The Optimist LP [Bonus Disc]

• Artist: Turin Brakes
• Rating:
• Release Date: May 01, 2001
• Genre: Rock

Review

Part of the so-called quietcore movement in Britain, where folk meets pop. The Optimist is by turns delicate, impassioned, wistful, and androgynous. The lyrics come at the listener indirectly, quite a few of them refer to relationships in an angsty manner, and there are oblique ecological and anti-corporate references. It's as if After the Gold Rush (with its silver space ships) and the films The Man Who Fell to Earth and Bladerunner have all been put in a blender. Maybe this belies Ollie Knights' film studies background, or it's alien(ation) fallout from Radiohead. The standout track's are "The Door," which is infused with the sound of "Breathe" by Pink Floyd; "State of Things"; and "Mind Over Money." Elsewhere, "By TV Light" has the atmosphere of a sozzled aftermath, and "The Road" has some tasty slide work and a raga-like guitar motif. After repeat plays, the meanings of many of the songs are still a little obscure, but the feeling definitely grows. There seem to be traces of earthlings here and there – is that the spectral presence of the renowned Homosapien Paul Simon? Despite the acoustic setting this is almost as weird and original as Mercury Rev or early Captain Beefheart. File under: I'm not sure what's going on here, but it's interesting. [Optimist was released in France with a four-track bonus disc.] ~ Mark Joseph, All Music Guide

Tracks

CD 1

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Feeling Oblivion	Turin Brakes, Olly Knights, Gale Paridjanian	Turin Brakes	(3:41)
Underdog (Save Me)	Turin Brakes, Olly Knights, Gale Paridjanian	Turin Brakes	(3:34)
Emergency 72 (Lyrics)	Turin Brakes, Olly Knights, Gale Paridjanian	Turin Brakes	(4:05)
Future Boy (Lyrics)	Turin Brakes, Olly Knights, Gale Paridjanian	Turin Brakes	(3:56)
The Door	Turin Brakes, Olly Knights, Gale Paridjanian	Turin Brakes	(3:50)
State of Things (Lyrics)	Turin Brakes, Olly Knights, Gale Paridjanian	Turin Brakes	(3:31)
By TV Light (Lyrics)	Turin Brakes, Olly Knights, Gale Paridjanian	Turin Brakes	(4:50)
Slack (Lyrics)	Turin Brakes, Olly Knights, Gale Paridjanian	Turin Brakes	(3:14)
Starship (Lyrics)	Turin Brakes, Olly Knights, Gale Paridjanian	Turin Brakes	(2:47)
The Road	Turin Brakes, Olly Knights, Gale Paridjanian	Turin Brakes	(5:31)
Mind Over Money (Lyrics)	Turin Brakes, Olly Knights, Gale Paridjanian	Turin Brakes	(4:51)
The Optimist	Turin Brakes, Olly Knights, Gale Paridjanian	Turin Brakes	(7:41)

CD 2

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
The Door [*]	Olly Knights, Gale Paridjanian	Turin Brakes	(6:48)
The Road [*]	Olly Knights, Gale Paridjanian	Turin Brakes	(4:22)
The Door [Clip][*]	Olly Knights, Gale Paridjanian	Turin Brakes
Underdog (Save Me) [Clip][*]	Olly Knights, Gale Paridjanian	Turin Brakes

Credits

Al Stone (Mixing), Rachel Fulgoni (Violin), Will Soloman (Percussion), Al Stone (Engineer), David Broadbent (Illustrations), Christophe Rihet (Cover Photo), Eva Vermandel (Photography), Andy Newmark (Drums), Frank Arkwright (Mastering), Charlie Francis (Engineer), Al Stone (Coordination), Ben Davis (Cello)