Turin Brakes

A posting about a band that are very much still with us but one of my favourite bands. Olly and Gale produce some wonderful acoustic edged pop songs.

Their debut album 'The Optimist LP' came out in 2001 and is in my Top 10 of all time and contains some classic songs in 'The Door', 'Underdog (Save Me)', 'Emergency 72' in fact each of the 12 tracks on the disc. I first saw them at an acoustic only show at the Shepherds Bush Empire (probably my favourite venue for intimacy) where they played a wonderful show (supported by Ffion Regan who went on to make the Mercury Prize nominated 'The End of History' and is a regular support act every time I've seen them play).

I also saw them at a pretty special show at the London Palladium in 2005 which was then released on download a few days later. The were totally on form that night with some great acoustic versions of their songs including covers of the Red Hot Chili Peppers 'Breaking The Girl' and an impromtu jam of Survivor's 'Eye Of The Tiger'!! I kid you not. A downside from the show were the two girls who stood behind us yapping away for half the show paynig no attention to the music and more concerned with each others love lives. At one stage we had to turn round and tell them to shut the f*%k up or get out - why do people do that - pay good money to see a gig and then spend most of it just talking to their friends?! if you want to do that go down the pub.

Anyway here is a smattering of tracks from across their career including a few rarer items. I'd encourage you to enjoy and then go out and buy the bands latest album 'Dark On Fire'.

For more information:
Turin Brakes on Wikipedia
Turin Brakes Official Website

Essential Listening:
The Optimist LP
Dark On Fire