Advantages: Fabulous food, fabulous people, fabulous city
Disadvantages: None

...Being my first trip to Italy I was very excited about the prospect of good food, good wine and of course good sights. Considering that I first thought that I was being asked to go to Truro in Cornwall imagine my delight when I discovered it was actually Turin, Italy (Geography isn’t a strong point of mine). I was only in Turin for 2 nights so only got a taste of the area, but it left me wanting more. ********* History of Turin **************** Describing Turin is not an easy task; the city is known for its cold, greyness and large industries. On the other hand, it is also a fascinating, interesting city. It is a city of charm, rich in historic monuments with the entrepreneurial spirit of a place in continual economic growth. It is very ordered, I was told this is because it was built to an urban plan from the roman period... Read review

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Advantages: Great Music, Great Band
Disadvantages: none

...A few months ago Turin Brakes came to perform in Birmingham at the Academy and I went along to see them. The Academy is quite a small venue, so the perfomances there can feel really personal. I already really liked the bands last album (The Optimist) and the day after the concert their new album was launched. Therefore the band played alot of old an new stuff. Music wise i really loved it, they played all my favourites from the Optimist and the new songs were even better. However, the reason why I wanted to write a review on this concert was not mainly because their music and songs were brilliant (which they were). What i wanted to say is that a few days before this concert the whole band had got a bug and it was quite nasty. Olly (the lead singer) said that they had been puking all day because of the bug, and it was so bad... Read review

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Advantages: Scenery, museums, food, shopping
Disadvantages: English not widely spoken - brush up on the basics before you go

...What I knew about Turin you could write on the back of a postage stamp - home of FIAT, famous Shroud, The Italian Job - boy did I have a lot to learn! The capital of the Piedmont region, Torino became home to the Kings of Italy when Vittorio Emanuale II of the House of Savoy (which had reigned in the area for 500 years) was crowned and the beautiful palace, Palazzo Reale (piazza Castello 191) is well worth a visit. Tours take place every hour. Don't be alarmed if you do not get an English speaking guide, there are detailed written descriptions in each room in English and French and you are given time to read them before being moved on. **Getting there and Where to Stay** With Ryannair offering such great deals, even the overnight stay and early departure from Stansted were worth it. Flight time to aeroporto Pertini CASSELLE... Read review

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Advantages: A charming town
Disadvantages: No one

...Turin always makes me think to my childhood and to my father. We usually get there during weekends, or when I was free from my scholar duties. He did a peculiar work, he was a window dresser, and the majority of his clients were in Turin. Strangely as it is, I never saw Turin with the sun: when I got there the weather was always rainy and cold! Turin is a serious, grey, shiny town, that makes me think to an old lady of the middle of the 19th century. Marbles are everywhere, and the ancient buildings cover different architectural styes, from Renaissance to Liberty. The charm of this town is in its atmosphere of mistery, as if any corner should hide a secret. From the middle of the town, the large Castle Square, all the streets unravel themselves like a chessboard, so the layout of the town is perfectly geometrical. A visitor... Read review

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Advantages: A town to discover
Disadvantages: new to tourism

...Turin is a regal, baroque toy. Of the early life of this town you can still see the two gates of the roman 'castrum'fortified village): one is the Porta Palatina the other is barely visible because was merged in the Juvara's Palazzo Madama. Of the medieval life only one complete (half abandoned) house. The real soul of this town is the essential baroque of the Savoia dinasty. If you want the look and feel of a XVII-XVIII century town, please, visit Turin. When the Savoia Family (the future kings of Italy) moved from Chambery (France) to Turin they trasformed the little town in a great exposition of their greatness. They call this architectural project 'theatrum sabaudae' the theatre of the Savoia. They build a major Royal Palace in the centre of the town (Palazzo Reale in piazza Castello) and another in the Parco del Valentino... Read review

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Advantages: Distinctive vocals, relaxed acoustic sound
Disadvantages: Tails off a little towards the end

