THE HAPPY FITS - UNDER THE SHADE OF GREEN
Credit: Rahil Ashruff
With six months spent on this album’s creation, Under The Shade Of Green immediately stands out from the rest of The Happy Fits’ discography.
The band kicks off the album with their latest single, ‘Around and Around’. Starting strong with a modern rock vibe, guitarist Ross Monteith playing a riff that eventually is followed by Luke Davis on drums to match the pace of the song’s intro. With lyrics such as “I can’t keep thinking about it / can’t be still anymore / no, there’s nothing so simple about it”, the song speaks to the endless cycle of life, a repeating loop in the midst of a global pandemic. This style of writing is consistent with their music, as there is usually a story to go along with each song.
Their next track, ‘Dance Alone’, describes what it feels like to be a little bit of an outcast, but still want to be with someone to enjoy, in this case, a dance. In an interview with the band for Issue #4, vocalist and cellist Calvin Langman shared that he “felt very awkward at parties, so I felt like our fans could really relate to feeling like you’re a ‘wallflower’ at a party and I think Lindsay (in the music video) did a great job at doing that.” She turns around and all of the sudden, there are a bunch of people there, dancing, partying, and the band is playing in the backyard. The girl is confused at first, wondering where all these people came from, but is then asked if she would like to dance and joins in on the fun.
‘Changes’ brings a modern, feel-good sound to the album. With lyrics such as “and after all this time I thought I had it figured out / but I'm still learning how to love” and “I try to run away / But I find myself, again / Stuck in the same place / Who will I be today? / I can’t control the world or change it.”, the person goes through the motions of that endless loop again. It seems the constant similarities between each day have the person in the song questioning what they can do to change it up a little and find a new way to find love.
With a mention to the album’s namesake and name-dropping the Kardashians is ‘In The Lobby’, a song seeming to point out the highs and lows of fame and fortune. Lyrics such as “I don’t hate the hordes below / I’d just rather drink Merlot / Marinate in my sex appeal / I’ll forget what’s wrong and real” suggests the band is mocking the stereotypical lifestyle of those in the limelight and their supposed lack of common sense and humanity. The band goes on to say, “Sign the check / Make a deal / I’ll forget what’s wrong and real”, pointing out that a lot of fame is people leaving their morals behind to make a quick buck at the expense of everyone else. It is a very strong statement in today’s world, with a lot of famous people moving on with their lives with only their interests and worries in mind, while there are so many people who don’t have the privilege to live the same lifestyle.
‘Little One’ offers a sense of reassurance to listeners that are too focused on other people’s opinions and ignorance to the urge to fit in and blend into the mold that society has cast upon us. “Little One, we’re alone on the face of the Earth / We’re just floating in space with the millions like us, dear / You belong”, the band are telling us that we’re not alone in the world and we’re fine as we are.
Bringing back the familiar sound that is consistent with The Happy Fits’ previous work is ‘Another Try’, a modernized track filled with synths backed by Luke Davis on drums. Lyrics read “it’s just the madness of reality / Is that nothing really matters / So through the chaos sing your melody / Let it out / You’ll find everything you wanted,” suggesting that through all the craziness that is the world, you can always find a way to be yourself and do what you like, you just have to strive for success, and in the end, you’ll reach your goals.
With their consistent sound in their guitar riffs and vocals, the band continues to make new music with sounds familiar to their older albums. This type of songwriting draws in new fans with their unique sounding tunes, while also keeping their day one fans interested.
‘Long Way Down’ is a completely unique song in this album. It stands out from the rest of the tracklisting and has a nice calm feel to it. “Atom bomb, atta boy / Only gods can change the weather / Apathy over love / It’s a long way down together.” Love is a common topic in the band’s discography. Their music has a wild, very loose sound to it, but when they set themselves on a loving type of song, I find that the sounds they produce with their vast selection of instruments creates an enjoyable tune. This song also has a slower tempo in comparison to their other songs.
Closing the album is ‘Do Your Worst’, a slow-starter with vocals and cello, Luke Davis soon joining in on drums. The track has a more acoustic vibe to it and is calmer than the others, at least until the chorus, where we are immediately hit by strong guitars from Ross Monteith, showcasing exactly why The Happy Fits are a band that should be in your face.
Maturing with each release, The Happy Fits are a band that do not disappoint. Their passionate and fun-filled sound on Under The Shade Of Green is what keeps us wanting more, and we can’t wait to see what the future has in store for them.
Evan Albuck
★★★★☆