Happy Days is the third and last of the great albums put out by Catherine Wheel (IMO, the next release, Adam & Eve, was a few steps backwards for the band).  The title is very ironic as this album is the band's most intense, angry, heavy, and abrasive release.  As always, they start off with a rocker.  "God Inside My Head" is very heavy: "A mushroom cloud!"  Almost metal with killer guitar and bass but also catchy with excellent duel vocals.  "Waydown" was the first single off this album and I was not impressed with it.  Most of the tracks here are much better. "Little Muscle," and "Empty Head," are killer rockers.  "Receive" is amazing and offers some of Rob Dickinson's best vocal work: "I destroy myself!"  "Hole" is also a highlight in tortured vocals. "My Exhibition" is almost thrash.  More accessible tracks include the catchy "Shocking" and "Judy Staring at the Sun,"  the latter of which features the backing vocals of Throwing Muses co-founder, Pixies and Breeders vocalist, and Belly founder Tanya Donelly.  The ultimate gem here, however, is "Heal."  I could almost to put this track ahead of "Black Metallic" as Catherine Wheel's best song but...not quite.  It's close, though.  It is unbelievable and worth a CD purchase by itself.  Happy Days broke Catherine Wheel out of the shoegazer mold.  It is not their most solid album (was "Eat My Dust You Insensitive ****" really necessary?) but is still excellent.  If you like your alternative rock on the heavy side, this album is for you.  Rob Dickinson's heavy metal relative Bruce Dickinson may have had an influence on this album!
Happy Days is the third and last of the great albums put out by Catherine Wheel (IMO, the next release, Adam & Eve, was a few steps backwards for the band). The title is very ironic as this album is the band's most intense, angry, heavy, and abrasive release. As always, they start off with a rocker. "God Inside My Head" is very heavy: "A mushroom cloud! "  Almost metal with killer guitar and bass but also catchy with excellent duel vocals. "Waydown" was the first single off this album and I was not impressed with it. Most of the tracks here are much better. "Little Muscle," and "Empty Head," are killer rockers. "Receive" is amazing and offers some of Rob Dickinson's best vocal work: "I destroy myself! "  "Hole" is also a highlight in tortured vocals. "My Exhibition" is almost thrash. More accessible tracks include the catchy "Shocking" and "Judy Staring at the Sun,"  the latter of which features the backing vocals of Throwing Muses co-founder, Pixies and Breeders vocalist, and Belly founder Tanya Donelly. The ultimate gem here, however, is "Heal. "  I could almost to put this track ahead of "Black Metallic" as Catherine Wheel's best song but... not quite. It's close, though. It is unbelievable and worth a CD purchase by itself. Happy Days broke Catherine Wheel out of the shoegazer mold. It is not their most solid album (was "Eat My Dust You Insensitive ****" really necessary? ) but is still excellent. If you like your alternative rock on the heavy side, this album is for you. Rob Dickinson's heavy metal relative Bruce Dickinson may have had an influence on this album!