Happiness & Disaster [Import]

Stabilo | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 27, 2006)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Emd Int'l
• ASIN: B000EHS4QQ
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #145,984 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Don't Look in Their Eyes

2. Habit

3. Kidding Ourselves

4. Don't Be So Cold

5. Flawed Design

6. Delivering Idiots

7. Happiness and Disaster

8. Coffee Spills

9. Rain Awhile

10. Ordinary

11. Beautiful Madness

12. If It Was up to Me

13. Everybody

Editorial Reviews

From Amazon.ca

On Stabilo's website, the Vancouver band declare that they are "focusing on musicianship the way others might focus on hairstyles." The boys speak the truth: the quartet's songwriting skills and complex harmonies on Happiness & Disaster place them well above a good percentage of their pop radio contemporaries, clearly showing their preference of substance over style. The group is centered around two singers, Jesse Dryfout (who takes on the introspective songwriting role) and Christopher John, whose sweet alto vocals possess a soft lilt à la James Blunt. The pair began performing together in high school, and their seemingly effortless harmonies shine as a result of that longterm pairing.

Stabilo's musical proficiency is evident throughout this hour-long sophomore release, due in part to the disc's highly respected producer, Brad Wood (Smashing Pumpkins, Sunny Day Real Estate.) One of the CD's strongest tracks, "Kidding Ourselves," would fit perfectly between Coldplay and Maroon 5 on mainstream radio, while the rockier first single "Flawed Design" showcases the lads' clever lyrics via a track that describes the type of internal dialogue that would run through the head of an emotional manipulator. Just like life itself, Happiness & Disaster isn't perfect--"Delivering Idiots" admittedly owes more than a few props to Radiohead's "Creep" (right through the painfully familiar-sounding guitar solo)--but don't let that low point throw you off. This is not intended as a singles-oriented album; it is, instead, a full-length collection of emotion and introspection set to strongly-crafted melodies, and will undoubtedly gain further respect with each listen. --Denise Sheppard

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great CD, May 15, 2009

By 

Sharon Stanbery (French Camp, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Happiness & Disaster (Audio CD)

I am very happy with my purchase of this CD. Stabilo is a very good band. My only irritation with this is it doesn't come in a normal case but one of those cardboard cases which means you have to be a bit more careful if you want to keep the album art but if you just want the CD and care nothing of the original case I guess it doesn't matter. Either way I love my CD.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reid, April 28, 2009

By 

Robert Reid "Walking Drum" (Phoenix, AZ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Happiness & Disaster (Audio CD)

Happiness & Disaster is one of my favorite albums! I love the unique sound of this group, and the versatility they show in the variety of songs. Flawed Design is nothing less than a flawless song. The only downside is that they have not released anything new recently. Deffinately check them out!

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing, April 12, 2006

By 

Mike Twain "Mike" (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Happiness & Disaster (Audio CD)

I've been looking for something original for years now. Hapiness and diaster did the trick. If you're like me you're also sick of all the new age hip hop, it's all getting so old and bland. Stabilo doesn't dissapoint in their new album with fantastic songs and smooth musical melodies such as Go get your guns, and Flawed design. Stabilo is absolutley one of the best things to come out of Canada this past decade. Go pick up the album it's a must.