weightlifting album review

the scotsman

by fiona shepherd
october 15, 2004

Trashcan Sinatras - Weightlifting (picnic)

Rating: 4/5

There is a palpable sense on Trashcan Sinatras’ long-time-coming fourth album of a band emerging from the bunker, faces upturned to sunshine, and waking up to the wonder of it all once more. Since the release of A Happy Pocket eight years ago, this troubled group have weathered bankruptcy and the demise of their studio. But "everyone’s alive, everyone survived," sings Frank Reader on spirited and driving opener Welcome Back. This is simply a lovely album, full of summery jangling, wistful crooning and bittersweet reveries. It tenderly, poetically mourns dead and dying relationships on both the rhapsodic What Women Do To Men and Usually, and revels in the moment on the chiming Freetime before reaching the gentle self-encouragement of the graceful title track.

Originally appeared in The Scotsman.