Review Summary: Desperate to end this noise in my head.
Depression is a sickness that comes and goes, but never truly leaves. Growing up teaches us that the trials and tribulations we face in this world are perpetual, and the inherent struggle of life never ceases. To many, this bleak reality is enough for us to ask the question "what is all of this for?" Waking up day after day stuck in a routine, balancing personal relationships, and dealing with the corporate rat race is enough to want to throw in the towel. However, through suffering a light eventually shines through the clouds. Patrick Miranda is no stranger to this concept. As the charismatic frontman of Orange County based emo/alternative/post-hardcore/
insert genre tag here band Movements, Pat's story is one paved with bitter tears and emotional scars. The heart and soul of the band lies with Pat's ability to connect with the deepest, often most uncomfortable realities we face as human beings without sounding contrived or self pitying. Movements is a band for those who wear their heart on their sleeve, and one that has gone through their fair share of ups and downs.
2023's
Ruckus! was an interesting release for Movements. While not a bad record by any means, it seemed to have lost the magic previously established by the monumental debut
Feel Something and the more pensive follow-up
No Good Left to Give. A conflicting album for sure, because on one hand the more up-tempo, lighthearted, and dare I say occasionally sexy side of the band gave the impression that Pat was in a better place mentally. On the other hand, their songwriting took a significant hit and didn't feel nearly as emotionally impactful. From the gut punching
"this failure is built deep into my design" to
"you wear attention like its perfume" (ugh),
Ruckus! unfortunately proved to be a significant step down for the band. Now it should be made clear - sadness doesn't automatically equate to being
good musically, but Movements is a band that shines their brightest when they express vulnerability in a raw, honest way. And so here we are in the year of our lord 2026. With the help of the mighty Will Yip, the blues have once again taken hold of Movements in the form of their fourth LP,
Happier Now.
The album kicks off with "Pulse" and immediately establishes the framework of the record with a dreamy, spellbinding guitar riff underneath Pat's familiar crooning.
"Is it worth it? Is it worth it anymore? Are we searching for a pulse?" A solid opener that works well as the album's calling card, the following track and lead single "Dissolve Me" is where things really get going. A colorful, driving chord progression breaks into the catchiest and most powerful the band has sounded in a long time, leading into arguably the strongest chorus on the album.
"Head first into the concrete, let it dissolve me." While Pat and his lyricism may be the centerpiece of Movements' appeal, the rest of the band are no slouches either. Perhaps the unsung hero and real MVP, bassist Austin Cressey lays down some genuinely creative and impressive bass lines here. This, alongside the subtle, yet captivating guitar playing of Ira George and the slick, precise drumming courtesy of Spencer York all coalesce into a force to be reckoned with. Third single "Everything Is Fine" paints the picture that Pat's mental health is anything but fine, with him belting out the most straightforward line on the album.
"Cause I'm alive, but I'm so ***ing anxious I could die." The title track "Happier Now" is a massive highlight as well, cleverly laying out the deep irony in the album title itself while focusing on all the band's strengths and assuring the listener that their flame is far from burnt out.
Movements have made the mission statement clear so far, and right out of the gate pull us back into that familiar gloomy place we all succumb to eventually. "Flowerbed" offers a brief respite and may act as the only uplifting song on the album. Somber, yet strangely comforting. Alas, any optimism or positivity displayed in "Flowerbed" is immediately snuffed out with the following track. Second single "Back In My Ways" cuts deep to the bone with the band's most devastating performance to date and Pat defeatingly proclaiming
"My world goes up in flames."
No signs of slowing down from here, as the second half rivals the first in terms of quality. From the energetic rocker "III At Ease" to the politically charged "Live By the Sword", the band shows no cracks in the foundation here. Where
Ruckus! and even
No Good Left to Give faltered in places,
Happier Now remains consistently engaging from start to finish. "Everyone I've Ever Been" is a fantastic song on its own, but finishes with one of the most effective uses of a fade outro in recent memory. With our journey nearing an end, we reach the penultimate track and heart wrenching ballad "Fragile Hands." This is where my criticism of Happier Now starts and ends, as this song would have worked as the perfect closer. "Separate", while a great song doesn't quite feel like the definitive bow on this Christmas present. On top of that, we have another classic case of
the cardinal sin in modern music, releasing your closer as a single. Unfortunately, this deflates the ending and the record ultimately suffers for it. Flipping the last two songs would have rectified this issue, but its a minor nitpick as "Separate" is far from a whimper of a conclusion.
"I gave all of me."
Overall,
Happier Now is an excellent return to form and a record shimmering with passion and intent. The band sounds reinvigorated and have remembered what made them special in the first place. While not quite on the same level as magnum opus
Feel Something, Movements have returned to the limelight and decided that it was time for us, the fans, to have our pink cloud summer once again.
