Posted on March 14, 2010 - by Clint Allen

Outbursts: feeling good with Turin Brakes

Turin Brakes are out with a new work called Outbursts. I want to start by saying what a rich bundle of feelgoodness this album is.  Now normally that would be made in the snarkiest of tones, given that this isn’t the type of music to which I primarily get down.  But in this case, it’s sincere, and this is the first time I’ve heard this band.

The songwriting is solid and beautiful, the sound is full, and the vocalists are strong.  The depth and range of the tracks on this album is startling; they go from slow, languid, and sweet to large and dramatic.  When you sample this delight, you’ll hear flavors of Calexico, Cat Power, K.D. Lang, The Flaming Lips, The Polyphonic Spree, a hint of Radiohead, and a full bouquet of classic country and folk.

My favorite track is “Apocolips”.  The sound is strongly rooted in ’60s balladry and ’70s prog, with a lot of refinement and polish.  Think Crosby, Stills and Nash meet Yes.

Another standout is “Paper Heart”, a gorgeous, slightly torchy gem.  “I live by the sea…not the one you’re thinkin’, the one inside of me”…that’s great lyricism.

The yearning guitar solo in “Radio Silence” was a break from the rest of the album, but fit right in.  A lyric in that same song goes: “I’m an old soul in a young shell”.  I believe they are.

Turin Brakes – “Sea Change”

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