Happy Hour

Description

Happy Hour is the third album by the American alternative rock band Dead Artist Syndrome (a.k.a. Brian Healy), released on Alarma Records in 1995, a division of Frontline Music Group, distributed by Diamante Distribution. The album was recorded by David Leonhardt at Mom’s Sewing Room in Sacramento, California; with Leonhardt and Brian Healy producing. Mixed by Thom Roy at Mixing Lab A in Garden Grove, California. Featuring three of the members of The 77s as backing band – Michael Roe, David Leonhardt, and Mark Harmon.

Brian Healey (aka Dead Artist Syndrome) records albums of his own compositions using top line Christian rock bands as accompanists (he’s done one with Guardian). This time he uses the pre-Tom Tom Blues‘ Seventy Sevens as featured backing band. What more could anyone ask for? Well, unfortunately it appears the budget ran out before Mr Healy could hire Aaron Smith for the rhythm section and the album relies on drum programming instead. And some very unimaginative programming at that. A pale imitation of the living counterpart, it seems to sap the energy from the whole set, leaving a monotonous set of songs with some quite interesting lyrics. In the sleeve notes Brian declares his intent to explicitly express his faith without sloganeering and I think for the most part he’s managed it. But I don’t think the material is the weak link – a real drummer could have invested the whole project with some life and more variety of pace. As it turns out, though, this is one happy hour where the drinks are watered down. [James Lewis, Cross Rhythms, June 1996]

CD tracklist:

01. Y.S.D. – 4:14
02. Radiation – 3:23
03. U.S.A. – 4:54
04. Glory – 3:26
05. Heaven – 4:20
06. Dance With You – 5:26
07. Bride Song – 5:16
08. It Must Be Love – 5:27
09. Happy Hour – 7:26

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Alarma Records. Available at Bandcamp: https://deadartistsyndrome1.bandcamp.com/album/happy-hour

CREDITS. Produced by Brian Healy and David Leonhardt. Recorded by David Leonhardt at Mom’s Sewing Room, Sacramento, CA. Additional engineering by Howie Brisco and Thom Roy. Mixed by Thom Roy at Mixing Lab A, Garden Grove, CA. Mastered by Doug Doyle at Digital Brothers, Costa Mesa, CA. Layout by Megan Giles. Cover by Brian Healy. Written by Brian Healy.

Musicians: Brian Healy (Lead Vocals), David Leonhardt (Guitar, Keyboards, Programming), Mike Roe (Lead Guitar), Mark Harmon (Bass, Guitar). Backing Vocals: Mark Harmon, Mike Roe. “Bride Song” features Carman W. Green on vocals, David Andlisa and Mike Testament on guitars, and Mark St. Mark on bass.