The Happy Fits are back and they’ve delivered the summer vacation you didn’t get with What Could Be Better. Their sunny instrumentation and melodies suggest a carefree feeling that’s hard to come by during the days of the pandemic. Better was finished just days before Covid swept the nation, which belies the ironically titled What Could Be Better. Like binge watching TV shows from a pre-quarantine existence, it takes place in an alternate universe that seems so distant from our present lives. Consider this a message in a bottle that has only now washed ashore.

The message: Life was not perfect pre-pandemic.

“I find inspiration for the lyrics through things that have caused me stress, pain, or confusion. I use writing as a way to channel those emotions,” says singer/cellist Calvin Langman. His tales of woe are expressed throughout, concealed in upbeat pop-rock production that caters to the high energy live shows they’re known for. 

Guitarist Ross Monteith says the peak of the album is “The Garden”, which features 3-part vocal harmony and plucky cello, while addressing issues of family strife. Langman sings “There is a house with a garden/Floral walls line the trees/In this house where I started/so much pain grew through me.” 

Photo Courtesy of The Happy Fits

Langman explains the meaning behind the lyrics of “The Garden.” 

“Basically growing up, my Dad was obsessed with gardening. To the point where it’s kind of overwhelming to see how much stuff he grows. It actually got to where he was gardening more than he was working [at his job]. He took a lot of time away from caring about his family just because he wanted to garden so much. The whole song is basically about the juxtaposition between how much life and care went into what was going on around the house but not in the house.”  

Despite the subject matter, the hifi melodic arrangements add lightness to What Could Be Better. And as opposed to the previous LP, Concentrate, What Could Be Better sees The Happy Fits dabbling in unexpected genres such as Caribbean/African (Two of Many; She Wants Me [To Be Loved]), and grunge (Get A Job). One constant factor is Langman’s strings, and his cello is heard abundantly throughout, notably filling in the low-end even more so than on Concentrate (where bass guitar was heard). “There’s a lot more cello,” says Monteith. Langman adds, “After Concentrate… I learned the function of what a bass is supposed to do. I’m doing a lot more bass style plucking [on the cello] on this album. On Concentrate I was just bowing a lot because that’s what just naturally came to my mind first. But for this album I thought ‘alright, it might just bop a bit more if I pluck instead of bow.’ I think that’s why a song like She Wants Me pops and also Go Dumb.”

These days the power trio have also kept their spirits up by playing a series of online video games with fans. Monteith says, “We started twitch streaming because we have time now. We play [games such as Rocket League] against the fans in private matches and anybody that wants to join gets a code to play. Anybody that beats us gets a free CD! We’ve played 10 games and we’ve lost every single one.”

So stream What Could below – or see if you can win a copy off them in a virtual soccer match.