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Happiness (Hurts album)

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Untitled

Happiness is the debut studio album by English synthpop duo Hurts, released in the United Kingdom on 6 September 2010. It was preceded by the release of the singles "Better Than Love" on 23 May 2010 and "Wonderful Life" on 22 August 2010. Collaborators include Jonas Quant and production team The Nexus,[1][2] as well as a duet with Australian singer Kylie Minogue on the song "Devotion". To promote the release of the album the band made the non-album song "Happiness" available as a free download via Amazon.co.uk on 1 August 2010.[3]

Happiness received mixed reviews from music critics. It debuted at number four on the UK Albums Chart—the fastest-selling debut album of 2010 by a band in the UK[4]—and topped the Greek Foreign Albums Chart. The album reached number two in Austria, Germany, Poland and Switzerland, and the top ten in Denmark, Finland, Ireland and Sweden.

Critical reception

Happiness has garnered positive to mixed reviews from music critics. According to review aggregator Metacritic, the album received an average of 58 out of 100 indicating mixed or average reviews from music critics, based on nine critiques.[5] Alexis Petridis from The Guardian gave the album two out of five stars and wrote, "You get the feeling Hurts have spent more time making their backstory interesting than their music", and that on some tracks lead singer Hutchcraft sounds like "one of those puppets that advertises Dolmio, but in the throes of a romantic crisis".[6] Dorian Lynskey of Q magazine also gave a mixed review, stating that the duo "learn all the wrong lessons from the 80s" and calling the album "a depressingly ordinary package of overblown melodies and musty lyrical cliches [...], expensively ribboned with choirs and orchestras.[7] Teddy Jamieson of The Herald noticed that the band has "an ear for a hook, but Happiness feels very synthetic (and not in a fun, sci-fi way)" and that "beneath the synthy exterior lurk orthodox song structures, big choruses and a join-every-dot desperation for pop stardom", however he felt that "there are a couple of flashes of wit and intelligence buried in the album".[8] Andrzej Lukowski of Drowned in Sound complimented the singles "Wonderful Life" and "Better Than Love", but felt that elsewhere the record is not "desperately fun" and found "the music thin" and "the embellishments desperately gauche".[9] Andy Gill of The Independent gave the album three out of five stars and wrote, "It's efficient and stylish, but lacks innovation: music that moisturises a touch too much."[10] Fiona Shepherd from The Scotsman said that the duo "look and sound out of time – and they probably like it that way" and described the album as "urbane but banal pop" with an occasional "21st century reference".[11]

Sam Shepherd of musicOMH gave the album three stars out of five and said that "there's a melancholy seam that runs throughout the album that, in conjunction with the polished production, succeeds in achieving a glacial grandeur to each of these songs" and noticed that "appalling ballads in the shape of "The Water" and "Unspoken" will almost certainly be overlooked in favour of the classy sounds of Wonderful Life or the glorious pulsing anthem of Better Than Love".[12] Simon Gage of Daily Express felt that the songs are "thoughtful, melancholy [sic] and very modern" and noticed that the album has "a real sense of style that’s been missing in British pop for some time".[13] Luke Lewis of the NME awarded the album eight out of ten, praised the songs as "fearsomely well-crafted" and "as clean-lined and immaculate as a well-cut suitwrote" and described the album as "billowing, escapist nonsense that raises your heart rate, slaps a smile on your face and sounds godlike when drunk".[14] Joe Copplestone of PopMatters said that the duo sings "simple lyrical messages of love, pain and yearning that most pop acts could not deliver sincerely if they tried" and claimed that they "have probably released the ‘coolest’ album of the year", giving it nine out of ten.[15]

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic(58/100)[5]
Review scores
SourceRating
Daily Express(positive)[13]
Drowned in Sound(5/10)[9]
The Guardian[6]
The Herald(mixed)[8]
The Independent[10]
musicOMH[12]
NME(8/10)[14]
PopMatters[15]
Q[7]
The Scotsman[11]

