Scottish rocker Francis “Fran” Healy does pretty well for himself on his first solo album, “Wreckorder.” The album title might suggest mayhem, but the debut keeps the volume low.
Healy, best known as the vocalist for the Glasgow-based alternative rock band Travis, opts to take a more relaxed approach than his other band. Despite staying on the quiet side of the spectrum, the album is hardly boring.
“Sing Me To Sleep” does anything but, as Healy gets help from Neko Case in pushing the song along. The song “Rocking Chair” provides an intelligent look at aging as Healy, 37, reminisces about his memories of Richard Nixon and Fred Astaire. Healy commented that the image of him with his salt-and-pepper beard on the album art played into the theme of aging. “Fly in the Ointment” is among the fastest of the songs but still doesn’t move more quickly than a lively amble.
The first single, “Buttercups,” which Healy has said is about an art school girlfriend turning her nose up to handpicked flowers, keeps the tone simple and message clear. These features are present in every song and keep them relatable to the audience. Then again, the mild tone prevents any one song from becoming overly recognizable.
“Buttercups” is best enjoyed while watching the music video. In it, Healy runs into a collection of women from his past, all with minor romantic relevance to his life. Although the story doesn’t have a happy ending, it’s adorable enough to put a smile on any cynic’s face.
Healy’s decision to take things in a more mellow direction was a good call. Travis is not a very egotistical band to begin with, but Healy’s humble approach makes the album an easy listen.
