A quick turnaround to capitalise on the well-deserved success of Girl with No Face, and Allie X is back with another studio album. Happiness is Going to Get You is a remarkable moment for the alt-pop star. She is not the only artist to release another album so close to their previous release, but it seems less common now than it was in the 1960s and ‘70s. Whatever the reason for this quick turnaround, be it capitalising on a swell of new support or having more to say, it’s a welcome experience from a reliable name. Happiness is Going to Get You never assumes it will be better or even compare to the work found on Girl with No Face, but Allie X does well to engage with a whole new set of feelings and fiery takes on the world around her with this one. From rapture preparation to cold moments of isolation, there’s a familiar boldness with fresh messages at the heart of Happiness is Going to Get You.
Happiness is Going to Get You is filled with exciting, ambitious instrumentals. That’s the main selling point for this latest Allie X release. There’s a lighter lyrical tone taken here, though still enough material to land a few body blows. Harsh realisations are made when hearing the likes of Is Anybody Out There? or the follow-up song, 7th Floor. Theatrical experimentation is right at the core of Happiness is Going to Get You. It’s a fully-fledged and thought-out release but the focus is not on the emotionally tight lyrics, of which there is plenty, but on the instrumental changes found throughout. Reunite is a relatively straightforward song, though the mix of thumping electronics and that message of learning how to stand tall, of how to be independent, is such a positive message that it’s hard to dislike. It’s quite a wonderful track from Allie X, whose consistencies as a performer are profiled well by Happiness is Going to Get You.
Her fourth studio album feels like a general look at her strengths as a performer, rather than a closer, cutting example of this specific or that sound. It’s nice to hear Allie X can jump between genres and instrumentals with ease, a real strength of this latest release comes not from the specifics but from the broader, comfortable sense brought about by messages of positivity in the face of heartbreak or horrifying realisations. Crucial to Happiness is Going to Get You is the title track, an almost inevitable slower tempo with the piano-led track stripping back those electrified layers to get to the heart of its message. You will fall for happiness at some point, and that’s made to sound like a comfort rather than a fear. Things will change, life goes on, all those usually thrown-out messages are at the core of this Allie X song, and the clarity is what makes it such a comfort.
Happiness is waiting, but for who? Those who can take a risk or accept where they’re at now is not where they’ll be soon after listening to this latest Allie X release. A song like Uncle Lenny calls on people to push past those who are holding them back, consciously or not, and to consider what the future should have in store for them. It should sound as inviting and intense as the instrumentals at play, and if there’s no excitement to life, then it needs to change. That’s what Happiness is Going to Get You asks of its listeners, for them to honestly consider where they’re at and what they want. Moments of real beauty come through on Learn to Cry, with the latter half of the album completely dedicated to giving listeners a chance to connect with themselves deeper. Uncomfortable conclusions, acceptance of new steps, it’s all there on Happiness is Going to Get You.
