| CD Review
 The
Happy Regrets
 by
Keavin Wiggins
 
 Artist:
The Happy Regrets
Album:
The Happy Regrets
 Label:
Nu Tone Recordings
 Track
Listing
Wooden Shelter
 Another Day
 Hello
 Within Myself
 Sunday Afternoon
 Had enough
 The Jenny Song
 After All
 Tell me
 Said Too Much
 With You
 I'm Alright
 Take everything that
is cool about 90's rock and mix in some 80's pop sensibility and you have
the Happy Regrets. 
 There is a reason
Indy labels are on the rise these days, they have they brains to sign bands
like this one. Unfortunately the pitfall to indy labels is lack of distribution
and airplay, many excellent albums go unheard by the masses. The Happy
Regrets debut should have no problem being picked up by a major label provided
it is heard by the proper people. 
 This disc is one
of the best debuts I have heard in years. The musicianship is excellent,
and the area where the Happy Regrets really excels and most bands fail
is the song writing. These guys write hits! Were not talking bubble gun
either, these songs are raw and polished at the same time. 
 The album starts
with Wooden Shelter, the sound is culmination of diverse influences ranging
from Greenday to Enuff Z'nuff. The lead guitar riffs are great, the chanting
lyrics are not easily forgettable. Within no time your singing along. Clocking
in at a little over 2 minutes this would be an easy hit for radio
 Another Day like
most tracks on this album, shows a different side on the band, the lead
vocals are reminiscent of The Smashing Pumpkins. this song also features
something missing from most most music these days a guitar solo, ok it's
a real short one, but it was great to hear a solid guitar solo again. 
 Hello is one of the
popiest songs on this disc. 
A solid song, with
great backing vocals and driving rhythm. yet another hit.
 We could review every
song, but lets just say all of them are great. 
 This album has it
all if you are a fan of rock, alternative, or power pop the Happy regrets
deliver. It is hard to nail these guys down to one genre. They have a style
all their own, with lends itself to several genres. 
 We named this the
Best Indy Rock Album of 1998 for a reason, not one second of music is weak.
The Happy Regrets are an easy bet to please most listeners. So run along
now and get this Cd and find out for yourself why The Happy Regrets have
earned our respect and admiration. 
 One word sums up
this CD: Excellent! |