitchfork’s 0.0 slaughter of Travis Morrison’s Travistan that the guy would be about done musically. Such is the power of the ‘fork that I had images of him now working for the Gap where he had the crap beat out of him on the first album. Now, I confess that I hold some affection for that album. I actually quite enjoy it. It’s certainly not a great record, but nor is it the calamity that Pitchfork tried to paint it as. It’s lightweight fluff, but so long as it’s not taken too seriously, it’s a good bit of fun.
It was only a few weeks ago that I discovered that there had been any kind of follow up. Given it was apparently released in 2007, that fact is more than a little embarrassing. Still, it was nice to dive into it without it being an “album of the minute” that most things I listen to tend to be. The main difference here is the structure of the band. Morrison has assembled a full band this time around, thus we the Travis Morrison Hellfighters. And it really does take some Colbert sized balls to still use the Travis Morrison name front and centre.
Still, the band seem to have taught Morrison a little restraint, something that would have been useful in the past. His more, erm, interesting eccentricities are kept more in check, leaving us with a rather more straight up rock sound. I have no idea whether or not it wins back that those scared away from Travistan though. Pitchfork certainly approve of the new direction though. They gave this one a 4.5.
All Y’All was released in 2007 on Barsuk.
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