Album Review: A Healthy Dose Of Hope – The Happy Somethings

The Happy Somethings dropped a new album today, and I thought I’d give it a track by track breakdown.

Something Good

The Happy Somethings kick off their new album with a track that starts off with pitch bent strings, for a minute I thought they’d somehow kidnapped a violin player and brought them back to their studio and joined their merry band – ooh fourth member of The Happys possibly?

Anyway, the pitch bent strings play an important part on this, as do the lyrics to the song it sets the tone for the album hence the title A Healthy Dose Of Hope. I’m going to leave any commentary on the title of the album for my closing remarks but this is a strong opener, you have the vocals blending beautifully as well as percussion guitars and bass. 

This a cover version of band member Happy’s track from his recent album.

Here And Now Becomes Then 

One thing that I haven’t mentioned is that the Happys lean very much on the psychedelic side of the spectrum, it’s hazy and you can just imagine them making music in a room with lava lamps, and instruments that are suitably vintage recording to tape and not to Pro-Tools etc they keep it simple.

This starts off with a drum solo with tambourine keeping time, and Joy takes the lead on this under crunchy guitars. This is reminiscent of an early 1970s rock tune with them kidnapping an early britpop songwriter along the way. This is probably my favourite track on the album so far!

Meanwhile 

I actually reviewed this earlier this year: First track of 2026. We are at that weird time of the year when we don’t know what day it is. The train lines are up the spout because of engineering works for bank holidays. The traffic going out of town Is horrendous. The celebrations from Christmas only have the rubbish ones left and there’s nothing good on TV except for that one comfort show that you love watching over and over again. And just to top it off, there are no tea bags left.

So what do you do? You get reflective about what’s happened in the last year and think about the new year’s resolutions you’re probably not going to stick to.

Now, The Happy Somethings seem to have captured that mood perfectly, with their new track only available on bandcamp right now – Meanwhile sounds a little melancholy in its pace but lyrically it’s upbeat making you think about the year that’s past whether it’s good or bad, and then reminds you to push ahead.

This track is their MO, very much a song that will cause you to stop and think, it’s an indie rock song with jangly guitars and sturdy drums, this is the kind of thing I needed today after a walk around my little village.

It hit the spot.

You’ll Grow Up Quick 

This one now picks up the tempo a little – I could be wrong, but it’s about raising a child, and my favourite lyrical couplet on this album is where the happys sing about being driven potty with potty training and asking for the milk and alcohol. This has quite a bounce to it! What I like about this song is the fact that it shows The Happys’ collective sense of humour – I guess it comes with their name as well as the territory. 

Fragile The Heart 

Going to the slightly melancholy route, but still keeping the psychedelic vibe this one’s packed full of jangly guitars, I like the way the verse chords are different to the chords in the charus. It’s deceptively simple. Is that a saxophone on this?

That’s new! If not I think there should be.

Just Being Wth You 

This starts off on a fifth chord on an organ, before bringing in guitars, drums and bass going all jangly as I’m used to with the happys. This song is about being around someone you really care about, and spemding time around them even if it’s just for a short time. It’s like the world feels better around them. 

Now we are at the halfway point,  I can say what I really feel about this album, it’s a concept album – whether that’s intentional or not I’m not sure, but what The Happys have done here is put together an album of songs that are upbeat lyrically, they have a feeling of positivity in the lyrics in a world that would force you to be negative with current events going on, this album swerves that and each song is crafted as a feelgood story of its own there is no running theme but the happiness element. No let me amend that.

The Happyness.

Consolation Street 

This is easily my favourite Happy Somethings track. This is very 60s but with a 21st century touch. There are subtle things in this track like the walking bassline in the intro, so a little nod to jazz, but that’s exactly where that comparison stops. Lyrically this song is about affirmation: 

You’re a fascination to the guys on the street

who call you out cause they can’t compete

with your knowing smile – their hearts so dull.

You really are so beautiful.

But at the same time, it’s also about staying in your lane (No pun intended)

Somehow each time the sun comes out to shine

I find I’m fine on Consolation Street.

The sung doo’s are catchy melodically and you will find yourself singing this. 

A LOT.

All It Takes 

Back to the solidly kitsch 1960s vibe with no 21st century vibe, this next one has close harmonies declaring that all it takes is a little faith to overcome the seemingly impossible.

This has such positive idealism, and sometimes that’s what we need. The organ on this in the background makes me smile! I like the positivity in this song.

Love To Be Found 

This song is so anti hate. It speaks out against war, knife crime, hidden references about governments trying to keep us on the straight and narrow, and while this going on The Happys declare that there’s still love to be found – the goodness that it comes with, and not to be discouraged by what we see. This is probably my favourite set of lyrics on the whole album. 

Straddle The Moon 

Now this is new! The Happy Somethings break out the harmonica, and they go to a waltz rhythm, I don’t think I’ve ever heard them play a waltz before and probably not a harmonica! The Happys are full of surprises for sure. 

I like the way they stretch the melodies over the shuffling waltz, by the way they break out the brushes on the snare for this, and I love it. This is in my top three on the album.

Heaven Is Divine 

This has a bit of a Beatles influence I think, especially in the chromatic harmonies! This song is almost like a prayer, but then it’s not because it’s not lyrically committing to a faith however there’s a hope that Heaven is all that it promises to be. This is is bordering on having a spiritual reflective feel in its lyrics and it definitely makes you stop and think.

Figure It Out 

We have come around full circle! This is the final track to close the album, and I reviewed it when FOTN went into hiatus end of July. This album has been a companion to me since The Happys sent it over as at the time my journey to work was being disrupted by engineering works and I have to take the… rather scenic route shall I say?

This is what I said about it back then. 

The Happy Somethings make a welcome return to the Fresh Faves with a song that’s part of their signature sound – wibbly wobbly timey wimey indie pop. They never disappoint me with their songs, with their lyrics that bear a hint of humour and a unique outlook on life and the world at large.

In this song, surrounded by guitars coated in wahs and and a sprinkle of distortion The Happys tell us to figure things out when it seems that things aren’t going the right way, it doesn’t matter who you are where you have been they are putting their trust in you when you don’t have trust in yourself to do the right thing. It’s sage advice at the end of the day.

One thing I’ve known about The Happys is that they like their sound to be intentionally unpolished, and it works. Again, it’s that drawing on of sounds that will make you sit up and listen. Someone even commented that this song had them dancing in their seat, and getting out their disco ball that they rarely use, for me if you can make someone sit up and pay attention with your music you’ve done your job.

The Happy Somethings are from the Midlands, and have always been supportive of FOTN, Joy having served as a moderator previously, and keep their identity ambiguous, I like this as while they keep their identity anonymous they still maintain an online presence making sure it’s easy to find their socials and music.

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