Posted on July 26, 2010 - by Dave Cruttenden

Fran Healy – Buttercups

Here is the first solo single from Fran Healy from Travis, taken from his debut solo album Wreckorder, to be released this October.  It’s a very excellent debut single, and fans of Travis should also love this.  It is bound to attract the usual criticism of a lead singer of a band starting a solo career, but this is not the end of Travis, Fran is just on holiday from the band.  It should even maybe open them up to an even greater audience, as it’s a fine piece of work.

Buttercups is a lovely song, it is based on a true story from Fran’s own personal experience about the time when he was in art school that a girlfriend turned her nose up at some picked flowers he gave her.  ”I couldn’t afford fancy roses and thought these would be even better and more romantic. She didn’t think so. That relationship didn’t last long. Puh!”

The album Wreckorder features collaborations with Neko Case and the one and only Sir Paul McCartney plays bass on the track As It Comes.  It is produced by the wonderful and highly respected Emery Dobyns.

Fran is touring America and Canada until the end of August with the also excellent Keane, as well as doing his own shows.  I personally hope and expect that Fran will be touring the UK imminently.  For Fran’s blog on the road, and upcoming details about the album plus more tour dates worldwide, see his website at http://www.franhealy.com

Fran Healy – Buttercups

Here is a live performance of Buttercups, filmed at the Greek Theater in L.A. 21st July 2010.

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