By November 12th, I’d just spent over a week listening to the entirety of the Happy Fits’ discography, just so that I could give them a good interview and sing along at their show. It was a blast, and the show was spectacular, but at that point, I was thinking I’d listened to enough of the Happy Fits for a good while. That was until I realized I had “The Nerve” hopelessly stuck inside my head. Eventually, I gave in and put it on, and I realized, wow, this song is amazing. Pretty soon, I was listening to all of Lovesick and feeling the same way about every track.
The Happy Fits are a band I’ve had on my radar for a long time. I’ve known them as the indie band with a cello, a goofy name, and solid songwriting. Their music is catchy, unique, and of course, fittingly happy. Before Lovesick, they had three records and an EP, all with fruit-themed covers. This was some great stuff with killer riffs and memorable lines, but while all of it was cool, 2025’s Lovesick was on a whole other level.
The addition of Raina Mullen and Nico Rose, who replaced Ross Monteith on guitar and vocals, was the most important difference. While Monteith’s riffs were missed, Mullen and Rose more than made up for his absence with punchy rhythm guitar and excellent singing. But in addition to their audio contributions, they also revitalized the band’s songwriting, according to frontman Calvin Langman and drummer Luke Davis. They gave the band a whole new energy and boosted the masterful composition that was already there. “It just happened so naturally, in such a beautiful way, that it created this new organic style that stayed true to our old self,” says Davis.
The new spirit absolutely shows, because every song on the new album feels inspired and alive. Tracks like “Cruel Power”, “Black Hole”, and “Everything You Do” are fist-pumping, shout-out-loud anthems, while softer tunes like “Sarah’s Song” and “Lovesick #1 (Misery)” are emotional levee breaks. Each and every track carries a weight, punching like a mosher or yanking you by the heartstrings.
But the best thing about the album is how each song is genuinely unique. Mullen’s vocals on “Lovesick #1” and “Miss You” help a lot, switching up their sound and contrasting perfectly with Langman’s, but the difference is truly in the creativity that shows up on every track. Black Hole makes me think of 80's pop rock and DEVO, while “The Nerve” sounds like a traditional jig with a kick. Sarah’s Song feels like sitting under a rainbow, and Wrong About Me brings tears to the eye. Almost nothing feels like filler, and that’s quite the achievement on a 15-song record!
All in all, this album is easily the Happy Fits’ best, which is saying a lot considering the quality of the rest of their discography. But this album truly stands out with some of the most beautiful and memorable tracks you’ll ever hear. The Happy Fits have really outdone themselves this time, and the songs are even better live.
Rating: 8/10