Optimist
| Finneas
Optimist
Optimist is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Finneas, released on October 15, 2021, through his record label OYOY, distributed by Interscope Records. The album was entirely produced and written by Finneas. It was preceded by the singles "What They'll Say About Us" and "A Concert Six Months from Now". -Wikipedia
Critic Reviews
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Pitchfork
Without any of the gothic production flourishes that put him on the map, the producer and songwriter’s latest album is gloomy, on edge, and disappointingly hollow.
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Rolling Stone
Finneas Explores Grand Songwriterly Ambitions on ‘Optimist’.
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Clash Magazine
Bewilderingly uncertain mixtape music from one of pop’s most prolific producers.
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NME
The other half of the Eilish success story has earned a reputation as a fearsome talent in his own right – and he delivers spectacularly here.
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The Daily Princetonian
FINNEAS is definitely now towards the top of my list of artists to watch in the future. He’s an incredibly versatile vocalist and a master of catchy melodies across genres; from intense EDM to acoustic ballads, FINNEAS is a force to be reckoned with.
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Daily Titan
“Optimist” catapults Finneas into the limelight as an artist not afraid to break the pop mold and create a lane for himself in the music industry.
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mxdwn Music
Life is complicated, and Finneas doesn’t shy away from those complications on Optimist. He’s clearly a skillful musician with a strong voice, but despite an impressive resume, at 24, he still has a whole life ahead of him. Regardless of the overly safe choices and sometimes ambiguous themes, Optimist is a strong debut album from an artist whose career is only just beginning.
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Riff Magazine
Optimist is worth listening to just because of the unbelievable success Finneas has had in recent years behind the microphone, though it may take him some time to take his place center stage. Though his best work may be on his sister’s albums, his debut finds him establishing his voice in his own music.
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The Guardian
Eilish’s celebrated producer sibling abandons his adventurous instincts on his largely forgettable debut.
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The Post
FINNEAS proves through Optimist with lucid instrumentals and synths, dactylic lyrics and significant subjects, that he is capable of being a star himself, and not just the man behind the magic.
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The Line of Best Fit
A perfectly arranged track list, a vocal range featuring a slight nostalgic rasp with a modern twist and the musical talent to create standalone songs as well as forming the base of a soundtrack for any upcoming romance drama, is what brings us to Finneas’ debut album Optimist.
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Commedia
While FINNEAS’ new 2021 album “Optimist” is not for everyone (perhaps titled ironically after listening to its content) it is surely not a creative work to be ignored. His use of innovative writing techniques and word play is nothing short of genius in the time of mass produced, pop-song hysteria. His lyrics are far from dishonest and his work reflects his commitment to authenticity.
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Evening Standard
It’s high quality stuff, but inevitably, his sister’s more daring work leaves him in the shadows again.
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SLUG Magazine
Optimist is a comfortable sophomore album. It comes from a pandemic state-of-mind creatively and it has its obvious highlights. FINNEAS’ attention to detail, from analogies and metaphors in the lyrics to creativity in production, and his knack for hitting that sweet spot between the indie, alternative and pop genres sets him apart. On Optimist he is playful and true, and shares a good dose of retrospect—and even with some failed risks, it’s stellar.
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Gigwise
Optimist might not be the bold artistic statement that FINNEAS had hoped for, but the moments of excitement on the album shows there is potential in his career. It’s honest and sincere, qualities which other artists struggle with: now all FINNEAS needs to do is stray outside of his musical comfort zone to really make it pop.
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The Independent
Producer and musician’s debut feels like the most cohesive and considered statement of who he is, both as an individual and as a solo artist.
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The Vector
As a whole, this album has some songs that are worthy of adding to your playlists. The more I listen to the songs, the more I seem to like them. So, make sure you give this album a chance because it won’t be the last you’ll hear of FINNEAS.
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Stereoboard
Watching Billie conquer the world from the sidelines, he may have queried: ‘How hard can it actually be to be the one in the spotlight?’ The answer is ‘harder than you think’.
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Our Culture
Ultimately, there is depth to the record but little excitement. Idiosyncrasies in production offer themselves up if you search hard enough, but they blend safely into the broader landscape of the album – it lacks the jeering, in-your-face experimentalism that leaps out of Eillish’s releases. In all fairness, that might simply be Eillish’s identity, and not FINNEAS’, but in its own right the album begs something a little curiouser, a little grittier. Wishing for it, surely, can’t be too optimistic. Read more: Album Review: FINNEAS, 'Optimist' - Our Culture https://ourculturemag.com/2021/10/23/album-review-finneas-optimist
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Northern Transmissions
It’s a solid offering for him, and shows him to be one of the top pop composers in the game right now.
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DIY Magazine
A startling ability to carry a tale of kindred love, loss and the weight of fame.
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Under The Radar
While not necessarily “solid” and occasionally clumsy, Optimist remains a great release for a disaffected generation that has seen its brushes with the apocalyptic—left-field pop compositions for those not necessarily sold on pop. FINNEAS has an undeniable knack for what he does, and one suspects that any of his future solo endeavors will arrive stronger upon each subsequent release. Until then, enjoy Optimist for what it is—an honest and insightful bit of commentary from a seemingly centered, obviously talented young artist.
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The Rice Thresher
FINNEAS’s pervasive hopefulness and emotional songwriting shine in ‘Optimist’.
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Her Campus
verall, this album was such a hit for me. Although I’ve loved all the singles he’s released over the years, I was happy to get a whole bundle of new music at once. I really liked the personal touch of the songs on the album and the introspective style of his lyrics. He definitely wasn’t afraid to get experimental with the production either.
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The Arts Desk
His lyrics have the perfect balance of simplicity and nagging memorability that show someone really cares about the form.
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The Wilson Beacon
Ultimately, “Optimist” is neither a breakthrough album nor an uninspired flop. It is the essence of competence but could benefit from some weirdness. The artist is playing safe and with the diversity in today’s pop, it doesn’t stand out. The introspection shown by Finneas is appreciated but it’s definitely not enough.
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Penny Black Music
With all his talent and his range of abilities, Finneas certainly deserves this album to be a major success.
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Dork
Few artists release a debut album with the kind of expectations FINNEAS finds himself under – all too aware of the comparisons that will be made. It’s to his credit that ‘Optimist’ pays heed to absolutely none of them. Making his own music in his own undeniable way, there’s no need to scream look at me to hold the attention. Confident in who he wants to be, FINNEAS is his own man.
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Vinyl Chapters
There’s no denying that FINNEAS is a multi-talented musician, and his debut studio album Optimist is a testament to this.
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Hotpress
Finneas has a crisp, expressive voice and a knack for glossy angst. Optimist is, it is true, unlikely to cause the tectonic plates of pop to shift, as they did when he and his sister released Happier Than Ever over the summer. Nonetheless, it packs its own subtle punch.
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AllMusic
While Optimist makes a good case for FINNEAS' skills around a pop melody and a perceptive viewpoint, he also drops the instrumental piano piece "Peaches Etude" in the middle of the track list. Accordingly, the album plays like a portfolio, perhaps fitting for a musician still sorting out and amplifying his potential.
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Mystic Sons
From the start, 'Optimist' is a wonderfully warm and inviting release that not only builds his solo credentials, but also gives us a beautifully rich and captivating listen throughout.
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QRO Magazine
Optimist gives us another great sad pop phenom for the twenty-first century.
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Far Out Magazine
Finneas fails to connect on 'Optimist'.
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