Albums: Ever The Optimist

 

The first full-length studio release from Scottish indie pop band Trashcan Sinatras in 10 years features guest appearances by Camera Obscura's Tracyanne Campbell and Scritti Politti's Green Gartside, the album has spawned the singles "The Bitter End", ""Bad Husband", "Ever The Optimist" & "Games For The ZX Spectrum."

Despite their pace slowed more than usual, Trashcan Sinatras finally are back with "Ever the Optimist" which came as a brilliant surprise to those wondering where the band had been since the release of 2016's Wild Pendulum. This is a record made up of songs that touch on adult situations with the group's usual deftness, sometimes coming across almost bitterly melancholic, other times warmly comforting. 

The production is far more restrained than in the semi-recent past, with the band letting the songs and performances speak for themselves, basically the songs are mainly based around guitar, bass, and drums with the occasional keyboard. This approach pays off on achingly powerful songs like "A View from Nowhere," it also means that the more uptempo songs have some kick to them like the brilliant "The Associated Funk" which is a propulsive rocker with guitars that sound locked in a to-the-death duel, and the lilting "Melodramatic" has essence that only the accumulation of time can give a song and band. 

The album has ballads, fragile ballads, like the sweetly sad "Birds I Couldn't Identify," are also well served by the more stripped-down yet still full arrangements. Along with the excellent songs and performances, the band also pull off a couple of nice collaborations. "Bad Husband" features the dulcet tones of Camera Obscura's Tracyanne Campbell duetting with Reader on a rueful examination of a failed marriage, "Hold on to Today" pairs another ageless wonder, Scritti Politti's Green Gartside, with Reader on a subdued track that's both brutally honest and somehow uplifting. 

A main ingredient on the record are guests who are extremely well-chosen, not surprising for a band with touch and experience that always have deserves more. Ever the Optimist is yet another example of their under-the-radar brilliance and will repay the faith of longtime fans like a slot machine spitting out gold coin after gold coin. Thoughtful, well-constructed, and emotionally real guitar pop music doesn't get any better than this. 

The album opener "Ever The Optimist" speaks to trying to find brightness as the world around us darkens, but with the gambling metaphor running through the lyrics, it’s clear that the author here recognizes he’s likely beaten but not willing to fold just yet. Next "Games For The ZX Spectrum" has a familiar jangle that delivers the same dopamine hit as a rare sunny day in the band's Scottish home. 

"Bad Husband" has a late 70s/early 80s pop feel that reminds of another Scottish outfit; Camera Obscura. And it’s no wonder with Tracyanne Campbell singing along with Frank here. The song showcases the band stamp of blending uplifting music with dark lyrics. While listening, this one may have the unintended effect of causing a few couples to re-assess their relationship’s health. "The Bitter End", was the first single released in February this year, with harmonies that are nothing short of majestic, so easy on the ears that you may forget how difficult it is to pull this off, particularly with a band in their early 60s. Chunky guitars twang and chirp, and melodies just make your mood lift. Frank sings of love and loss.

Other remarkable tracks are "Melodramatic", sounds like a quintessential Trashcan Sinatras track, but there's a curious gem on the record with "The Associated Funk" packing with a big punch, up-tempo and vital. The arrangement is fast-paced for this band, but Frank counters by singing with a measured confidence, elongating phrases rather than filling them with words. "Rome" follows and this one is frankly mind-blowing outstanding sung by John Douglas, the symphonic, film-score-esque arrangement sits like a master’s abstract painting among the famed realists of prior centuries. This band can still surprise, and listeners should welcome such experimentation when it yields such gold. The closer, track "Learning To Love Your Ghost" is a moody piece on the topic of grief. With Frank earnestly sings "What you gonna do but survive?" really touch now with John’s sudden death, this song holds new power. The final elegiac lyrics as the song builds are especially poignant.

 

Ever The Optimist Track List:

 

1. Ever The Optimist

2. Games For The ZX Spectrum 

3. Bad Husband

4. The Bitter ENd

5. A View From Nowhere

6. Hold On To Today

7. The Associated Funk

8. Rome

9. Melodramatic

10. Birds I Couldn't Identify

11. Learning To Love Your Ghost