Customer Reviews

Happiness Is Not a Fish That You Can Catch

5 star:		(138)
4 star:		(30)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

Before I write this, I will have to admit I was pretty much a casual Our Lady Peace fan. I was familiar with them through their past material that had made it to the radio (Starseed, Superman's Dead, Clumsy), and even though I did like what I heard there, I did not rush out to buy their CD's. Later on, though, I did end up buying the Clumsy album, mainly for the two tracks mentioned above. I really did not like too many other songs on that album. They sounded just a little bit too quirky for my taste. I just could not quite stomach Raine Maida's voice, yet the musicianship was very solid, especially the drummer (Jeremy Taggart).So I approached the new release, Happiness... with quite a bit of reservation. Even though I liked some things about the band, I just could not really get excited about them. But my ever-curious inner self decided to tell me to buy this album. And I am glad I listened, because I can say this is the album that transformed me from merely a casual fan to a fan that now loves everything about this band. I really cannot say why I have suddenly been transformed. Maybe it's because when I listened to all of these songs, I found that every single facet of the group meshed perfectly with each track I heard. I found new appreciation for Raine Maida as a vocalist. His voice really strikes the right emotion for each particular song, and his performance on "Blister" really stands out, equal parts loneliness and comtemplation strike quite an interesting chord (no pun intended). The songs have a harder edge here than on Clumsy, and the band seems to have become much tighter. And while I have always liked Jeremy Taggart's drumming (I think he's one of the very best new drummers to come around in years), his performances on these tracks are nothing short of astounding. The patterns he comes up with are extremely clever and unique, and really drive the band. Even though I sense a huge Elvin Jones influence in his style, he does not overplay like many jazz drummers tend to do. His parts, while jazz-like in composition, do not get in the way of the other musicians, but embellishes their parts instead. Which makes the moments when he can show off, his fills, that much better for us, the listeners. To all of my fellow drummers out there who haven't heard Jeremy Taggart (or the rest of OLP for that matter): YOU MUST CHECK OUT THIS BAND! Standout tracks: All of them. But to name several, they would be: "One Man Army", "Happiness & The Fish", "Potato Girl", "Blister", "Thief", and "Lying Awake". If you are like me, someone who has heard OLP music only casually in the past, then check this CD out. It may be a pleasant surprise for you that will turn you into a real fan, as it has for me.

Naveed was an amazing album, but it was a group getting used to eachother, and ultimately unsuccesful together, as a member left and a new one joined.

Clumsy introduced a new band member, new synergy, and a chance to find their common ground musically. Again, a great album, but not their best.

Now we have Happiness. This is the band at it's best, I say. The lyrics are catchy, enticing, intelligent, and intimate. The music is equally as engaging and beautiful, giving their typically dark music a lighter and more hopeful sound. I have yet to find any issues with this album, and everytime I listen to it I discover it all over again. It is one of my top 10 favorite albums ever. Our Lady Peace is my favorite group, and this is definitely their best offering.

Here are some songs to listen for: Potato Girl, Waited, Blister, Is Anybody Home?, Thief, Lying Awake, Annie.

All are amazing songs, and Raine Maida's ability to control his vocals and falsetto only help to magnify that truly magnificent sound. The melodies are wonderful...listen for yourself. I just can't say enough.

Ever since I heard that OLP was releasing a new cd I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. Falling in love with Clumsy, and Naveed, I knew this album wouldn't dissapoint. I still remember hearing 'One Man Army' on the local radio station the for the first time, it wouldn't leave my head. Now with the new release of 'Is Anybody Home' I'm addicted to this cd as I am with Clumsy. Raine's voice is amazing, some criticize that it sounds a little like Billy Corgan's, but it works in a soild way. It's a step away from the normalcy of music today. The last song 'Stealing Babies' is probably my favorite, I love the guitar riff, and the beat, the song just fades away, which is awesome. I can't say enough about this cd, and this band. Canada's best, along with Tragically Hip, and a little known great band named Finger Eleven. By the way, the Finger Eleven song on the Scream 3 soundtrack does them no justice, their cd 'Tip' is great, and one you should check out if you find any of the OLP albums a great listen.

Before a few weeks ago, I had not even heard of this band, but then I decided to give a whirl at the amazon music recomendations option. Reading the reviews and listening to clips of a few tracks, I went out and bought this CD. I was not dissapointed. This album walks a fine line between tearful depression and thought provoking inspiration. There is not a single track that I skip over in the entire album, which is not a claim I can make with very many titles from other bands. Do yourself a favor and give this album a shot.

I really didnt know about OLP until i heard "Is anybody home", I recognized Raine's(the lead singer) voice from the song "Clumsy" from the I Know What You Did Last Summer soundtrack. When i first heard the song i really liked it. I went out and bought the CD thinking that "Is anybody home" would be the only song i would listen to. I couldnt have been more wrong. After two months of owning the CD, i'm glad to say that it is my favorite CD of all time. Every single track is amazing. there ar no mediocre or average songs on the whole CD. Raine's voice may take a little gettting used to, but in my opinion he is why the band is so unique. With Jeremy Taggarts drumming, each song is wonderful. The lyrics in the songs are amazing. Theyre very deep and meaningful. After a couple listens to any song you'll find yourself relating to the lyrics. Without a doubt the best song is "Lying Awake", I dont know what its about but it is one of the best song of all time. Every track is different and you never find youreself thinking that youre listening to the same thing over and over again. Each song is Unique and amazing in its own way. Some of the songs may be a bit depressing and strange(Ex: "Stealing Babies", about a 9 year old girl that Raine knew who died of AIDS) but that is why they are so amazing. So in closing this CD is a must buy for any OLP fan or fan of alternitive music.

