The Optimist

Turin Brakes is flagged as the next thing in the British invasion on the heels of Travis, Coldplay and the like. Turin Brakes is the duo of Olly Knights (vocals/gtrs) and Gale Paridjanian (gtrs), sprouting accoustic gtr-based songs telling tales on the walk of life."The Optimist LP" is an encouraging debut, with ups and downs. The sound is primarily an intimate one, with just accoustic guitars for the most part, and Olly's quivering vocals, occasionally embellished with drums and bass. The songs evolve around themes of not knowing where to belong ("Feeling Oblivion", the lead off track on the CD... with a great mandolin supplementing the accoustic gtrs; also "Starship" with lyrics like "Given the chance I would leave this place on a rocketship to Mars"), job stress ("Underdog (Save Me) which is also the 2nd single, making dents in the UK charts), and lost love ("State of Things", the 3rd single of the album).On a couple of occasions, the songs reminded me of things heard before. Best example is "The Door", the 1st single of the album, with its blatant use of the riff found in the 1965 song of Dave Berry's "Strange Effect" (anyone remember that one?), but also in "Future Boy" (reminding me of George Michael's "Praying for Time") and "Emergency 72 (reminding me of America's "Horse with No Name").The CD is best summed up in its last song, the title track: "The Optimist" track is very much like many tracks: musically it has accoustic gtrs starting, then joined eventually by some drums and bass, and lyrically it talks about "I'm Planning The Greatest of Escapes... Soon I'm Gonna Stand Up... yeah, I'm Gonna Rear Up and There's No Escape"Electric gtrs show up for the first time in "Slack" (track 8), one of the better tunes, as well as in the "hidden" bonus track, which pops up some 2 min. after "The Optimist" ends, an instrumental which is really intruiging.Overall, this is an interesting debut. No Coldplay-like quality in my opinion, but I'm sure looking forward to future releases of Turin Brakes.

The Optimist is one of those cds that has the power to get under your skin, change your heart and wake you up to things going on in your life. I can't really put into words how wonderful this album is, but I promise after listening to their powerful harmonies, mind-blowing guitar and amazing lyrics, you'll tell everyone you know about these guys.

Might Just Be A Very Underrated Band?!!! This time I purchased the CD because I heard one song that I liked!?? I "Was Happily Reworded".Check em out.👍

This is redolent of a hot summer evening when you get the chance to sit down with a nice cool glass of New Zealand sauvignon blanc, feel the residual heat drain from the day, and your tension melts away and you have one of those "life is pretty good at this second" moments. Not that I have had one of those for far too long, but I look back at those I remember and feel that warm, happy flutter in my chest, and this album is kind of like that.The lads sound like 2 squeaky schoolboys busking at the chipper but their songs are well crafted and performed and have an emotional purity to them that really packages the album beautifully. That is why after 6 years, I still play this one regularly, whilst Coldplay is gathering dust "on the shelf" (no pun intended). Whilst the comparisons with the aforementioned Coldplay and Travis (and latterly Keane I daresay) are valid enough, this album more than anything reminds me of Woodface by Crowded House, although that album is lusher in production, the harmonious pure pop of it shines though, and The Optimist is a fine recording that deserves a place in anyone's collection.

I have a habit of rabbiting on about music but I'm gonna make an exception here and keep this short and sweet for you guys out there. Basically, The Optimist LP is a stunning debut by a young british duo who really have hit the mark with this album. You can take your Coldplays and your Doves and do with them what you will. Although the aforementioned bands are good at what they do, Turin Brakes are simply great. From the stark opening piano of Feeling Oblivion to the closing bleak tenderness of The Optimist, not a song passes that doesn't leave you with some sense of emotion, be it sadness, warmth, or simple pleasure. The overall production sound on this album is full and glorious, utilising the exceptional talents of both these fine musicians to the utmost. Ollie Knights has been blessed with a voice that can seem searingly honest, tender, passionate, and downright cheeky. His partner in crime, Gale Paridjanian is clearly a talented guitarist who seems to slide effortlessly between...well...slide guitar, simple rhythmic strumming, and scorching solos. Favourite moment? About two minutes fifty into 'The Road' at the bridge when Ollie sings "In the darkness, lets them see all of the people they never knew, and the doorway, falling through puddles and places I've never been" OK so the lyrics aren't Bob Dylan, but check out the singing and harmonies in this song...unbelievable. So I rabbited on...whatcha gonna do...buy this album.