Singles

  • "Better Than Love" was released as the lead single on 23 May 2010 in the United Kingdom. It spent one week at number fifty on the UK Singles Chart, and charted in Belgium, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands.
  • The second single, "Wonderful Life" was released on 22 August 2010 in the United Kingdom. It was previously released as the band's debut single in Denmark on 3 May 2010. According to lead singer Theo Hutchcraft the song is about two extremes, "the first being a man who wants to kill himself and the second being love at first sight."[16] The song debuted at number twenty-one in the UK, and peaked at number two in Germany. It reached top ten positions in Austria, Denmark and Switzerland.
  • "Stay" was released as the third single on 15 November 2010, and peaked at number fifty on the UK Singles Chart on 21 November 2010.[17]
  • "Sunday" was released as the fourth single on 27 February 2011.[18]
  • "Illuminated" was released as the fifth single on 1 May 2011 as a double A-side with a re-release of "Better Than Love".
  • "Blood, Tears & Gold" was released as the album's sixth single in October 2011 exclusively in Germany.

Track listing

Standard edition

All lyrics are written by Hurts

No.TitleMusicProducer(s)Length
1."Silver Lining"Hurts, The NexusHurts, Jonas Quant, The Nexus*4:58
2."Wonderful Life"Hurts, Joseph CrossHurts, Cross, Quant*4:14
3."Blood, Tears & Gold"Hurts, The NexusHurts, Quant, The Nexus*4:18
4."Sunday"HurtsHurts, Quant3:52
5."Stay"HurtsHurts, Quant3:55
6."Illuminated"Hurts, The NexusHurts, Quant, The Nexus*3:18
7."Evelyn"HurtsHurts, Quant3:54
8."Better Than Love"Hurts, CrossHurts, Quant, Cross3:33
9."Devotion" (featuring Kylie Minogue)HurtsHurts, Quant4:12
10."Unspoken"HurtsHurts, Jonas Quant4:46
11."The Water"HurtsHurts3:41
12."Verona" (hidden track, added onto the end of "The Water")  2:14
Amazon.co.uk digital bonus tracks[19]
No.TitleLength
12."Better Than Love" (Tiefschwarz Mix)8:48
13."Better Than Love" (Video)4:11
Amazon.de digital bonus tracks[20]
No.TitleLength
12."Wonderful Life" (Freemasons Extended Mix)8:28
German iTunes Store bonus tracks[21]
No.TitleLength
12."Mother Nature"2:50
13."Wonderful Life" (Arthur Baker Remix)6:47
Japanese bonus tracks[22]
No.TitleLength
12."Happiness"4:23
13."Affair"6:26
14."Mother Nature"2:50
15."Better Than Love" (Jamaica Remix)4:19
16."Wonderful Life" (Arthur Baker Remix)6:43

Deluxe Edition

CD[23]
No.TitleLyricsMusicProducer(s)Length
1."Silver Lining"HurtsHurts, The NexusHurts, Jonas Quant, The Nexus*4:58
2."Wonderful Life"HurtsHurts, Joseph CrossHurts, Cross, Quant*4:14
3."Blood, Tears & Gold"HurtsHurts, The NexusHurts, Quant, The Nexus*4:18
4."Sunday"HurtsHurtsHurts, Quant3:52
5."Stay"HurtsHurtsHurts, Quant3:55
6."Illuminated"HurtsHurts, The NexusHurts, Quant, The Nexus*3:18
7."Evelyn"HurtsHurtsHurts, Quant3:54
8."Better Than Love"HurtsHurts, CrossHurts, Quant, Cross3:33
9."Devotion" (featuring Kylie Minogue)HurtsHurtsHurts, Quant4:12
10."Unspoken"HurtsHurtsHurts, Jonas Quant4:46
11."The Water"HurtsHurtsHurts3:41
12."Verona" (hidden track, added onto the end of "The Water")   2:14
13."Affair"HurtsHurtsJoseph Cross6:28
14."Happiness"   3:26
15."Mother Nature"HurtsHurts, Andrew FramptonAndrew Frampton2:51
16."Confide in Me" (Live Studio Version)Owain Barton, Dave Seaman, Steve AndersonOwain Barton, Dave Seaman, Steve AndersonHurts2:51
17."Sunday" (Demo)HurtsHurtsHurts, Quant2:51
18."Devotion" (Demo)HurtsHurtsHurts, Quant3:49
19."All I Want for Christmas Is New Year's Day"HurtsHurtsHurts4:34
DVD[23]
No.TitleLength
1."Intro" (Live in Berlin)2:33
2."Silver Lining" (Live in Berlin)4:46
3."Wonderful Life" (Live in Berlin)4:23
4."Happiness" (Live in Berlin)3:37
5."Blood, Tears & Gold" (Live in Berlin)4:27
6."Evelyn" (Live in Berlin)4:15
7."Sunday" (Live in Berlin)4:47
8."Verona" (Live in Berlin)2:20
9."Unspoken" (Live in Berlin)4:48
10."Mother Nature" (Live in Berlin)3:27
11."Devotion" (Live in Berlin)4:15
12."Confide in Me" (Live in Berlin)6:08
13."Illuminated" (Live in Berlin)4:08
14."Stay" (Live in Berlin)4:50
15."Gloomy Sunday" (Live in Berlin)3:06
16."Better Than Love" (Live in Berlin)5:30
17."Blood, Tears & Gold" (Original Version Remastered)4:35
18."Wonderful Life" (Original Video)4:15
19."Better Than Love" (Music Video)4:22
20."Wonderful Life" (New Version)4:10
21."Stay" (Music Video)3:48
22."Sunday" (Music Video)4:02
23."Illuminated" (Music Video)3:31
24."All I Want for Christmas Is New Year's Day" (Music Video)4:31
Notes
  • (*) denotes additional production

