They’ve been away for the past two years or so, as you might guess, relaxing and writing recording this latest offering, although Olly should have had a hair cut before the press photos – he does look ridiculous.

Any way rant over. The album opens with ‘They Can’t Buy The Sunshine’, which is traditional Turin Brakes, sweet acoustic strumming and vocal harmonies all around. The lyrics are mumblings about fame and fortune, which makes you instantly think, they finally managed to cash their royalty cheques and turn into assholes.

The next few tracks are a bit up and down, before the album picks up pace with ‘Red Moon’ and then eases off with latest single ‘Fishing For A Dream’.  Most of the choruses are constructed for concert sing-alongs; they’ve been engineered in such a way, that the rest fades into a dull, lacklustre filler, before everyone can force a line of mild interest and going off into the wilderness again.

To be blunt, the music is how it has always been; the casual listener isn’t going to be blown, away. You could swap the songs from album to album and nothing would sound out of place. It’s all very competent, but lacking any real inspiration. They been playing as an acoustic two piece for a few years now, perhaps the formula has grown a little, dull, dare I be as bold to say even predictable? 

Let me get to my real bugbear. The lyrics are frankly shite. Olly sounds like some sad git, going on about how much he loves his girlfriend. Some of lines are simply laughable: “Asleep with the fireflies” – so drastically lame, that most small children would be afraid to sing along for fear of ridicule. I’m even as willing to go as far as saying, I prefer his earlier, more Stereophonics style lyrics…I feel dirty after saying that.

There are three good songs here, at best, the other nine are fillers. Will most loyal Turin Brakes fans care? Doubtful, but this is one that does.

(1/5)

Release Date: 30 May 2005

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