Travels with Myself and Another


For the 1978 memoir of the same name, see Martha Gellhorn.
Travels with Myself and Another is the second studio album by Future of the Left.

Background

Around summer 2008, the band started performing new tracks such as "Drink Nike" and "The Hope That House Built" at live shows. An additional 3 new songs were captured on the live album Last Night I Saved Her from Vampires. In November 2008, the band cancelled the rest of their tour dates for the year in order to finish writing the second record. It was recorded at several sessions in studios in Wales and was released on 22 June 2009 on 4AD.
The track listing was confirmed by Andy Falkous on 27 March 2009, in a blog post on the band's MySpace page.
The album was leaked online on 22 April, eight weeks before its release date. Falkous, posting a blog on the subject, said: "I'm not angry, just a little worried that the record we made will get lost amongst the debris and leave us playing shows - fifteen people and a world of disillusion."
On 18 May, a pre-ordering system was set up on the band's website which allowed an immediate download of the album, with the CD or LP being sent out closer to the June release date.

Reception

The album was awarded a 9/10 score by Clash Music, with the review instructing the reader to "just buy a copy, and PLAY IT FUCKING LOUD." The NME also gave the album a positive review, awarding a rating of 8/10. Ben Patashnik writes: "Travels... feels like a product of 2009, a coruscating reaction to everything that makes us mad but which is never self-righteous or preachy." Andrew P Street of Time Out Sydney concluded "Let's draw a line in the sand right here, people: either this is your favourite album of this year, or you're just plain wrong."

Track listing

  1. "Arming Eritrea" - 2:57
  2. "Chin Music" - 1:56
  3. "The Hope That House Built" - 3:41
  4. "Throwing Bricks at Trains" - 2:36
  5. "I Am Civil Service" - 2:17
  6. "Land of My Formers" - 2:47
  7. "You Need Satan More Than He Needs You" - 2:46
  8. "That Damned Fly" - 2:07
  9. "Stand by Your Manatee" - 2:08
  10. "Yin / Post-Yin" - 2:54
  11. "Drink Nike" - 2:33
  12. "Lapsed Catholics" - 4:15

    Accolades

PublicationAccoladeRecordingYearRank
Rock SoundAlbums Of The Year-20099th
The GuardianCritic' Poll 2009-200917th
The FlyThe Top 50 Albums Of 2009-200910th
Pitchfork100 Tracks Of 2009Arming Eritrea200997th
PitchforkHonourable Mentions-2009-
NME50 Best Albums Of 2009-200918th
NME50 Best Tracks Of 2009Arming Eritrea200931st
ClashTop 40 Albums Of 2009200920th
Drowned In SoundTop Albums Of 2009-200921st
AV ClubTop 25 Albums Of 2009-200914th
No RipcordTop 50 Albums Of 2009-200918th
Dandelion RadioJohn Peel Festive 50Arming Eritrea200949th
Village VoicePazz & Jop Lists Albums200967th
Village VoicePazz & Jop Lists SinglesArming Eritrea2009224th

designates unordered lists.