The latest single release from The Gansett Set gives off a whirling and cinematic rock soiree that comes through with a mysterious undertone that feels almost noir as the verses have a particular way of building up to these explosive choruses packed with massive distortion and sonic presence.
"Happy Pill" definitely takes you by surprise especially when everything kicks in because those verses are a good slow build and barely incorporate any heavy guitars whatsoever so when the chorus kicks in and you get this full almost classic alternative rock section it hits with an impactful punch.
The best part about this is that you know it's going to happen the second time you listen to the song or sometimes really even after that first chorus hits so you're waiting for it by that second verse already.
This is really smart songwriting because it gives you something to look forward to.
I also really enjoyed the very unique vocal Swagger that was given because it lends the song a lot of character which is really important for a track like this because it's a little bit of an escape.
Listening to this song is almost like watching a scene of a movie and when it's over you have to stand up and look around the room again to reacclimate yourself back to reality.
That aspect alone is something I haven't felt for a while, so it was refreshing to have it again.
This ends up being a little bit more like a musical experience than just a single and that is indeed because of the persona, the story, the backbone, and the way the song swells and sways into these big climaxes.
This was a rock single that felt alive and breathing and it's the arrangement that accomplishes this, so these guys have a knack for keeping you on the edge of your seat so to speak.
There are purposeful sort of empty-ish spaces during some of the verses again, leading up to those big hooks but they're filled with these other instruments that make it kind of lush, so you focus more on drums and organs for example along with the vocal melody and lyrics.
So, the track has this wonderful way of wrapping itself around you and keeping you right where it wants to.
This was clearly put together by a group of people who, not only have a love for their instrumental crafts, but a love for the craft of songwriting together and that is exactly how this came to be so dynamically balanced and so alive and in your face.
My favorite aspect about this track is the energy because it feels almost like the players are feeding off of each other the entire time which makes me think maybe the song was actually recorded live on the floor.
Of course, it could be completely wrong about that factor but it still makes you want to see them perform live simply because if the energy on the record was captured that well then seeing them live must be intense.
There is absolutely nothing cookie-cutter about this track and thinking outside the box a little bit in terms of arrangement and composition pushed the envelope a little bit especially in the rock arena.
I for one I'm certainly looking very forward to whatever these guys put out next but I would suggest checking this track out first and foremost and turning it up when you do because either way it's well worth your time.
I'm giving this a nine out of 10 straight up.
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