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No, no, noooo! What has happened to you Turin Brakes? You started out so well; a bunch of EPs fragile, beautiful, brilliant; an album full of fragile, beautiful brilliant songs. We could even sort of tolerate that bit where you turned into an acoustic version of Ash, with that song about summer and that second album with too much filler. But what’s in the name of fuck is this?
Well, I can only describe the rancid ‘Asleep With The Fireflies’ as ptew funky. Funk doesn’t work with rock, guys. Just look at the Red Hot Chili Peppers. ‘Road To Nowhere’ (plus, less purposefully, a number of others here) is a nasty cheap-ass rewrite of your own song ‘The Road’. For Christ’s sake, if you’re going to be shit now at least don’t drag your one good album down with you. And where are the bloody tunes? There’s not one song on here worth releasing as a single. Only two or three are even remotely listenable.
You’ve turned into those technical knob-jockeys who spend too much time learning how to play the A minor chord in 48 different ways and think glossy over-production and twiddly guitar toss is more important than actually entertaining people. And Jesus, Olly, you could at least sing like you mean it, even though you’re obviously way beyond that sort of honesty now you’ve cracked the Top 10. Well, congratulations lads, you’ve really made it now.
From space-folk wunderkind to turgid elevator schlock for musos in three albums. Now bog off and don’t come back til you’ve got something worthwhile to show us.
Turin Brakes
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Turin Brakes - JackInABox
Turin Brakes - The Optimist LP
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Turin Brakes - JackInABox
Didn't know they even had an album out until earlier today. There's something sad about seeing the first band I ever went to see live, the band that made me pick up an acoustic guitar again, get so shit. Bands who last don't peak with their first album. Hmph.
Turin Brakes - JackInABox
got a promo of this album ages ago, have played it quite a bit and enjoyed it. but can i remember any of it.... can i fuck!
it's worthy of a higher rating than that though, despite the terrible sleeve.
it's worthy of a higher rating than that though, despite the terrible sleeve.
Turin Brakes - JackInABox
Have yet to listen to the album, but first single was awful.
So this review seems sadly very good !
So this review seems sadly very good !
Turin Brakes - JackInABox
"Funk doesn.t work with rock, guys. Just look at the Red Hot Chili Peppers."...
Aside from the fact that I'm a fan of rock, funk, rock mixed with funk, and
the red hot chili peppers, I'm really curious about this comment. Though,
it did take the red hot chili peppers 4 albums before they had a hit, I'd still
say that they were pretty damn successful at mixing funk with rock. Now, that
could just be my opinion (equally as valid as your opinion about how bad RHCP
may be). But I'd have to rely on the fact that when you were in diapers
George Clinton of Parliament Funkadelic was producing their "Freakey Styley"
album as an example of both how well Funk and Rock mix, as well as how well
the chili peppers do it.
Beyond my defense of the chili peppers, funk itself is just an extension of
rock. If you are so familiar with funk, you are likely familiar with Clinton
and P-Funk, or Sly and the Family Stone, both bands were both heavily rock
influenced. So I'm really not sure how you can base your opinion that "funk"
and "rock" dont mix.
Aside from the fact that I'm a fan of rock, funk, rock mixed with funk, and
the red hot chili peppers, I'm really curious about this comment. Though,
it did take the red hot chili peppers 4 albums before they had a hit, I'd still
say that they were pretty damn successful at mixing funk with rock. Now, that
could just be my opinion (equally as valid as your opinion about how bad RHCP
may be). But I'd have to rely on the fact that when you were in diapers
George Clinton of Parliament Funkadelic was producing their "Freakey Styley"
album as an example of both how well Funk and Rock mix, as well as how well
the chili peppers do it.
Beyond my defense of the chili peppers, funk itself is just an extension of
rock. If you are so familiar with funk, you are likely familiar with Clinton
and P-Funk, or Sly and the Family Stone, both bands were both heavily rock
influenced. So I'm really not sure how you can base your opinion that "funk"
and "rock" dont mix.
Re: Turin Brakes - JackInABox
Hey, I made someone register just to disagree with me. \m/
Re: Turin Brakes - JackInABox
Why don't you give them an actual reply?
