Death of an Optimist

Death of an Optimist is the debut studio album by Canadian-American musician Grandson. The album was released on December 4, 2020, through Fueled by Ramen.

Death of an Optimist
Studio album by
Grandson
ReleasedDecember 4, 2020 (2020-12-04)
Recorded2019–2020
Length38:00
LabelFueled by Ramen
Grandson chronology
A Modern Tragedy Vol. 3
(2019)		 Death of an Optimist
(2020)
Singles from Death of an Optimist
  1. "Identity"
    Released: June 26, 2020[1]
  2. "Riptide"
    Released: July 31, 2020[2]
  3. "Dirty"
    Released: September 25, 2020
  4. "We Did It!!!"
    Released: November 13, 2020
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Kerrang![3]

Background and recording

Benjamin's EP, A Modern Tragedy, Vol. 3 was released on September 13, 2019. After the release of the third and final EP of the A Modern Tragedy trilogy, Grandson began working on his first studio album.[4]

The album was first announced on September 23, 2020, with the single "Dirty".[5]

Music and composition

In an interview with NME, Grandson said that Death of an Optimist is a critical outlook of the current state of affairs and of the year 2020 in general saying, "it is both an origin story and an obituary navigating hope, anxiety, and the state of optimism in 2020."[5]

Track listing

All music is composed by Jordan Edward Benjamin.

Death of an Optimist track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Death of an Optimist // Intro"2:31
2."In Over My Head"3:18
3."Identity"3:36
4."Left Behind"3:25
5."Dirty"3:28
6."The Ballad of G and X // Interlude"2:22
7."We Did It!!!"2:49
8."WWIII"3:22
9."Riptide"3:12
10."Pain Shopping"3:17
11."Drop Dead"3:09
12."Welcome to Paradise // Outro"3:31
Total length:38:00

Reception

Initial reaction to the album has been positive. David McLaughlin of Kerrang! praised grandson's blending of sounds, saying, "Here’s an artist unafraid of flexing his creativity, exploring sounds from whatever genre tickles his fancy."[3] The Rock Matters Podcast said, "It’s very much a millennial coming of age album. It’s a guy in his mid-20s trying to cling to hope that real change for a better future is possible. And credit to Grandson. He definitely sounds like he's in for the fight."[6]

Charts
Chart performance for Death of an Optimist
Chart (2020) Peak
position
UK R&B Albums (OCC)[7] 28

References
  1. Lavin, Will (June 26, 2020). "Watch the video for Grandson's explosive new song 'Identity'". NME. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  2. Rogers, Jack (July 31, 2020). "Grandson Has Released a Thought-provoking Video for His New Track 'Riptide'". Rocksound.tv. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  3. David McLaughlin (3 December 2020). "Album Review: grandson - Death of an Optimist".
  4. Shutler, Ali (September 30, 2019). "Grandson: "We're seeing the last echoes of a dying breed, trying to reign in the limitless potential of young people"". NME. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  5. Rose, Anna (25 September 2020). "Grandson announces details of his debut album, 'Death of an Optimist'". NME. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  6. Rock Matters Podcast (November 30, 2020). "E32 Death of an Optimist: Grandson's Grand Debut".
  7. "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
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