Happiness

Hurts

Release Date: 6th Sep, 2010
Label: RCA
Genre: Indie

There's the monochrome cover shot, the duo wearing suits and haughty scowls; above it, a one-word title that seems arch, even ironic, in this context; and then, there's the presence of Kylie Minogue. Tonight, Matthew, are Theo Hutchcraft and Adam Anderson the Pet Shop Boys, actually?

Well, not quite. There are moments throughout, a synth line here or a drum beat there, when Neil and Chris could have climbed into the stereo. But the same could be said of any number of melancholy 80s popstrells who weren't averse to DX7 chordage and were suspicious of real percussion. Happiness is almost as retro as Roland Rat in a Frankie t-shirt eating a Wispa, but far, far more elegant.

If there's one epithet to describe this album, it's "grandiose". No opportunity is spared to slip in a choir (in the Black-esque opener Silver Lining they could be rehearsing Mozart's Requiem) or a chorus that demands a flame thrower. Which, when the result is current single Wonderful Life, or their debut Better Than Love, which should be subtitled "not to mention sex, fine wines, and much of the charts this week", is a very good idea indeed. The latter, with its frantically arpeggiating keyboards and Tears for Fears bassline, plus enough drama to have its own show and more pomp than Elgar on loop, should, by rights, have done a Bryan Adams instead of languishing at number 50.

But while theatricality and a brooding demeanour also make Sunday, a power-dressed Europop floor-filler that channels early Depeche Mode and the PSB, and Stay (think rain and gospel singers) hits in waiting, they aren't quick fixes for ropey writing. "So stay with me Evelyn / Don't leave me with the medicine / In the night" (Evelyn) might make you giggle more with a triumphal new romantic orchestra surging behind it, but it's unlikely that's what the Manchester boys intended. Kylie, meanwhile, has grounds to take offence, having been given the turgid Devotion - surely a lost Bosnia & Herzegovina Eurovision entry - to guest on.

Style and gravitas are all very well - if Hurts could also have been consistent with the substance, Happiness would have trounced its 80s counterparts and many of its contemporaries, too.

Reviewed by Alix Buscovic

About The Artist

Hurts

Artist Homepage

If you're listening to the Japanese band, please consider changing tags to ｈｕｒｔｓ. 1. Manchester, UK electro-pop duo Theo Hutchcraft and Adam Anderson. Formed in 2009, elegant and enigmatic HURTS have their sharp suits, slick hair and stark visuals. Theo and Adam present a striking contrast to the glow-in-the-dark pop stars who have run amok across the charts of late. Looking like they would rather be on the cover of Vogue Hommes than NME or Smash Hits, the pair resemble Tears for Fears as shot by Anton Corbijn. Hurts have recently released their first single "Better Than Love" and toured the UK and Europe during the summer of 2010. Before HURTS, singer Theo and synthesiser Adam were in bands Bureau and Daggers, the latter of which supported Gary Numan. However, on a trip to Italy, they discovered "disco-lento" (slow disco) and became fixed on a more austere, and stylish, European aesthetic and Hurts was born. Musically, they construct melancholic 1980s-inspired electro-pop with songs that they say are inspired by the British mentality of being "not too bad". "How are you doing? Not too bad. For a while you think that's not very interesting," Theo once said. "But it can be very interesting because it's on a knife-edge of hope and despair." Read a BBC Review of HURTS 2. Hurts (ｈｕｒｔｓ)started out in 2006 as a session Japanese band limited to playing small lives in Nagoya. On 8/18 at the Wakayama UNDER CODE Special Event, KISAKI announced that he had added hurts to the lineup of Under Code Production. hurts disbanded in March 2008 . Band Concept: Gothic Punk Lineup: Vocals: ヒナ [Hina] ( EX-ＣＨＥＬＳＥＡ, now in Schwein ) Guitar: むっく [Mukku] ( EX- ルフィー嬋命RUEPHY ALIVE ) Bass: 真稀 [Maki] ( EX-Mëbius, now in Lamina as 晄(Aki), playing guitar) Drums: 楓 [Kaede] ( EX-ガチャ×ガチャ, now in Lamina )

