Does it still always rain on Travis? Yes, going by their latest album

Travis are marking a major anniversary this year. It's been a quarter-century since these four Scots found fame with their album "The Man Who" and their hit single "Why Does It Always Rain On Me?"

With a sound that some might call upbeat-melancholy (and what some critics might call a little 'flat'), they never had quite the breakthrough that Oasis and Blur did. But instead of filling stadiums, this Glaswegian band went on to nurture a loyal fan base over 25 years, sticking together and putting out new releases throughout.

"L.A. Times", out on July 12, is now their tenth album. So are Travis calling for us to take out subscriptions to California's biggest broadsheet? The titular "times" instead refer to the years frontman Fran Healey has lived in Los Angeles.

The lead singer owns a recording studio on the outskirts of Skid Row, a district is known for its high population of homeless people, one of the highest in the US. The album cover shows the band members on a sloping L.A. street with skyline towering behind them.

The title track, in which Healy speaks rather than sings, is based on the picture he sees every day in Skid Row. "You've got literally people with nothing living here and driving through," the singer told the British magazine NME . "[I remember seeing] this canary yellow Lamborghini, just cruising through with this guy’s arm hanging out the window. He was some dude wearing mirrored glasses."

It was this visible divide between rich and poor in the US that gave Healy the thematic inspiration for the song.

'Gaslight' : A stand-out single

The band line-up has remained constant since their first single "All I Want to Do Is Rock" from 1996, a track that barely gained recognition at the time.

In addition to main songwriter Healy (who currently looks a bit like a nerdy mixture of Keith Flint and Tintin with his spiky orange hairstyle), Travis still also comprise guitarist Andy Dunlop, bassist Dougie Payne and drummer Neil Primrose.

The first single release "Gaslight" is a real earworm. The song is about psychological violence and manipulation - and is surprisingly atmospheric, especially in comparison to other Travis songs.

On their current tour supporting US superstars The Killers, the moody song stood out in particular because Travis' setlist was otherwise predominantly slow, quiet and melancholic.

Travis remain Travis

Apart from "Gaslight", the quartet remains true to its warm, emotional sound on "L.A. Times" and takes it easy.

Gentle indie pop ("Bus") meets soulful acoustic guitar folk with Radiohead influences ("Live It All Again" revolves around Healy's failed marriage) and psychedelic folk pop ("I Hope That You Spontaneously Combust").

In the poignant "Alive", Healy sings about losing a friend, music video director Ringan Ledge, to cancer. In contrast, "The River", a song about being a father, has a more stormy atmosphere.

The cover photo, shot by photographer and long-time Travis collaborator Stefan Ruiz, is not coincidentally reminiscent of the album covers of the two successful albums "The Man Who" and "The Invisible Band".

According to Healy, who turned 50 during the production of the album, "L.A. Times" is their most personal album since 1999 - but they also seem closer than ever to their original sound. A quarter century later, it does indeed sound like the same rain is still falling on Travis.