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Turin Brakes — Slack
Album: The Optimist LP
Avg rating:
6.9

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1316









Released: 2001
Length: 3:07
Plays (last 30 days): 0
I've got a rifle on my back
Swinging past the birch trees
Well I set of a bomb way back there
I don't care about nobody but me
I, no I ain't slack

Ran back home and drunk all the wine
Well I stole a bottle for myself
With insects crawling in my hair
The trees are black and I don't care
'Cos I, no I ain't slack

Rescued a cat from a tree
Well its fur was all caked in dirt
So I killed it dead for liking me
Yeah I stole a car and drove to town
And I, no I ain't slack
Comments (74)add comment
 Signwrtr61 wrote:
 
 This particular song....yeah, cat lover so, that, in itself, turned me off. But, TB DOES have some good tunes. I believe I may have heard 1, maybe 2 others here, on RP.  Try not to discount the group....just the song!! ✌️



True to your reaction based on being a cat lover, songs are open to interpretation and can evoke different feelings and emotions based on personal circumstance and periods in time. To me, this song is about questioning social norms.. a protagonist who has decided that nobody is more important than themselves. The fact that such extreme examples were been chosen to paint this image may be explained by the fact we are talking about it. Would this discourse be so passionate if Gale and Olly had written that they want to wear shoes without socks? Or drank red wine with oysters, as one listener commented. 
Anyone else think this sounds a bit like the Indigo Girls?
like this a lot. bump up from 5 > 7.
Super song. Super solo guitar,. Super voice. Super percussion. Many thaks RP.
Uplifting for an album entitled"The Optimist."
Proof that just because Coldplay sell bazillions of records, it doesn't mean they're better.  
such a great set!!! woot
This is my good eye
Do you hear a cow?
A rooster says
Here is a pig
The devil says....
Another band that I'm now aware of- very distinct voice. Can't get enough. Thank you Bill/RP!!
this band has sohhhhhhhhhh much talent ...... God Bless them and all who sail in them
Ted Nugent, Stranglehold.
Start of this reminded me of Good Souls by Starsailor, who are also good
Not bad, but the first few seconds of guitar intro made me want to hear a song from "Entertainment"  of Gang of Four? Strange indeed. 
 arserocket wrote:
lovely lovely TBs .... grand as ever
 Like the band, not the song.

 lizardking wrote:
Recently, during a different Turin Brakes tune, I noticed that they hail from London.  Well....that was a surprise!  They sound so SoCal to my ears.  This one's an 8 for me currently and getting close to a +1; Long Live RP!!
 Liz....no disrespect but, this song is just....odd. For that big of a like from you, I sure  wouldn't wanna be present if that "dark" side of you comes out!!

 jahgirl8 wrote:

That's some fucked up shit right there.
 So is your mouth....in a respectable public forum like RP.

 Dave_Mack wrote:
Must be a story behind those lyrics, and not a pleasant one. Still, I think it's an excellent song.
 Agreed....give or take....TB has some good tunes. This one...not so much...very odd lyrics!! ✌️

 svfoster wrote:
I liked the music until I listened to the vocals. What is going on? Way too dark for me.
 This particular song....yeah, cat lover so, that, in itself, turned me off. But, TB DOES have some good tunes. I believe I may have heard 1, maybe 2 others here, on RP.  Try not to discount the group....just the song!! ✌️

Must be a story behind those lyrics, and not a pleasant one. Still, I think it's an excellent song.
 nicknt wrote:
One of the most unnecessary bands of all time.
 
Was thinking that about this comment
One of the most unnecessary bands of all time.
 svfoster wrote:
I liked the music until I listened to the vocals. What is going on? Way too dark for me.
 
That's some fucked up shit right there.
 svfoster wrote:
I liked the music until I listened to the vocals. What is going on? Way too dark for me.
 

Ya, no kidding. Would be curious to know the back story on those lyrics. You may not be a slack but you're some kind of trouble. 
Thought I was hearing Jack White
Recently, during a different Turin Brakes tune, I noticed that they hail from London.  Well....that was a surprise!  They sound so SoCal to my ears.  This one's an 8 for me currently and getting close to a +1; Long Live RP!!
I liked the music until I listened to the vocals. What is going on? Way too dark for me.
lovely lovely TBs .... grand as ever
 Alastair wrote:
Always amazes me why TB aren't massive when tuneless Coldplay fill stadiums.

 
Say what you like about Coldplay, but 'tuneless' is a poor choice of adjective IMO. If there's one thing Chris Martin has an uncanny talent for it's melody and that is certainly part of the reason they are as massive as they are.
 Alastair wrote:
Always amazes me why TB aren't massive when tuneless Coldplay fill stadiums.

 
Exactly. Further proof that the masses have no taste.
Always amazes me why TB aren't massive when tuneless Coldplay fill stadiums.


