Emmanuel Elone: From the word “Go”, “Magnificent Time” shows its light-heartedness. With some sweet pop-rock instrumentation and catchy rhythm that’s light on the ears to Travis’ smooth vocals and ear-worm hook, this song is pop music at its finest. It’s not the refined elegance of someone like Sia, but, like many Travis songs, the quality lies in its energy and feeling. “Magnificent Time” can be unmemorable, but it’s still a great listen and is guaranteed to put a smile on your face. [7/10]
Steve Horowitz: A happy song! They have become less common these days, but it is always good to remember that we can pay attention and enjoy life. Travis may not be very ambitious here. They don’t want to be the world a Coke or anything. They just want to play. [6/10]
Morgan Y. Evans: This song aims for blue skies but there’s the feeling of being in on the knowing wink that the arm waving and sunshine atop this shuffle is a willful choice to try and cultivate more joy than . The song is fun but feels more akin to the melancholy that haunts even happier Paul Simon if viewed through the sort of upbeat technicolor dream coat you’d expect They Might Be Giants to throw on to stay dry in the rain. The more highbrow and self-aware than populist Coldplay lazy comparisons can be put to rest. [6/10]
Chad Miller: Feels like it belongs in essentially any old, cheesy movie. Not very profound lyrically, and the melody sounds so unoriginal. I kind of despise it, but at the same time I can’t deny that it’s catchy. It’s not surprising for something so formulaic though. [4/10]
Chris Ingalls: They’re back! Actually, they never really went anywhere (so I’m told). It seems like forever, but it’s only been about three years since this Scottish foursome released their last album. “Magnificent Time” is an apt title for this bouncy, infectious slice of British indie pop. It also serves as a warning that there’s not much substance beneath the grooves. A decent shuffling beat with a warm, inviting arrangement, the song leaves your brain a mere moments after you hear it. Harmless and unmemorable. [6/10]
John Bergstrom: Travis are one of those bands where you say to yourself, “Oh, they’re still around?”, and then, “I wonder why, because they only ever had that one album that was any good.” Don’t believe me? Just listen to “Magnificent Time”. Even the title is flaccid. Who wants to have a “magnificent time”, except for Prince Charles when he’s out fox hunting? [1/10]
Pryor Stroud: “Magnificent Time” is an unadulterated twee-rock stomp, free of invention but also free of melodic contaminants, that blindly revels in the same sort of disingenuous optimism that Coldplay are becoming synonymous with. “No regret / Don’t you / Forget / This magnificent time”, Francis Healy sings across a cloying jangle riff, but his carpe diem call-to-action doesn’t have enough force to actually impress itself on your memory. [5/10]
Travis’ new album, Everything at Once, releases 29 April 2016.
SCORE: 5.00