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50 Comments

ReNaNChEcK 16 May 2012

ai como amoooo *--* Sunday ♥
Andsu 27 Mar 2012

Verona .. uuuh *-*
chriskelly3802 19 Mar 2012

My favourite, and best album bought in 2010
MourningMoon 13 Mar 2012

I'm psychologically connected to this album.
MarianneMars 18 Feb 2012

Obra de arte +1
Forever_gunner 16 Feb 2012

Гениально, мать вашу!)
lollylollly 19 Jan 2012

I really love this album, but I think it could be better. But this is the best album of 2010.
Rickki 15 Jan 2012

Obra de arte.
lluvia_de_estre 11 Jan 2012

I don't need your happiness ❤
marciocouto 06 Jan 2012

Music to dream! Amazing..... Sleep NoW!!! Sleeeeeepp....
Brendaart 05 Jan 2012

lovely album <3
flygandejakob 03 Jan 2012

man, there is something delightfully terrible about this album. it's like a mix of 00's pop, 90's inspirational lyrics, and five dozen huge rainbow flags. yet i'm listening. :x
caioamorozini 13 Dec 2011

The best album, perfect! I Love them *-*
Jeamsujeam 11 Dec 2011

ALL THE SONGS are wonderful.It's really hard to find this kind of album.It brought the happiness to my life.
anoulhendriks 11 Dec 2011

Best album of the century.
take-my-pillow 27 Nov 2011

♥
JaneSky_ 25 Nov 2011

мне тоже нравятся все песни
AnotherRockSet 13 Nov 2011

Lovely album. [2]
Forever_gunner 05 Nov 2011

Мега круть.
idsi 20 Oct 2011

PERFECTION
Katychka 17 Oct 2011

Все песни люблю, идеальный альбом.
joonees_ 13 Oct 2011

there are no bad songs. [2] love all the songs
kislota666 11 Oct 2011

masterpiece, there are no bad songs.
Gorio93 09 Oct 2011

Lovely album.
dust4 21 Sep 2011

It would be great that Verona is not just hidden track on album
Nev3na 17 Sep 2011

<3 them
yermar 28 Aug 2011

Great album, from front to back...
SofieVandepitte 04 Aug 2011

Silver Lining, Stay, Unspoken & Wonderful Life ♥
ladymissgaga 01 Aug 2011

♥
xMattheus 29 Jul 2011

<3
pe84 24 Jul 2011

I love it!!!
PlantAnnon 24 Jul 2011

They are amazing <3
asiooLLL 12 Jul 2011

1227 plays in your library :D lovee that album !!!
shimeili 07 Jul 2011

The video "sunday" reminds me of twin peaks. Am I the only one?
Furbies 04 Jul 2011

I don't know why I took so long to listen to this 'cause it's amazing!!
FreeMHZ 03 Jul 2011

455 plays in your library <3
Hrezontemka 25 Jun 2011

Я балдею от их песен.... Супер!!!)))))))
dmvakh 20 Jun 2011

Best for the last time!!!
WilliamJMc 17 Jun 2011

I love it!!!
Vanblackman 20 May 2011

One of the best of 2010!
skinnydrifter 06 Apr 2011

"Happiness" isn't even on the album lol
MadeStewart 03 Apr 2011

PERFECT ALBUM
Pusteblumme 31 Mar 2011

Wonderful Life:-))))))))
afonsohenrie 14 Mar 2011

really good
Inga_Waffle 09 Mar 2011

not bad )
HSiik 01 Mar 2011

POP at the highest level. What an awesome record!
AbsolutDinko 16 Feb 2011

unbelievable, mellow:)
davemeek 31 Jan 2011

I came across this one while watching Buzzcocks on thse BBC -the name Theo Hutchcraft sounded familiar...scarily I used to teach him Geography! Great album, full of wonderful tunes..in an A-ha, Pet Shop Boys sort of way...which is no bad thing.
ladymissgaga 23 Jan 2011

LOVE
Nena_Beba 17 Jan 2011

Love it!