Movements have always made music that feels incredibly easy to fall into. They can be heavy without losing melody, emotional without being too dramatic and somehow make even their quieter moments hit just as hard as the big ones. Happier Now is no different. In fact, it might be one of their strongest records yet. There’s a bit of everything here, from huge post-hardcore moments to pop-punk leaning tracks and some beautiful stripped-back moments, but somehow it all fits together. More than anything, it feels like Movements doing what they do best, but somehow even better.
“Pulse” starts things off beautifully. It’s melodic, it’s catchy and the meaning is clear. There’s a real sense of urgency to it, and Patrick Miranda’s vocals sit perfectly amongst the guitars. It’s not trying to ease you into the record, either. It gets right to the point and sets the tone pretty quickly.
“Dissolve Me” was a lead single, and for good reason too. Instrumentally it leans into slightly heavier territory, but it’s still got those beautiful vocals and melody that doesn’t get lost among the noise. “Everything Is Fine” follows, starting off with quiet, more restrained vocals. The lyrics “Cause I’m alive but I’m so fucking anxious I could die, what a perfect illustration of my life”, sum up this song pretty well, and it conveys that anxiety so well- it’s in the vocals, it’s in the guitar riff, it’s in the eerie ambience of the track.
The title track, “Happier Now”, is another standout and a testament to how much Movements’ songwriting has improved over years. There’s obviously an irony to calling the record Happier Now when so much of it is spent dealing with everything that makes happiness complicated, and this track encapsulates that perfectly.
“Flowerbed” is a nice refresher. The guitar work here is a highlight- fun, light riffs carry this song and give it a deceivingly upbeat feeling. Miranda’s slightly heavier vocals in the chorus are another standout and provide a contrast to the quiet verses. “Back In My Ways” is next, and although this one came out before the record released, I’m still not over it. It’s a quieter moment on the record, but the perfect example of how a quiet, emotional track doesn’t have to be a bland acoustic song. It eventually builds up so satisfyingly, but that doesn’t take away from the sincerity of the track.
“Spellbound” is a short interlude, giving you a chance to slow down and breathe for a minute, setting the tone for the next half of the album nicely. Following that is “Ill at Ease”, which comes crashing in with an oddly hopeful sound. Miranda’s vocals are at the very top of his range throughout the whole track apart from the bridge, and it adds a beautiful sense of desperation to this song.
“Live By The Sword” is packed with energy. It’s got this weirdly wonderful guitar riff running throughout that keeps things moving. The distant, shouting backing vocals also add a nice layer to this, and the chorus is going to get stuck in your head after one listen. “Everyone I’ve Ever Been” takes things back down a notch. It’s deeply introspective, reflecting on the various ways a person can change themselves to please others and the identity crisis that comes as a result. The energy builds throughout, before taking it’s time to fade out in the outro.
“Fragile Hands” starts with layered instrumentation that builds into what I can only describe as an almost jazz-inspired sound, giving this track a smooth, funky vibe. It’s a slow, vulnerable song, but again the perfect example of how these types of tracks don’t have to be boring. While it’s definitely a beautiful song, it’s one that I feel would have benefitted from being a little earlier in the setlist where it would have had a little more room to breathe.
“Separate” closes things out nicely. It brings back the fun, upbeat side of the record and ends things on a nice build-up. It also sums up the album perfectly, as a closer should. The closing lyrics are shouts of “All of me, I gave all of me”- and across these twelve tracks, they definitely did.
What I really love about Happier Now is that it never feels like Movements are trying too hard to stick to one sound. There’s plenty of lighter pop-punk moments, huge riffs, big melodies and some lovely stripped-back sections throughout, but there’s also a heavier sound that makes an appearance from time to time. This is a band that achieved exactly what they set out to, and had fun with it. After spending so much time with this record, I can honestly say I’ve loved it. Happier Now is heavy, emotional, catchy and incredibly easy to come back to. For me, it’s an easy five stars.
FIVE STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Happier Now is out now. Listen on Bandcamp: https://movementsofficial.bandcamp.com/album/happier-now
