Bill and the Belles - Happy Again (2021)

Happy Again isn't exactly happy. But the delightfully deadpan new album from roots mainstays Bill and the Belles is full of life, humour, and tongue-in-cheek explorations of love and loss. Happy Again marks a new chapter for the group by featuring all original music penned by founding member Kris Truelsen. There's no dancing around it: this album is about his divorce. However, this personal loss turned out to be a creative boon for the band.

Over eleven tracks the group shows their knack for saying sad things with a bit of a smirk: the title track is a sarcastic laundry list of existential woes, while People Gonna Talk profiles some of the frustrations of small-town living. Make It Look Easy is both an anthem for apathy and a proper "get lost" to those who've got something to say about your life choices. Tucked amongst the grief and jubilation are some jingle-worthy oddballs for which the band is well known. This raw songcraft along with the deft production touch of Teddy Thompson, who encouraged using only first or second takes, gives Happy Again an emotional punch that deepens with each listen.