Travis is one of those consistently good bands that is largely underappreciated in North America, where its mellifluous melodies have failed to connect with listeners as they have with their British faithful.

The Only Thing is pure Travis with the delightful addition of American Susanna Hoffs, the Bangles co-founder who shares his smoky, sultry voice to a lovely, lilting tune that is gorgeously orchestrated. It’s a serious attempt to reach American audiences while the song’s video tempers any soberness with the band’s wry response to the la-la-la harmonizing between Hoff and singer Fran Healy midway through the song.

You could pick any Travis album from the past 20+ years and be delighted by the superb songwriting of this band from Glasgow, Scotland. Healy and compatriots have dutifully delivered the goods while performing in the shadow of the relatively more successful Coldplay. Most Travis songs don’t have the same anthemic quality as those of their Brit counterparts, but they are no less worthy of one’s attention.

10 Songs, the ninth studio album from Travis, was released in October 2020 under the pandemic veil of the coronavirus, virtually assuring that the group will stay under the radar for the foreseeable future. The Only Thing shows Travis remains undeterred.