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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
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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. 
Posted 10 months ago by Wok    [ Reply ]
Anyone else think this sounds a bit like the Indigo Girls?
Posted 1 year ago by settiman    [ Reply ]
like this a lot. bump up from 5 > 7.
Posted 1 year ago by lily34    [ Reply ]
Super song. Super solo guitar,. Super voice. Super percussion. Many thaks RP.
Posted 1 year ago by flozer68    [ Reply ]
Uplifting for an album entitled"The Optimist."
Posted 2 years ago by itsme_bygolly    [ Reply ]
Proof that just because Coldplay sell bazillions of records, it doesn't mean they're better.  
Posted 2 years ago by Alastair    [ Reply ]
such a great set!!! woot
Posted 2 years ago by tm    [ Reply ]
This is my good eye
Do you hear a cow?
A rooster says
Here is a pig
The devil says....
Posted 3 years ago by thatslongformud    [ Reply ]
Another band that I'm now aware of- very distinct voice. Can't get enough. Thank you Bill/RP!!
Posted 3 years ago by NEOvManhattan    [ Reply ]
this band has sohhhhhhhhhh much talent ...... God Bless them and all who sail in them
Posted 3 years ago by arserocket    [ Reply ]
Ted Nugent, Stranglehold.
Posted 3 years ago by danoodles    [ Reply ]
Start of this reminded me of Good Souls by Starsailor, who are also good
Posted 3 years ago by SnapDragon66    [ Reply ]
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. 
Posted 4 years ago by Pjesnik    [ Reply ]
 arserocket wrote:
lovely lovely TBs .... grand as ever
 Like the band, not the song.

Posted 4 years ago by Signwrtr61    [ Reply ]
 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!!

Posted 4 years ago by Signwrtr61    [ Reply ]
 jahgirl8 wrote:

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

Posted 4 years ago by Signwrtr61    [ Reply ]
 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!! ✌️

Posted 4 years ago by Signwrtr61    [ Reply ]
 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!! ✌️

Posted 4 years ago by Signwrtr61    [ Reply ]
Must be a story behind those lyrics, and not a pleasant one. Still, I think it's an excellent song.
Posted 4 years ago by Dave_Mack    [ Reply ]
 nicknt wrote:
One of the most unnecessary bands of all time.
 
Was thinking that about this comment
Posted 4 years ago by bluematrix    [ Reply ]
One of the most unnecessary bands of all time.
Posted 4 years ago by nicknt    [ Reply ]
 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.
Posted 4 years ago by jahgirl8    [ Reply ]
 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. 
Posted 4 years ago by icuski2    [ Reply ]
Thought I was hearing Jack White
Posted 5 years ago by 2MD4J1F    [ Reply ]
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!!
Posted 5 years ago by lizardking    [ Reply ]
I liked the music until I listened to the vocals. What is going on? Way too dark for me.
Posted 5 years ago by svfoster    [ Reply ]
lovely lovely TBs .... grand as ever
Posted 6 years ago by arserocket    [ Reply ]
 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.
Posted 6 years ago by planet_lizard    [ Reply ]
 Alastair wrote:
Always amazes me why TB aren't massive when tuneless Coldplay fill stadiums.

 
Exactly. Further proof that the masses have no taste.
Posted 6 years ago by Duc1098    [ Reply ]
Always amazes me why TB aren't massive when tuneless Coldplay fill stadiums.


Posted 6 years ago by Alastair    [ Reply ]
Y..{#Jump}.... h!
Posted 7 years ago by arserocket    [ Reply ]
{#Yes}More I hear, more I like this voice...
Posted 7 years ago by thais    [ Reply ]
Always a favourite - TB are just brilliant 
Posted 9 years ago by Chickenwire    [ Reply ]
This track was the reason I bought this album.  It was money well spent, I think.  ↑ 8.
Posted 9 years ago by DaidyBoy    [ Reply ]
Thank you!
Posted 9 years ago by MentalWedgie    [ Reply ]
Twilleyesque {#Jump}
Posted 10 years ago by Segue    [ Reply ]
 romeotuma wrote:

This song is soooo good for the ears...
 
 
Yes sir, yes sir, yes sir! {#Music}
Posted 12 years ago by peter_james_bond    [ Reply ]

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.


Posted 13 years ago by le_colonel    [ Reply ]
Bring it! I dig this!{#Bounce}
Posted 13 years ago by d-don    [ Reply ]
 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!)

Posted 13 years ago by kaybee    [ Reply ]
Released 2004, a great one!
Posted 13 years ago by nalle    [ Reply ]
Excellent (relatively) new addition to the RP list - thanks, it's a gem.
Posted 13 years ago by Foot    [ Reply ]
Great song — rotate it in more often please!
Posted 13 years ago by socalhol    [ Reply ]
Nice tune, quite reminiscent of a song by Equation..."Not the Man", I think.
Posted 13 years ago by Dave_Mack    [ Reply ]
 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.

Posted 14 years ago by zipper    [ Reply ]
Yay - more Turin Brakes!  Today just got better... {#Dancingbanana_2}
Posted 14 years ago by Cynaera    [ Reply ]
 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.
Posted 14 years ago by That_SOB    [ Reply ]
good song I think.  Nice guitar groove.  Reminds me a little of Steve Earle
Posted 15 years ago by Wizzuvvoz    [ Reply ]
Wik says they do a cover of the Stones "Moonlight Mile". Now THAT I would like to hear. More Turin Brakes please, Bill.
Posted 16 years ago by HarrO    [ Reply ]
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)

Posted 16 years ago by arserocket    [ Reply ]
trop fort ce groupe j'adore c du bon son pop rock
Posted 16 years ago by BoBOss    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 16 years ago by Dave_Mack    [ Reply ]
Posted 17 years ago by remifentanil    [ Reply ]
atticus wrote:
... But hey... I'm an Optimist....."
Yes, and the song sounds just a bit like Optimistic by Radiohead too.
Posted 17 years ago by ScottN    [ Reply ]
love these guys! :)
Posted 17 years ago by PattonFever    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 18 years ago by SuperWeh    [ Reply ]
Happy Song!
Posted 18 years ago by Krispian    [ Reply ]
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..."
Posted 18 years ago by atticus    [ Reply ]
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!)
Posted 18 years ago by atticus    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 18 years ago by Geecheeboy    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 18 years ago by meloman    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 18 years ago by Gryn    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 18 years ago by kazuma    [ Reply ]
Don't care for the sentiments, but great rock sound!
Posted 19 years ago by rKokon    [ Reply ]
Great band, eh song.
Posted 19 years ago by Tony2Nice    [ Reply ]
Starts with a great guitar, then the song gets very mundane (haven't we heard this same sound/song a million times?)
Posted 19 years ago by Ando    [ Reply ]
Posted 19 years ago by Daveinbawlmer    [ Reply ]
Vocalist has a quite unique voice, imho. Like it :nodhead:
Posted 19 years ago by hujoppi    [ Reply ]
decent
Posted 19 years ago by cassano18    [ Reply ]
I like this.
Posted 19 years ago by n4ku    [ Reply ]
Not bad at all! :sunny.gif:
Posted 19 years ago by pdjpirate    [ Reply ]
song has a cool/good sound made me look, dirty crook stole yo mama's pocket-book! word
Posted 19 years ago by moocray    [ Reply ]
It's got a groove.
Posted 19 years ago by mig7    [ Reply ]