Personnel

The following people contributed to Happiness:[24]

Charts

Release history

Region Date Label Format Edition
Austria 27 August 2010[61] Major Label, RCA Records, Sony Music CD, digital download Standard edition
Germany
Switzerland
Ireland[62] 3 September 2010
United Kingdom[63] 6 September 2010
Poland[64]
Scandinavia[65] 8 September 2010
Brazil[66] 22 October 2010
Japan[22] 3 November 2010 Sony Music
United States[67] 4 October 2011 Major Label, RCA Records, Sony Music Digital download
Germany[23] 28 October 2011 Major Label, Epic Records, Sony Music CD, DVD, digital download Deluxe Edition
United Kingdom[68] 31 October 2011

References

  1. ^ Greeves, David (2011). "Hurts (Adam Anderson & Jonas Quant): Recording Happiness". Sound on Sound. SOS Publications Group. Retrieved 2 July 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  2. ^ Smart, Gordon (30 June 2011). "David Sneddon's a write talent". The Sun. UK: News Group Newspapers. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
  3. ^ "Happiness: Hurts". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
  4. ^ "'Happiness' fastest selling debut by a band in the UK this year!". informationhurts.com. 14 September 2010. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
  5. ^ a b "Hurts – Happiness". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
  6. ^ a b Petridis, Alexis (2 September 2010). "Hurts: Happiness". The Guardian. UK. Retrieved 3 September 2010. {{cite news}}: Text "CD review" ignored (help); Text "Music" ignored (help)
  7. ^ a b Lynskey, Dorian (2010), Q: 116, 2 Stars – Mixed – "...duo learn all the wrong lessons from the 80's..." {{citation}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help); More than one of |work= and |journal= specified (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  8. ^ a b Jamieson, Teddy (6 September 2010). "Hurts: Happiness (Sony)". The Herald. Retrieved 6 September 2010.
  9. ^ a b Lukowski, Andrzej (7 September 2010). "Hurts Happiness". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved 7 September 2010.
  10. ^ a b Gill, Andy (3 September 2010). "Album: Hurts, Happiness (Sony/Major Label) – Reviews, Music". The Independent. UK. Retrieved 3 September 2010.
  11. ^ a b Shepherd, Fiona (31 August 2010). "Album reviews: The Crayonettes , Hurts , Marc-André Hamelin , Norma Winstone , Ewan McLennan , An Al Andaluz Project". The Scotsman. UK. Retrieved 5 September 2010.
  12. ^ a b Shepherd, Sam (5 September 2010). "Hurts – Happiness". musicOMH. Retrieved 5 September 2010.
  13. ^ a b Gage, Simon (3 September 2010). "REVIEW: HURTS -HAPPINESS (SONY/RCA)". Daily Express. UK. Retrieved 5 September 2010.
  14. ^ a b Lewis, Luke (6 September 2010). "Album review: Hurts – 'Happiness' (RCA)". NME. UK. Retrieved 6 September 2010.
  15. ^ a b Copplestone, Joe (8 September 2010). "Hurts: Happiness". PopMatters. Retrieved 8 September 2010.
  16. ^ Balls, David (27 December 2009). "Music – Interview – Ones To Watch: Hurts". Digital Spy. Retrieved 23 August 2010.
  17. ^ Copsey, Robert (1 October 2010). "Hurts announce new single". Digital Spy. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
  18. ^ Copsey, Robert (14 December 2010). "Hurts confirm new single details". Digital Spy. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
  19. ^ "Happiness [Amazon Exclusive] [+Video And Digital Booklet]: Hurts". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
  20. ^ http://www.amazon.de/dp/B003Z69GS8/
  21. ^ http://itunes.apple.com/de/album/happiness/id387221824
  22. ^ a b "Hurts: Happiness". HMV Japan. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
  23. ^ a b c "Hurts - Happiness". Sony Music Entertainment Germany GmbH. Retrieved 29 October 2011.
  24. ^ Happiness (Media notes). Major Label, Sony Music, RCA. 2010. {{cite AV media notes}}: |format= requires |url= (help); Unknown parameter |artist= ignored (|others= suggested) (help)
  25. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Albums – Week Commencing 20th September 2010" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Pandora Archive. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
  26. ^ "Hurts – Happiness" (in German). IFPI Austria. Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
  27. ^ "Hurts – Happiness" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