I am a Canadian currently living in Sydney who didn't even know that OLP had released this CD until I got it for Christmas from my Grandma. I was a little bit sceptical that I would even like this CD because a) I wasn't sure how easily they would be able to follow up the phenomenon that was 'Clumsy', and b) I typically have to know a few songs on a CD to enjoy it, have a bit of familiarity with some of the material before getting into the other tunes. But that was not a factor with this CD, it is tremendous from start to finish. Every song is unique without a dud track. The OLP sound keeps evolving, and it is no different on "Happiness ...". A must-grab for old fans of the band, and sure to draw some new ones as well.

I've wanted to own this particular CD for sometime, already knowing the material on it. Simply put, I really really like this Our Lady Peace record. It brings back a lot of memories (in a good way mind you)and I can listen to it full through without any skipping which can be tough in this music day and age. On the song to song analysis, the tracks stand very well on their own. Great CD. If anything, I'd like to be a bit longer!

Usually I don't buy CDs when I only hear one song, but after seeing the music video for "Is Anybody Home" on MuchMusic, the Candaian version of MTV, ony better, I decided to take a chance and go buy it. When I got home I put the cd on and immediately was blown away by the first track, "One Man Army" I just thought to myself, wow. Even my dad, who doesn't really like all the music I do, came in and sat down with me to listen to it. There's just so much going on, you have to stop and listen to it. The second song, "Happiness and the Fish" is a little bit calmer, but still just as good."Potato Girl", "Waited", and "Blister" were written for Raine's voice. Their next single of the CD was "Thief" which is a sad song, I think about death. The last song, "stealing Babies" is a song that I have to listen to over and over again because there's something about it, everytime you listen to it you say, "hey, I never noticed that before." Definately a good closing song, not onlybecause you want to hear it over, but you want to hear the rest of the CD again. Which is what I do. I got the CD over a year ago and I still constantly play it. It spurred me to buy the rest of the OLP CDs and I'm really looking forwar to their next one that comes out in America tomorrow, Spiritual Machines. I've even gotten a few of my friends into OLP, and we all like totally different music. This is by far the best CD I own, and probably will for a long time. I wish everyone wrong music like this.

Do not listen to what the others have said about this album, heres the truth: It's the best OLP CD with their best songs. If you were going to make a best songs album by OLP, the only songs from other CD's that would make it on here are Clumsy, Supermans Dead, and Starseed. This album is better all the way through with few dissipointments. Heres a rating of all the songs on here. One Man Army - 9, Happiness.. - 6, Potato Girl - 7, Blister - 10, Is Anybody Home? - 10, Waited - 11, Theif - 10, Lying Awake - 5, Annie - 9, Consequence.. - 6, Stealing Babies - 10. As you can see, there is not much bad on here, and a whole lot of good. The guitar and vocals are better on this album than on Naveed or Clumsy. The lyrics are also improved. This is what OLP should sounds like! Keep it up OLP!

Happiness Is Not a Fish That You Can Catch by Our Lady Peace is a very, very good album, but something prevents it from being a great album. Perhaps it's the overwhelming feeling that this could just be any random band picked up at a CD store, which in my case it was. They never defy the conventions of traditional rock nor do they explode into one of the greatest guitar solos of all time. The album has very few surprises but, that being said, they color within the lines very well. I feel as though there are a hundred albums like this out there, but it is exactly the type of music I wish I knew more of.

The music is much better than the sum of all its parts. The slightly overfiltered drumming holds the music together, as it is expected to; the guitars (besides using kills rhythmically before exploding into sound) don't maintain much interest; the singer sounds like he just woke up and you have to envy that he still hits the notes perfectly. Ultimately, the music just isn't CRISP enough to be The Verve (the first band I would otherwise compare them to). However, unlike their shoegazing contemporaries, Our Lady Peace is no enigma; not only are they more agressive than The Verve, they pull some of the oldest tricks in the book to make the music maddeningly fun to listen to.

In almost every chorus the singer breezily hits a couple of falsetto notes to lock the tune into your brain for weeks, and there are always huge changes in tempo and dynamics that create tidal waves of euphoria. The best example is the strongest track on the album, "Is Anybody Home?", which starts out with a hook and slows to a pause (one of the coolest ways to make the sound that much more gripping) before tumbling in with a guitar part that barely sounds like a guitar... more like Peter Frampton screaming through his voice machine. It is, like many songs on the album, a remarkable balance between soothing and epic.

It would be nice if the guitarist tried to be more creative, or if the singer experimented with more unusual structures than the traditional ABABCB, because throughout it all the music obviously had an ambient base that keeps the listener from feeling ashamed about how catchy it is. Occasionally there is too much sound with too little complexity to it, so hard listeners like myself are not necessarily rewarded. However, OLP's formula is a brilliant one, and certainly one of the few somewhat "common" sounds that even the biggest music fan has trouble growing tired of.

Overall : A-