Search - Turin Brakes :: Ether Song

Uneasy skepticism and bad vibes

handyandy1 | Columbia, MO United States | 05/11/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Why should you never trust online music reviews? Because the people who write them are biased. Most people only write reviews for albums they love or despise. That is why you should never trust anyone who gives an album a five out of five (nothing gets a five out of five, except maybe something ridiculously infallible like the Beatles, Pink Floyd, or Jesus risen from the dead in a rock & roll band).That being said, I give this album a 7.9 when compared to music of 2003. Turin Brakes often draws comparisons to their previous LP, The Optimist, that won the band a Mercury Prize nomination (...). Since their last album several changes have been made. These include moving to a major label (Astralwerks), and upgrading to a big-time producer, (Tony Hoffer of Beck, Supergrass, and Air fame.). Also, some of the acoustic guitar was ditched for electric guitar and synths. This may make you skeptical because it stinks of 'sell-out', but if anything this is one of best albums of 2003.The singing and songwriting is incredible. I could inaccurately compare them to other bands, like Radiohead or Coldplay, but these guys are carving out something unique. This is one of those albums that you can play to anyone and they will like it. But it and thank me later."

Good music from across the pond!

Terrence Walsh | Strongsville, OH USA | 02/07/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If you are an American, as I am, you are as probably as lost in the post-grunge (RIP) post nu-metal (Thank God!) hip-hop/sleaze pop music world as I was when I first came upon these pages.I had heard some Coldplay, liked it. Bought their two albums and loved it. I then listened to some old Radiohead albums that I had somehow missed along the way. Listening to them gave me some heart that beautiful and meaningful rock music had not been lost, just harder to find.It's a bit of a shame that English bands aren't getting the airplay over here that they once did. That being said, their albums are available for purchase! Turin Brakes makes some wonderful music, and this album is very good. The songs seem to stay with me all day, and even though I have listened to them many times, they don't seem to get old because there is enough "meat" to them both sonicly and lyricly to pour over for quite some time.If you like Coldplay, Starsailor and Radiohead, you will like Turin Brakes. If you have read this whole review and have absolutely no idea what I am talking about, do yourself a favor and grab one of these albums for a listen."

Good sophomore effort.

Stephen Doig | New Zealand | 07/17/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"In 2001, Turin Brakes appeared on the music scene with a confident and intriguing debut album that drew deservedly favourable album reviews, however, while it contained some great songs it also had a tendency at times to meander a little bit. Ether Song by contrast, is a more consistent, tight and focused record.
If track 2 hints that the band have been in thrall to Jeff Buckley's Grace album, then track 3 nigh on confirms it. To compare a band like Turin Brakes to an artist like Jeff Buckley is a comparison that is probably all too often wheeled-out, but in the case of this album I feel it's justified. The best songs here - like the superb 'Average Man' or 'Full Of Stars' occupy the same emotional territory and have the same mood of urgent romanticism that was the trademark of Buckley's best work. At times I'm reminded also of Remy Zero and Josh Rouse, both of whom I'd heartily recommend to fans of Turin Brakes.
Overall this is a solid and enjoyable if not quite earth-shattering set of songs."