After having cut their teeth at numerous shows at New York's Luna Lounge club, indie pop quartet
Travis Pickle unleashed 13 clean and sophisticated pop songs on Luna Lounge's Lunasea label in 1999. Carla Capretto's sultry voice is central to most of the band's songs. It's easily comparable to Dominique Durand of
Ivy. "Mr. Boyfriend" might be her most powerful moment on the disc, her slightly above-a-whisper vocals shining throughout the track. The pace picks up on the rollicking "You Always," only to slow down again on the acoustic "It's Not U It's Me." The up-and-down tempo continues for much of the remainder of the disc. Guitarist Pete Min exercises his vocal muscles on "Misery," "13x's a Day," and "Sound of Sleep," among others. Bassist Yianni Naslas and drummer Steve Wickins round out the group. Min and Naslas trade guitar and bass duties on the next-to-last track, "Silver Spoon." The band balances the fine line between indie pop, indie rock, and straightforward modern rock throughout most of their debut.
Travis Pickle was recorded at various locations in late 1998 and early 1999. ~ Stephen Cramer