I'd be interested too, since 'funk doesn't mix with rock' is quite a narrow-minded principle.
I'd be interested too, since 'funk doesn't mix with rock' is quite a narrow-minded principle.
Re: Turin Brakes - JackInABox
Why don't you give them an actual reply?
I'd be interested too, since 'funk doesn't mix with rock' is quite a narrow-minded principle.
I'd be interested too, since 'funk doesn't mix with rock' is quite a narrow-minded principle.
Turin Brakes - JackInABox
The first album was beautiful. The second album was patchy. On the basis of this review and the first single, the third sounds horrible. What happened?
Turin Brakes - JackInABox
The rule is "funk doesn't mix with white guys, unless it's done in a paranoid, postmodernn punky manner".
Turin Brakes - JackInABox
Oh dear...I'm dreading listening to it now. I'll be so upset if it really is that bad.
About the funk thing - everything works if you do it well, rules being made to be broked and all that. Just sounds like the Brakes didn't quite hit the funky nail on the head.
Sob sob
About the funk thing - everything works if you do it well, rules being made to be broked and all that. Just sounds like the Brakes didn't quite hit the funky nail on the head.
Sob sob
Turin Brakes - JackInABox
^aw...i'm sure it'll be ok, hehe. i'm hoping it will, have got a real soft spot for these guys, and am seeing them in june, so i hope they don't disappoint
Re: Turin Brakes - JackInABox
Me too - which show you going to? Shepherd's Bush, me.
Re: Turin Brakes - JackInABox
although i agree that Turin Brakes are now pretty crap, I think your full of shit. Firstly, because of your unfounded funk-rock clanger. But more importantly, what's wrong with being technically interested music?! Music is (or should be) an art form - not just a vehicle for entertaining people. if this was not the case, then pop music junk would be the most creditable type of music, because it entertains most people. without 'technical knob-jockeys' music would never progress from a Ramones-esque three-chords-a-song mentality. I agree that you can take this too far, but the point of music is not necessarily to entertain people.
Turin Brakes - JackInABox
I'm quite enjoying the single, a good showcase of TB's strengths, delicate minor-key acoustic meloncholy. Yet I heard the title track on a live session they did and it sounded pretty terrible, their attempt at some cock rock behemoth-not a good idea for a new directon!
Re: Turin Brakes - JackInABox
you overlook the fact the red hot chilli peppers are on of the single most overrated bands of our time....
Turin Brakes - JackInABox
whats with the chilli pepper knock, the chilli peppers are crap now all of a sudden hey
oh i forgot, there successfull, can't be having that now can we,
a bit of a fuckwit of a review
oh i forgot, there successfull, can't be having that now can we,
a bit of a fuckwit of a review
Re: Turin Brakes - JackInABox
yes, because one sentence you disagree with in a review makes it shit as a whole.
fuckin' muppet.
fuckin' muppet.
Turin Brakes - JackInABox
Was very interested in this earlier review/thread. What do people who hadn't heard the album then reckon now that they have? And has it any 'grower' factor?
Personally, I think a lot of what Tom Edwards said in his review was pretty bang on (funk-rock faus pas aside). This album is a very poor relation to Ether Song, let alone The Optimist. What a disappointment. A lack of quality material can't be disguised with a few electronic twiddles and some 'daring new' rhythmic experiments.
"Rancid" is not too strong a description for the chorus of Asleep with the Fireflies, although I was enjoying its verse until the wanky bit started.
I also agree that Road to Nowhere is a bit too reminiscent of The Road. (Not the first time that's happened though - compare Long Distance with Mind over Money, for example).
I think more than two or three are "remotely listenable" though. Above the Clouds, Building Wraps Round Me and Fishing For A Dream are pretty good and the title song is growing on me. All in all, though, I really found this a let down and hope when I see them later in the week that they will not neglect the older stuff that many people like myself love them for.
Also, just out of interest, am I alone in finding the "we'll make quite a pair" line in FFAD a bit odd, in that he obviously can't quite reach the low note for "pair". Not a terrible thing (in fact it quite tickles me) but a bit of a strange decision to leave it like that on the single wasn't it?
