The Optimist LP - Turin Brakes
Metascore
76 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 9
  2. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. Here's music for the twilight hours - feverish, contemplative, nostalgic. It resonates with the force of a thousand passionate post-club conversations in darkened, smoke-filled rooms, of intense, doomed liaisons, of youthful arrogance undercut by fear and failure.
  2. The Optimist LP is a treasure chest of sparkly baubles and rare gems, and from top to bottom it is precious and priceless.
  3. Trendy, sure, but occasionally terrific.
  4. After a first listen 'The Optimist LP' simply drifts over your head like yet another take on a well worn formula, but given a second chance reveals a glorious, often ornate sensibility that simply can't be ignored.
  5. Given the right melody... Turin Brakes make fragile, delicately understated music... But just as often, they're weighed down by draggy tunes and unintentionally amusing lyrics. [4 May 2001, p.69]
  6. Underlying The Optimist's base -- two complementary voices highlighted by beautifully executed acoustic guitar -- is Turin Brakes' bent existentialism, an expansive vision that adds a feeling of fatalism to many of these songs.
  7. Fans of new British bands like Gomez or Minibar should find plenty to like.
  8. 60
    Turin Brakes' music consists largely of the same kind of contemplative minor key laments that one might hope to hear from Elliott Smith...
  9. 60
    A slightly awkward but ambitious beginning.
User Score

Universal acclaim- based on 11 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. GavR
    10
    This is a great acoustic album, which is only surpassed by it's follow up, ether song.
  2. Anon
    10
    The CD is as close to perfection as is possible, Turin Brakes have managed to combine quality acoustic tunes and fantastic lyrics. And future boy is a quality track. Full Review »
  3. ColmP.
    9
    I absolutely adore Turin Brakes. I basically couldn't listen to acoustic stuff @ home before this the only thing is I can't stand future boy just yet hence the 9 and the fact nothing is perfect Full Review »