  28. ^ "Hurts – Happiness" (in French). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
  29. ^ "Hurts – Happiness" (in Croatian). Hrvatska Diskografska Udruga. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
  30. ^ "TOP50 Prodejní – Hurts – Happiness" (in Czech). IFPI Czech Republic. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
  31. ^ "Hurts – Happiness". IFPI Denmark. Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
  32. ^ "Hurts – Happiness" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
  33. ^ "European Albums". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 25 September 2010. Retrieved 17 September 2010.
  34. ^ "Hurts – Happiness". YLE. Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
  35. ^ "Hurts – Happiness" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
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  37. ^ "Hurts – Happiness". IFPI Greece. Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
  38. ^ "Top 75 Artist Album, Week Ending 9 September 2010". Irish Recorded Music Association. Chart-Track. Retrieved 10 September 2010.
  39. ^ "Hurts – Happiness". Federation of the Italian Music Industry. Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
  40. ^ "ハピネス/ハーツ" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 7 April 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  41. ^ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży". OLiS. 20 September 2010. Retrieved 19 September 2010.
  42. ^ "Russian music charts. Week 41 – 2010". 2M. Lenta.Ru. 22 October 2010. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
  43. ^ "Hurts – Happiness". Productores de Música de España. Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
  44. ^ "Hurts – Happiness". Swedish Recording Industry Association. Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
  45. ^ "Hurts – Happiness". Media Control. Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
  46. ^ "Chart Stats – Hurts – Happiness". The Official Charts Company. Chart Stats. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
  47. ^ "Gold & Platin" (in German). IFPI Austria. 24 February 2011. Retrieved 30 March 2011.
  48. ^ "Kulta- ja platinalevyt – Hurts" (in Finnish). IFPI Finland. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
  49. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Hurts; 'Happiness')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 11 February 2011.
  50. ^ "Platinum certification awards". Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. 1 December 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  51. ^ "Золотой и платиновый альбом в России / International 2010" (in Russian). National Federation of Phonogram Producers. 2M. Retrieved 7 April 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  52. ^ "Awards 2011". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
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  54. ^ "Jahreshitparade 2010" (in German). IFPI Austria. Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
  55. ^ "2010 Year End Charts – European Top 100 Albums". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
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  58. ^ "Swiss Year-End Charts 2010". Media Control. Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
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  60. ^ http://oe3.orf.at/charts/stories/albumyear/
  61. ^ "Hurts – Happiness" (in German). Sony Music Entertainment Germany. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
  62. ^ "Hurts – Happiness". Tower Records Ireland. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
  63. ^ "Hurts: Happiness". HMV. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
  64. ^ "Happiness – Hurts" (in Polish). Empik. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
  65. ^ "Happiness – Hurts". CDON.eu. Retrieved 3 September 2010.
  66. ^ "Hurts – Happiness" (in Portuguese). CD Point. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
  67. ^ http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005OLNOW6/
  68. ^ http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005M7P9XE/
Preceded by Greek International Albums Chart number-one album
26 September 2010 – 3 October 2010 		Succeeded by
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