Happy Curmudgeons has just released their album 2nd Chances, which features nine songs plus a bonus acoustic track. The band has returned with their classic upbeat style to provide fun songs with many positive messages. In a time where bad news and conflict are more readily accessible and viewable than ever, Happy Curmudgeons offers us a vacation where we can dance and “Be Kind.”
The first track on 2nd Chances is called “Reluctant Prophets” which has a catchy and fun guitar riff along with a steady drum beat. The vocals are reminiscent of the classic rock era, and the classic style vocal harmonies help create an overall fun and danceable song.
The title track on 2nd Chances leans much more into the country genre than rock. This song is about leaving the past behind and moving forward, whether in life or in a specific relationship. The lines “looking forward to tomorrow, time can heal all wounds” contribute to the warm and hopeful feeling of this ballad. The backing vocals create a sense of support and community as the narrator restarts her life. This song stands out from the album and sets the bar for the heartfelt and positive outlook the rest of the songs have.
The next two songs, “Nostalgia” and “All On You,” are both fun and lighthearted. “Nostalgia” features bright guitar riffs throughout the song as the narrator is reflecting on the past, singing “Count your blessing as you’re smiling by.” “All On You” is a sweet love song with vocals that echo back and forth, as if it were a conversation between two lovers. “Rustic Glory” is the next song on 2nd Chances which is also a love song remembering an old relationship and looking back fondly. The song is light, rhythmic, and it strongly conveys the feeling of reminiscing on a loved one.
The sixth track, “Jack Russell,” stands out as one of the most bluesy songs on the record. The song tells the story of a man named Jack who always “knew just what to do.” This is a fun song featuring piano and harmonica that doesn’t take itself too seriously. The song “U.S. Healthcare Blues” is the other more bluesy song on 2nd Chances. It’s a very tongue-in-cheek song about healthcare that is only a little over a minute long. This classic political style-blues song features a slide guitar and is a fun inclusion on the album that also provides social commentary.
The eighth song, “Be Kind,” is another light and warm song that promotes kindness and how it can help you and others. “I Know How You Feel” is another standout from the album which has very heartfelt, intricate guitar parts that carry the song, and passionate vocals that are extremely easy to connect to. The final song on the album is an acoustic version of “2nd Chances,” which proves the bare bones of the song still hold up and create a heartfelt masterpiece.
2nd Chances is the perfect album to put on when you want to remind yourself that there is still good in the world despite all of the hate that often draws our attention. Happy Curmudgeons has created a record that sounds good, feels good, and promotes goodness in our lives amongst the chaos.
Written by Katie Squires