Turin Brakes

June 4, 2002 9:52 AM

Turin Brakes are back in the studio. And though I am still digging the last album, some folks must be getting impatient. Their response? "[W]hat can we say but it takes time to write and record something that has to last forever... please hold on it will be worth the wait." Cool.
posted by grabbingsand (12 comments total)

The Optimist was lovely, but felt short of brilliance. Turin Brakes seems like a band with something altogether awesome in them, though, so I eagerly anticipate the release in question.

Still, I wish you were offering something more than just links to the band's website. Information on the Mercury Music Prize, for which they were nominated, perhaps, or some reviews. Anyone who is interested in the band will have already seen their site, and few others would be drawn in by your post, methinks.
posted by Marquis at 10:14 AM on June 4, 2002

Impatient? Their last album came out barely a year ago. No offense, but is this really front page news?
posted by bcwinters at 10:14 AM on June 4, 2002

I was just discussing the Optimist this morning with someone at a site that I'm not supposed to talk about. It's a really solid album and quite tasty. I agree with Marquis, though, that it fell just short of brilliance. They obviously have the skills and the sensibilities, though, and I'm excited to hear their sophomore effort.

If you like Turin Brakes, check out the Kings of Convenience and The Shins
posted by brand-gnu at 10:42 AM on June 4, 2002

The Norwegian Kings of Convenience are super - a worthwhile debate are the relative merits of the redundant Kings of Convenience and Quiet is the New Loud albums. The Shins I'm not so keen on (though "New Slang"'s a lovely melow number) - lacking in the angst department, or something.

What are peoples' views on other 'new acoustic' acts like Ed Harcourt, Tom McRae and Badly Drawn Boy? I know I was vastly disappointed by Ed and Tom when I finally found their discs on this side of the Atlantic (this was prior to the Ed Harcourt Explosion of recent weeks). The About a Boy soundtrack was a horrendous let-down. BDB's Hour of the Bewilderbeast is a classic, however, and Damon Gough is an unstoppable firecracker in concert.

Oh, and in other cardigan-pop news, Isobel has left Belle & Sebastian.
posted by Marquis at 11:02 AM on June 4, 2002

FWIW, not worthy of a front page post or not, I just downloaded a song or two and I really liked what I heard. Thanks for the heads up. More Badly Drawn Boy and Radiohead but definitely elements of Kings of Convenience and the Shins, I would say on my first listen.

On the subject of Quiet is the New Loud, I can only say that this is on my all time top ten. I didn't know they had a self-title album, so I can't talk about that, but they do have a remix album out called versus and it is also excellent. Unfortunately the Kings of Convenience can only do so many albums in the format that they currently have. Redundant was a good term, marquis. On the plus side, they have the whole world of rock and roll and folk to explore, don't they?

Badly Drawn Boy was a pleasant surprise. There is so much in that album that I will be returning to it time and again and finding new things in it to love. His use of odd instruments such as the theremin was innovative.
posted by ashbury at 11:14 AM on June 4, 2002

wow. Isobel left B&S. I guess it's like when Stuart David left..it seems like a big deal, but they'll still be a great band without him (or her).
posted by chacal at 11:16 AM on June 4, 2002

I saw Turin Brakes as support act for Travis a few months ago. I really liked The Optimist lp. It was a shame that both the main and back-up guitar of the singer broke down. One of the strangest gigs i've seen: they jammed for 15 minutes (cool, acoustic & funky) while some roady desperately tried to fix things. The audience thought it was quite funny and kept cheering. In the end the lead singer decided to go ahead without a guitar. Man, was he angry. If you thought only Liam could sneer! Now what's that song emergency 72 about ?!
posted by swordfishtrombones at 12:18 PM on June 4, 2002

In a similar vein, what about Ballboy?
posted by yerfatma at 12:40 PM on June 4, 2002

Oooh - sorry to poke my head in again (again!), but Ballboy is superb, and mostly unknown here in North America. A more evolved form of B&S pop, ranging from dark and Arab Strap-like to bouncy and Lucksmiths-y. (For more info, you can read my review [self-link!] here)
posted by Marquis at 12:45 PM on June 4, 2002

perhaps not the most prescient and valid of front page posts, but mentionings of a new album in the works from (what will be) a brilliant band was something that made me kind of happy. and hey, i've triggered a cool little thread of bands you've never heard and should.... so no harm done, eh?
posted by grabbingsand at 5:27 PM on June 4, 2002

Turin Breaks are genius; their lyrics and phrasing both classic and innovative. 'Futureboy' is a magical heartbreak begging to become a movie. The cryptic 'Emergency 72' is about someone going into a psych ward or hospital for a 72 hour psychological observation. Listening to The Optimist made up for a lot of CDs that only have a couple decent tracks and the rest crap, this though is consistently excellent.

TurinBrakes9to5 is a fan site that had a recent discussion on similar bands. Ollie drops in with a post from time to time as well.
posted by yonderboy at 6:31 PM on June 4, 2002

one more thing before i go....
turin brakes on kcrw's morning becomes eclectic yesterday.
posted by grabbingsand at 6:43 PM on June 5, 2002