Thistle Sifter - Forever The Optimist (2026)
I like the space this album creates more than the journey it takes me on. Forever The Optimist is clearly crafted with care — the textures are tasteful, the pacing patient, and the cinematic intent is obvious from the start. But as the record unfolds, I start feeling the limits of its emotional range. It’s pleasant, reflective, and well-constructed, yet it rarely sharpens into something that demands my full attention. I don’t feel challenged or surprised; I mostly feel comfortably accompanied. That’s not nothing — but it keeps the album hovering in the “solid, restrained post-rock” zone rather than pushing into something truly absorbing.
Pros
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Consistent atmosphere – The album maintains a coherent, calm cinematic mood without lapsing into clutter.
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Tasteful arrangements – Strings, guitars, and ambient layers are blended with restraint and good judgment.
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Conceptual seriousness – It clearly aims for emotional and thematic weight rather than background prettiness.
Cons
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Limited dynamic payoff – Builds are often hinted at rather than fully earned or released.
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Familiar post-rock language – It operates well within known genre contours without bending them much.
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Moderate replay pull – Once the mood is absorbed, there’s not a strong compulsion to revisit specific moments.
Genre: Post Rock
Country: Netherlands
Final Verdict: 67% (Good Album)
Yearly Ranking: 17th / 121
Highlight: Et In Arcadia Ego
Made me think of:
Mogwai
Explosions in the Sky
Mono
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