The Optimist LP
The Optimist LP is the first full-length album release by Turin Brakes. Critically acclaimed by the UK music press, the album was released in 2001 and cemented the band's place in the UK "acoustic movement" (a term invented by the music press). "The Door" and "The Road" (previously released on The Door EP) were re-recorded for this album.
The Optimist LP | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 5 March 2001 (UK) | |||
Studio | Konk Studios, London | |||
Genre | Folk rock | |||
Length | 51:36 | |||
Label | Source (UK) | |||
Producer | Turin Brakes | |||
Turin Brakes chronology | ||||
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Championed by radio DJs such as Jo Whiley (BBC Radio 1), the band provided a respite from the pop groups that dominated radio airplay at the time.
The album was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize.
In late 2011, Turin Brakes embarked on a national tour performing the whole of the album in its entirety for its tenth anniversary.
Critical reception
Aggregate scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 76/100[1] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | |
Drowned in Sound | 8/10[3] |
Entertainment Weekly | B−[4] |
The Guardian | |
NME | 9/10[6] |
Pitchfork | 7.7/10[7] |
Q |
Q listed The Optimist LP as one of the best 50 albums of 2001.[9]
Track listing
All Tracks Written by Turin Brakes
- "Feeling Oblivion" - 3:52
- "Underdog (Save Me)" - 3:35
- "Emergency 72" - 4:05
- "Future Boy" - 4:00
- "The Door" - 3:52
- "State of Things" - 3:33
- "By TV Light" - 4:53
- "Slack" - 3:16
- "Starship" - 2:50
- "The Road" - 5:33
- "Mind Over Money" - 4:53
- "The Optimist" - 7:43
- The song "The Optimist" ends at 3:25. After 2 minutes of silence, at 5:25 the hidden song "Three Days Old" begins.
References
- "Reviews for The Optimist LP by Turin Brakes". Metacritic. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
- Joseph, Mark. "The Optimist LP – Turin Brakes". AllMusic. Retrieved 13 September 2011.
- Kimmitt, James (31 March 2001). "Album Review: Turin Brakes – The Optimist LP". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
- Browne, David (30 April 2001). "The Optimist LP". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 13 April 2019. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
- Costa, Maddy (31 March 2001). "Turin Brakes: The Optimist (Source)". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
- Ward, Christian (5 March 2001). "Turin Brakes : The Optimist LP". NME. ISSN 0028-6362. Archived from the original on 26 March 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
- Kilian, Dan (17 July 2001). "Turin Brakes: The Optimist LP". Pitchfork. Retrieved 13 September 2011.
- "Turin Brakes: The Optimist LP". Q (175). April 2001.
- "The Best 50 Albums of 2001". Q. December 2001. pp. 60–65.