The fine musical legacy bequeathed to us from Sub Pop Records needs no introduction, so what were they thinking when they signed Happy Birthday? Their eponymous debut is as unimaginative as their name suggests. The fine musical legacy bequeathed to us from Sub Pop Records needs no introduction, so what were they thinking when they signed Happy Birthday? Their eponymous debut is as unimaginative as their name suggests.
Happy Birthday are a three-piece garage band form Vermont, formed by Kyle Thomas when he admitted that he was “too scared to play his songs by himself”. Those fears are realized by this release, a muddy mishmash of pop choruses, distorted vocals and squeaky synths. 70s glam seems to be the underlying influence throughout although Thomas’ vocals lack T-Rex’s sleazy charm and instead comes across as forced and ineffectual.
However, there is one bright spot: “I Want To Stay (I Runaway)” is the sole instance where the glam and the pop merge brilliantly to create a chiming Smiths-with-synths scuffed pop standout track. Sadly, the rest of the album fails to come close to matching this, the hooks drowned out by the tinny production and whiny vocals.
March 16, 2010 at 9:38 pm, Amy Rose Spiegel said:
“Girls FM” is one of my favorite new jams!
March 16, 2010 at 9:53 pm, Amy Laviero said:
Unimaginative perhaps, but I agree with Amy haha I can’t stop listening to that song.
March 16, 2010 at 9:58 pm, Colm McAuliffe said:
Ambushed by the Amys! The album didn’t do anything for me to be honest, “Girls FM” seemed like the template for the entire album, they seemed to have run out of ideas immediately!
BUT! That other song I mentioned, “I Want To Stay…” is really great, a tremendous pop tune. Check it out!
March 17, 2010 at 1:18 am, Chris Weisman said:
We so scared we muddy mishmash. I Want To Stay sucks.
March 17, 2010 at 9:43 pm, marcus ames said:
i agree with pitchfork and most of the reviews i’ve read, its one cool record!