98
98. Never Trust a Happy Song - Grouplove (2011)
Indie Pop
Grouplove have no delusions about what they’re doing on Never Trust a Happy Song (2011). This is an unapologetic feel-good album, designed to be listened to while driving in the summer, sun shining, windows down, preferably high and on the way to the beach. It’s poppy, saccharine and intended to be taken at face value. No insightful lyrics or hot takes on deep issues, just frilly tunes that will put a smile on your face.
Pop music is often judged through the lens of the worst of the genre, but there is an undeniable art in creating music that has nearly universal appeal. The group’s acknowledgement of the fleeting value of this type of music is obvious in the album’s title itself, which begs the listener to get lost with them in the moment, enjoying a much needed respite from reality. Never trust a happy song, just let it distract you for a while.
*image; cover art for the album Never Trust a Happy Song by the artist Grouplove