...Turin Brakes? Who are they? That’s what I thought until I heard the song The Door on a compilation cd. Well, it turned out that Turin Brakes consist of Ollie Knights and Gale Paridjanian, two extremely talented British musicians. The Optimist LP is one of the better albums I have heard recently. Instrumentally, the album is fairly simple with acoustic guitars and rhythmic drums. This is no bad thing, as it allows Ollie Knights' very distinctive and vocals to shine through. His voice is very impressive, capable of expressing all sorts of emotions in one breath. The album opens with the track Feeling Oblivion. This is a quietly pretty song that really paves the way for the rest of the album. This is one of those songs that, on first listen, might wash over you a little. However, the more you listen, the more it grows on you and soon... Read review

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Advantages: A nice mix of songs for any mood and great to sing to in the car/shower!
Disadvantages: An album that I found difficult to get in to... despite being a Turin Brakes fan.

...I bought this album along with their first album, The Optimist, a few months ago. I already had their second album, Ether Song, so I was very exited to have another two cd's at once! At first I preferred The Optimist over Jackinabox as it was more instantly likeable but three months down the line this is definitely the best album they have produced…. Here's why…. Turin Brakes consist of Olly Knights, lead vocals and guitar and Gale Paridjanian, guitar and vocals. They are guitar based indie type music something akin to Coldplay but Olly Knights having a voice like Jeff Bukley. They are different to Coldplay in that they have a more folk sound which makes it sound a bit more timeless. Most of their songs are very simple but with good lyrics, songwriting and harmonies it comes as a surprise to me that every song is very easy... Read review

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Advantages: Very Chilled out debut album, Real talent waiting to hit it big
Disadvantages: Few weak tracks but to be expected from a debut

...As Turin Brakes release their second album tomorrow morning, I thought I’d do a review on the first album they released two years ago, which has led us till today. Anyone who watched Top of The Pops on Friday night will have seen Turin Brakes performing the current single from the new album; Painkiller. Of course I understand if a lot of people just let it pass them by but in-case you were interested then the guys behind Turin Brakes are Ollie Knights and Gale Paridjanian both from South London. They are another to follow on the UK music scene in the vein of Coldplay and the likes. Although the first album didn’t really take off like Coldplay’s it looks like they might be about to do a Travis with a phenomenal second Album. From this first album it has been easy to tell that they were not the finished article at the time but now... Read review

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Advantages: It is the beginning of NAM, the alternative to alternative rock
Disadvantages: It is only a debut, so it's not perfect. But then there are very few albums that are (debuts or not)

...So here it is the accomplished debut from Turin Brakes (or Chewin Bricks as friend of mine keeps calling them.) One of several bands touted as the new "Coldplay" (I quite like the one we’ve got.) They are part of the New Acoustic Movement, which you may have heard me mention before. Turin Brakes are a duo from London, (one half is half Armenian); they are Olly Knights and Gale Paridjanian (he’s male in case your wondering.) Their most notable release until now happens to be one of my favourite singles of this year, "The Door". Olly Knights voice is somewhere between Kelly Of Stereophonics and Jeff Buckley. He doesn’t quite have the gravel throatedness of Kelly; indeed he tends to croon not shout. I came across Turin Brakes after "The Door" was played on the radio a few months ago. I went out and purchased a vinyl copy... Read review

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Advantages: unique vocals, good lyrics and beautiful guitar
Disadvantages: none I can think of - not enough gigs!

...I first heard of this band a few years ago when they released 'Underdog - save me'. The guitar solo grabbed me and the unique voice left me wanting to hear the song over and over again. Catching it on radio one I managed to hear the name Turin Brakes. This band come from the London area and are comprised of 2 people. The lead singer, who also plays guitar and another guy who also plays guitar and does backing vocals. I got hold of their first album, called "The Optimist". After listening to it I became hooked on the band. Each song seems to have it's own individuality. Some songs I found enticed me straight away, whilst others stuck out at you after a few listens, but each one is good in it's own right. What I like about Turin Brakes is the singer's voice. It's so distinct and unique. He has... Read review

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