Illinois trio Terribly Happy recapture the storytelling and soulful honesty of emo rock and pop punk’s history. Their album, the aptly-titled Phantom Feelings, is all at once softly intimate and grittily impassioned. The project utilises unprecedented lyrical musings alongside thoughtful sound design, to carve out a lane that’s piercingly genuine and consistently evocative.
Captivating in the way that Brand New once were, these long-form lyrical trails follow precise but alternative melodies, slowly revealing the details of these heartfelt reflections and struggles – a variation from the more common writing style of ‘this and then that’.
Phantom Feelings as a title track and opener is all of this, an acoustic gem with intimate vocals pouring through an extensive contemplation – not short lines that open and close each idea. The song takes its time to develop its sentiments, and the music follows suit – an acoustic strum later elevated by a fully loaded band set-up, complete with horns and atmospheric production, to really make this a haunting and deeply moving page one; from an album that’s increasingly rewarding when listened to in full.
The songs are easy to lose yourself within at first, the sound screams out on behalf of its own pain and, in turn, yours. But as you revisit, unravel the titles and sentiments within, there’s a whole lot more to appreciate and connect with throughout these thirteen original tracks. Consider the colourful riff-work and self-scorn of Background Character Syndrome as a mighty early example.
Likable guitar riffs continue to help soften the raspy intensity of our leading vocalist, the songs proceeding to intertwine qualities of weight and delicacy throughout stories that prove consistently original and gripping.
Good Enough is Good Enough is an easy highlight, perhaps for the simplicity of this fuzzy pop-punk arrangement and the leading melody that’s naturally catchy. Perhaps also for the simultaneous conceptual realisation that seeks to inspire. Pretending To Forget also follows with a certain heart-breaking humility and overarching sadness that confronts.
Other highlights include the fascinating outcry of Allie, Total Blam Blam! – a song that kind of musically describes itself in a way that makes reflecting upon it somewhat pointless, but here’s to trying. The guitar sound feels reminiscent of the controversial Pwr Bttm, while the vocals meander from intense and gritty to gentle and longing. The music starts and stops, rises and drops, and all of this makes for a brilliantly colourful ode to creative purity. The song wraps itself up with a chorus or choir of vocals – an anthemic all-together-now moment, which naturally secures its position as yet another highlight.
Every Rachel Ever is great for its simplicity of rhyme scheme and presentation, for its vulnerability. And on a similar note, That’d Be A Great Song Title stands out for its brightness and higher vocal tone. The lyrics again enthral from start to finish – a rare quality these days and the pop aspect emerges musically, while the punk side resounds in the unedited, unapologetic performance.
That mainstream musicality also shines well throughout the warmth and memorable patterns of Mayflower Z – a definite favourite for its songwriting strength. Leonthra (Here and Now) follows beautifully, the leading voice allowing its calmer expressive nuances to naturally appeal. Then accordingly, there’s something blissfully immersive and emotionally powerful about the post-five-minute song Building Castles With The Sands Of Time. This indie masterpiece alone deserves more than a few listens.
Peace wraps up the album on an established, memorable note. Beautiful guitar-play, tired vocals that reflect on letting go – on brighter tomorrows, an easier manner of being. It’s a worthy closer, a lasting sense of serenity is imparted, and the project naturally leaves you feeling grateful for having spent time within its walls.
Achieving a wonderful balance of stylish guitar work and piercingly honest lyricism, Phantom Feelings is both nostalgic and boldly contemporary as an album that quite simply connects in a fresh way. Terribly Happy have accessed a lesser traversed niche with this approach, and the results speak volumes.
Album out everywhere on December 6th. Download now, for FREE, via Bandcamp. Find Terribly Happy on Instagram, YouTube & Facebook.