Y..{#Jump}.... h!
{#Yes}More I hear, more I like this voice...
Always a favourite - TB are just brilliant 
This track was the reason I bought this album.  It was money well spent, I think.  ↑ 8.
Thank you!
Twilleyesque {#Jump}
 romeotuma wrote:

This song is soooo good for the ears...
 
 
Yes sir, yes sir, yes sir! {#Music}

Giving this a 6, but only because TB have recorded plenty of better songs.

Great to see Bill still play stuff off of their debut though.


Bring it! I dig this!{#Bounce}
 That_SOB wrote:


Nugent is a blithering butt plug..textbook schizo for which antipsychotic drugs have done little or nothing.
Perhaps a 45 ACP is the more appropriate therapy.
 
{#Lol}  Back to this piece, I was surprised to hear it was Turin Brakes.  It reminds me of some group from the late 60's or the 70's - don't know who, (but definitely not Nutbar Nugent!)

Released 2004, a great one!
Excellent (relatively) new addition to the RP list - thanks, it's a gem.
Great song — rotate it in more often please!
Nice tune, quite reminiscent of a song by Equation..."Not the Man", I think.
 SuperWeh wrote:
man, for a moment I thought it was Stranglehold (Ted Nugent) playing during the intro. In a sense I wouldn't mind hearing some TN but I guess it wouldn't go down too well with the RP politically correct crowd.
 
You heard Nugent in this tune? {#Roflol} Man, that made my Monday. Thanks.

Yay - more Turin Brakes!  Today just got better... {#Dancingbanana_2}
 SuperWeh wrote:
man, for a moment I thought it was Stranglehold (Ted Nugent) playing during the intro. In a sense I wouldn't mind hearing some TN but I guess it wouldn't go down too well with the RP politically correct crowd.
 

Nugent is a blithering butt plug..textbook schizo for which antipsychotic drugs have done little or nothing.
Perhaps a 45 ACP is the more appropriate therapy.
good song I think.  Nice guitar groove.  Reminds me a little of Steve Earle
Wik says they do a cover of the Stones "Moonlight Mile". Now THAT I would like to hear. More Turin Brakes please, Bill.
BoBOss wrote:
trop fort ce groupe j'adore c du bon son pop rock

Mais oui mon brave, J'adore le 'Brakes' aussi et Je pense qu'ils donnent un coup de pied l'âne? (pardonnez-moi, je ne parle pas le Francais trop bien)

trop fort ce groupe j'adore c du bon son pop rock
Heh, when I wasn't listening carefully to the k.d. lang song that preceded this one, I thought it might be a new Turin Brakes song. Never thought of the similarity until today.
atticus wrote:
... But hey... I'm an Optimist....."
Yes, and the song sounds just a bit like Optimistic by Radiohead too.
love these guys! :)
man, for a moment I thought it was Stranglehold (Ted Nugent) playing during the intro. In a sense I wouldn't mind hearing some TN but I guess it wouldn't go down too well with the RP politically correct crowd.
Happy Song!
Bought the song. Like it. Grabbing the car keys now! But hey... I'm an Optimist. And a hell of a dancer. And "Lowrider" by War?! Now we're talkin'! Gonna' cut a "Cruisin' To S.F" mix starting with these two songs. "Take a little trip... take a little trip..."
Dig it. Simple, enjoyable guitar riff--albeit repetitive-- but most common in some of the greatest ever... if that's what you mean by "haven't we heard this same sound/song before?" Great jam in the middle. Sounded original to me anyway, at least for my first listen here. Trying to think what other songs it could be compared to. It's summer... and I can imagine jamming up 101 to San Francisco with the Mustang windows down and her long, long red hair and this song spilling out and into the warm night. Yeah, like that. If only Her were here... (More banana people, Bill!)
catmaven wrote:
Don't care for the sentiments, but great rock sound!
Yes, Catmaven, I agree. Geecheeboy has 2 cats, one curled up behind right now keeping me company.
Gryn wrote:
Turin Brakes has always impressed me. This kind of thing is what should be played more on mainstream radio, instead of all the other crap that is played there.
I agree, this crap is better than that OTHER crap.
Turin Brakes has always impressed me. This kind of thing is what should be played more on mainstream radio, instead of all the other crap that is played there.
Ando wrote:
Starts with a great guitar, then the song gets very mundane (haven't we heard this same sound/song a million times?)
I feel like I have.
Don't care for the sentiments, but great rock sound!
Great band, eh song.
Starts with a great guitar, then the song gets very mundane (haven't we heard this same sound/song a million times?)
Vocalist has a quite unique voice, imho. Like it :nodhead:
decent
I like this.
Not bad at all! :sunny.gif:
song has a cool/good sound made me look, dirty crook stole yo mama's pocket-book! word
It's got a groove.