NOTE: On August 3, 2026, Trashcan Sinatras guitarist/singer John Douglas passed away at 63. This sudden sad news comes just four days after the new album was released. The Big Takeover sends condolences to his family and the band.
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Over the span of four decades, Irvine (Ayrshire), Scotland’s Trashcan Sinatras (TCS) have epitomized superb indie-pop music. Though not prolific, they retained their original five-piece line-up (a feat in itself), taking their time to craft six relevant albums along with various standalone singles, EPs, and live albums between gaps of inactivity. Throughout their oeuvre they’ve written the book on how to push the boundaries of the indie-pop genre with addictive, instantly ear-worm sing-a-long melodies, wordplay-dense lyrics, and soaring harmonies.
On reflection, it’s such deft songwriting and arrangement chops that have infused their catalogue with a surprisingly wide range of musical “sides”, keeping audiences engaged.
To give listeners an idea of what I’m talking about, a TCS playlist should include their hard side (“Bloodrush”, “One At A Time”, “Welcome Back”), quirky side (“Twisted and Bent”, “Killing The Cabinet”, “Ain’t That Something”), shimmering pop side (“Even The Odd”, “Best Days On Earth”, “Hayfever”, “All The Dark Horses”), contemplative side (“Weightlifting”, “Send For Henny”, “Earlies”, “The Closer You Move Away From Me”), 60s trip-pop side (“Let Me Inside (Or Let Me Out)”), and jangle-pop side (“Freetime”, “I’ve Seen Everything”).
With album number seven just released, “Ever The Optimist” (TCS Recordings) rewards fans who’ve waited 10 years since “Wild Pendulum” (Red River, 2016). Fear not, as TCS hasn’t lost a beat. On the contrary, the latest record bleeds confidence earned from tenacious work, a clear belief in their musical identity, and a vocal, adoring, and now multi-generational fan base.
The album leads with the title track. File this one under “quirky side”. Lyrically it 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.
“Games For The ZX Spectrum” has a familiar TCS jangle that delivers the same dopamine hit as a rare sunny day in the band’s Scottish home. Singer/lyricist Frank Reader has lived in southern California for many years now, so maybe his fair-weather influence with the songwriting is more a daily reality than a desperate aspiration. The band’s video for the song is a kitschy video game throwback to the ZX Spectrum, an early 80s British home computer made by Sinclair Research. Lyrically, it again mines life’s uncertainty like the title track, with a refrain “I don’t know what I’m doing anymore.”
“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 TCS 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”, the first single released in February this year, has a very “Best Days on Earth” feel. It’s the album’s first standout moment. The harmonies 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; “In memory of a friend, I’ll meet you again at the bitter end.”, and you get the sense the song was important for TCS to write as an epitaph or closing chapter.
Skipping ahead to track nine, I have to say that “Melodramatic” is a great place to dive into “Optimist” if you’re new or renewed to the band. It’s a quintessential TCS track. If you like what you hear, you’re going to be pleasantly overwhelmed by the band’s output going back to the beginning with.
As the album progresses, things get especially intriguing with “The Associated Funk”. This one packs 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. I admit I don’t know exactly what this song is about, but the closing phrase is curious; “Enjoy yourself, future travelers.”
“Rome” follows and this one is frankly mind-blowing. 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.
Closer, “Learning To Love Your Ghost” is a moody piece on the topic of grief. Frank earnestly sings “What you gonna do but survive?” With John’s sudden death, this song holds new power. The final elegiac lyrics as the song builds are especially poignant:
“By the sea is where I wanna be
Along the shores of happiness and hope
And serenity
And tranquility
I will float and learn to love your ghost
I will float and learn to love your ghost
I will float”
