By: vedderoh1 "vedderoh1"

vedderoh1 "vedderoh1" — Fri, 30 Aug 2013 12:16:41 +0000

Elegant, stylish return to the 80s in 2010 The fastest selling debut of 2010 in the UK comes preceded by massive press coverage, a sold out UK tour, support from world famous artists, and a word of mouth hype not experienced since the Arctic Monkeys. Who are Hurts, and why the sudden focus on a duo that borrows the 80′s stylized aesthetics? As we discover, this time it all may be justified, for a change.Singer Theo Hutchcraft and synthesizer guru Adam Anderson met at a club in their native Manchester. Their liking of confined landscapes and the somber sound of European bands is an obvious redundancy that needs to be mentioned if their music is to be understood as a means to escape earlier hardships, and their determination to never go back there. Even though they admit to purposely not having listened to other anyone while composing the record to avoid sounding like other bands, they dug way down in the trunk of British tradition, from Tears for Fears and Depeche Mode to Coldplay and Take That, to add modernity to the production.They aimed to create multidimensional music, that not only plays well on a stereo or a live show but also in a club or anywhere the listener finds themselves drawn to it. Did they succeed? Yes, in part. Happiness is a a mirror image of the two men’s impeccable looks, not devoid of emotional power. In the eleven tracks (twelve if you count hidden Verona) they take us on a ride through the darkest effects love and loss have in the human psyche, but despite the burdensome topics it all plays swiftly, thanks to the polished production and often operatic arrangements.Opening Silver Lining delivers everything that made 80′s music appealing: bombastic keyboards, singalong lyrics, soaring choruses, and singles Wonderful Life and Better than love prolong the experience. Kylie Minogue lends her voice to Devotion (in return to the duo’s incredible cover of Confide in me), a melancholic ballad that not for a second becomes hers. Hurts make anything they touch their baby and there is no denying it.The record plays great, feels great, and sounds even better. Are we talking about a band that transcends barriers and may have universal appeal? At some point yes, but not quite yet. Someone pointed out to me that maybe we are just too cynical to recognize the innocence in the simple lyrics to a ballad, or that maybe the state of pop music has taken us away from the real essence of it. So is it the record’s naivete that fails to surpass the mark or our jaded ears that do not allow us to look beyond its facade?Happiness is not a five-star album by any means, but it has achieved more than it set to be. By flashing back to an era relished by everyone as magical, carefree, it has regressed to the simplicity of the complex; it catapults the saxophone solo, the epic synthesizer arrangement, the power chorus to a new phase that the languid structure of the indie pop song cannot possibly convey.

By: Julyguy "music fan"

Julyguy "music fan" — Fri, 30 Aug 2013 12:16:18 +0000

AMAZING!!! Best album of 2010. It’s so frustrating that the best pop music only comes out in Europe and never makes its way to the U.S. these days. I suppose an intelligent, thoughtful, emotionally stirring, electronic pop duo is considered by American record executives to be too shocking for American ears. This band caused quite a stir in the U.K. with their first single “Wonderful Life” and hit #1 on the album charts. Despite comparisons to so many 1980′s synth-based artists (Depeche Mode, Pet Shop Boys, New Order, etc.), Hurts is thoroughly modern. Icy electronics, chunky dance beats, and warm, melodic vocals are all wrapped up in a sleek, irresistible package. Hurts is the next big thing. Be adventurous- buy this imported album and you’ll be the first of all your friends to know about it!

Comments on: Happiness

By: vedderoh1 "vedderoh1"

By: Julyguy "music fan"