Personally, I think a lot of what Tom Edwards said in his review was pretty bang on (funk-rock faus pas aside). This album is a very poor relation to Ether Song, let alone The Optimist. What a disappointment. A lack of quality material can't be disguised with a few electronic twiddles and some 'daring new' rhythmic experiments.
"Rancid" is not too strong a description for the chorus of Asleep with the Fireflies, although I was enjoying its verse until the wanky bit started.
I also agree that Road to Nowhere is a bit too reminiscent of The Road. (Not the first time that's happened though - compare Long Distance with Mind over Money, for example).
I think more than two or three are "remotely listenable" though. Above the Clouds, Building Wraps Round Me and Fishing For A Dream are pretty good and the title song is growing on me. All in all, though, I really found this a let down and hope when I see them later in the week that they will not neglect the older stuff that many people like myself love them for.
Also, just out of interest, am I alone in finding the "we'll make quite a pair" line in FFAD a bit odd, in that he obviously can't quite reach the low note for "pair". Not a terrible thing (in fact it quite tickles me) but a bit of a strange decision to leave it like that on the single wasn't it?
Re: Turin Brakes - JackInABox
Finally got the album.
Not as bad as i supposed.
Some quite good songs, some really bad songs so the album is just average.
Not as bad as i supposed.
Some quite good songs, some really bad songs so the album is just average.
Turin Brakes - JackInABox
To all who say Turin Brakes are 'crap' or that they 'peaked with their first album' I say "bollocks to the lot of you"!!!! A friend of mine introduced me to Turin Brakes just before Jack In A Box was released and I was hooked. It's a very rare occasion when I can say that I genuinely enjoy every track on an album but there isn't one Turin Brakes song that I don't like. I saw them live at a one-off gig in Newcastle a few weeks ago and they rocked!!! Also, they are genuinely nice guys. I got to talk to them after the set while they were signing autographs and they are two of the nicest people you could ever wish to meet! I think their songs and albums are just getting stronger and they definitely don't get the recognition they deserve. F*** your Coldplay, Franz, Kaisers etc. Turin Brakes are here to stay and they just keep getting better. LONG LIVE TURIN BRAKES!!!!
Re: Turin Brakes - JackInABox
Hear hear sainty man!
TURIN BRAKES RULE AS FUCK!
I have gone through all three albums in order of appearance and I was hungry for the new album! Now it didn't whack me straight away (but good gear never does) but after about 5 plays I am totally blown outta my fukin skull!
All the knockers will be full of regret as TB are gonna be as big as Simon & Garfunkel and the Beatles!!! Just wait and watch! They are a classic act with strong brains and the balls to use them! The lyrics to the title track Jackinabox are fukin boiling! ''''hey joe I'm tasting all your flavours, ain't no piece of cake, but life ain't dishin nothin I can't take'''' It reminds me of Aeroplane by Nick Harper! Check 'Double life' by him. It will kill you to fuck! Now, he is gonna run the place along with Olly and Gale!
And all that fukin wannabe NME employee funk don't mix with rock cack! What the fucklechinell?
Everything goes in music and always will! Just sniff onto Beck! And sainty, coldplay are okay'ish even though I think C Martin is a bit of a posh geeky twat (like Emily Eavis ha ha) but bravefranzkaisers is pus that will deffo die away.......
TURIN BRAKES RULE AS FUCK!
I have gone through all three albums in order of appearance and I was hungry for the new album! Now it didn't whack me straight away (but good gear never does) but after about 5 plays I am totally blown outta my fukin skull!
All the knockers will be full of regret as TB are gonna be as big as Simon & Garfunkel and the Beatles!!! Just wait and watch! They are a classic act with strong brains and the balls to use them! The lyrics to the title track Jackinabox are fukin boiling! ''''hey joe I'm tasting all your flavours, ain't no piece of cake, but life ain't dishin nothin I can't take'''' It reminds me of Aeroplane by Nick Harper! Check 'Double life' by him. It will kill you to fuck! Now, he is gonna run the place along with Olly and Gale!
And all that fukin wannabe NME employee funk don't mix with rock cack! What the fucklechinell?
