The Optimist LP is the first full-length album release by Turin Brakes

Turin Brakes

Turin Brakes are a modern folk duo, comprising Olly Knights and Gale Paridjanian, hailing from Balham, London. They had a UK top 5 hit with their song "Painkiller ".-1999–2003:...

. Critically acclaimed by the UK

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

 music press, the album was released in 2001 and cemented the band's place in the UK "acoustic movement" (a term invented by the music press). "The Door" and "The Road" (previously released on "The Door EP" were rerecorded for this album.

Championed by radio DJ's such as Jo Whiley

Jo Whiley

Johanne "Jo" Whiley is a British radio disc jockey and television presenter. She was the host of the long running weekday Jo Whiley Show on Radio 1.-Early life and education:...

 (BBC Radio 1

BBC Radio 1

BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...

), the band provided a respite from the pop groups that dominated radio airplay at the time.

The album was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize.

In late 2011 Turin Brakes embarked on a national tour performing the whole of the album in its entirety for its tenth anniversary.

Track listing

1. "Feeling Oblivion"
2. "Underdog (Save Me)"
3. "Emergency 72"
4. "Future Boy"
5. "The Door"
6. "State Of Things"
7. "By TV Light"
8. "Slack"
9. "Starship"
10. "The Road"
11. "Mind Over Money"
12. "The Optimist"
13. "Three Days Old" (Hidden Track at 5:25 of track 12)