Sometimes things are just better when your friends are along for the ride. So is the case with Happy Birthday’s debut. As the story goes singer Kyle Thomas didn’t have a strong enough stomach to pour out his new pop on his own so he decided to pair his nasally tone with Chris Weisman’s bass and the drums of the lil sis of tUnE-yArDs’ Merrill Garbus, Ruth Garbus. Thomas is better for it. The result is a mix of dirty garage rock melting atop a sweet icy undertow – a chill most likely inspired by their Vermont roots – that mingles with raw, steady guitar and dreamy drumming.

While bringing just a hint of the 70s glam, as offered in Thomas’s other band King Tuff, the trio conjure the 80s on “I Want to Stay (I Runaway),” but mostly stay sandwiched between a solid 60s groove and grimy punk passion. Distracting at times is Thomas’s voice – he seems to take pride in being purposefully off key – but breezy opener “Girls FM” and later the low key “Eyes Music” calm his shrieking affinity and keep him just where he needs to be; melodic.

Capturing the innocence of Happy Birthday’s lyrics are staple tunes “Too Shy,” where Thomas moans “I wish I was someone else,” while the romantic ditty “Subliminal Message” finds him longing to whisper sweet nothings to not-yet-enthralled lady. “You say you don’t want to be my girl, but will you just be anyway?” Conjuring teen angst will never get old.

RELATED POSTS:

No related posts.