Everything goes in music and always will! Just sniff onto Beck! And sainty, coldplay are okay'ish even though I think C Martin is a bit of a posh geeky twat (like Emily Eavis ha ha) but bravefranzkaisers is pus that will deffo die away.......
Re: Turin Brakes - JackInABox
To be fair, after a few listen, Jackinabox is better than i first thought.
Still think it's their weakest album and not above average.
Still think it's their weakest album and not above average.
Re: Turin Brakes - JackInABox
I agree with your sentiments 100%. Jack in A Box has some innovative music just like the previous albums. I am hooked also. What's more, I bought the guitar tablature books for Optimist and Ether Song and I can't stop learning their material. It is very inspiring and keeps my skills fresh and challenges my comparably mediocre voice. Mr Edwards, who tapped out a thoroughly cruel and inappropriate review, must be one of the following:
a. Deaf
b. A revengeful sacked band member
c. thick
d. an alien
e. all of the above
Another subscriber was confident that Ollie and Gale will be as popular as Simon and Garfunkel in the 60s and 70s, if not, more so. I do hope this is the case, because they deserve the recognition for such beautiful and uplifting music. LONG LIVE TURIN BRAKES!!!!
a. Deaf
b. A revengeful sacked band member
c. thick
d. an alien
e. all of the above
Another subscriber was confident that Ollie and Gale will be as popular as Simon and Garfunkel in the 60s and 70s, if not, more so. I do hope this is the case, because they deserve the recognition for such beautiful and uplifting music. LONG LIVE TURIN BRAKES!!!!
Turin Brakes - JackInABox
Well,
I gave a friend's copy of this a listen today. And it's kind of sad. Optimist WAS the album that got me into music, it WAS the album that made me pick up an acoustic guitar. If it wasn't for that album, well, I wouldn't even be on here, posted, angry as hell. They were my first ever gig. Hell, that's still precious, even if it was promoting Ether Song, which I've not listened to in nearly two years. And this is just...well, it makes me annoyed as hell. I had such an attachment to them from that first album, they had such tunes, such fragility, such charm. The songs aren't charming, they're...sterile. There's nothing here that marked them out as special from Optimist. I thought they had the ability to carry on making beautiful music. But I guess it's as Emma from the Delgados (RIP) said: "Things which once were beautiful are bland." And that makes me sad. :(
Also
I'm sick of these people who come and sign up just to slag off a review. It'd be a boring world if we all thought the same! So quit taking reviews as a personal insult and start seeing that any band can make mistakes. No-one in incapable of error. Savoir?
I gave a friend's copy of this a listen today. And it's kind of sad. Optimist WAS the album that got me into music, it WAS the album that made me pick up an acoustic guitar. If it wasn't for that album, well, I wouldn't even be on here, posted, angry as hell. They were my first ever gig. Hell, that's still precious, even if it was promoting Ether Song, which I've not listened to in nearly two years. And this is just...well, it makes me annoyed as hell. I had such an attachment to them from that first album, they had such tunes, such fragility, such charm. The songs aren't charming, they're...sterile. There's nothing here that marked them out as special from Optimist. I thought they had the ability to carry on making beautiful music. But I guess it's as Emma from the Delgados (RIP) said: "Things which once were beautiful are bland." And that makes me sad. :(
Also
I'm sick of these people who come and sign up just to slag off a review. It'd be a boring world if we all thought the same! So quit taking reviews as a personal insult and start seeing that any band can make mistakes. No-one in incapable of error. Savoir?
Re: Turin Brakes - JackInABox
I think this album isn't actually as bad as i thought at first listen.
Sure, some songs are really weak ( first single for exemple ).
Sure, it's nowhere as good as their first ep or their first album.
Sure, it doesn't work as a full album.
But some songs are really good and are proof that Turin Brakes still have the capacity of writing great songs.
Perhaps next album, if there is one.
Sure, some songs are really weak ( first single for exemple ).
Sure, it's nowhere as good as their first ep or their first album.
Sure, it doesn't work as a full album.
But some songs are really good and are proof that Turin Brakes still have the capacity of writing great songs.
Perhaps next album, if there is one.
Underrated
One of the most greatly under-appreciated records in the last few years. A gorgeous record.
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