Trampoline
Happy Crimes
(Independent)
2.5/5
The rock musical Happy Crimes from Winnipeg’s Trampoline is an interesting and unfamiliar mix of music and storytelling that I really expected to enjoy more than I did. I love musicals; I love rock music; what’s not to like?
For starters, the songs are not as melodic as a musical demands. The vocals are difficult to listen to due to the effects placed on them. Trampoline may have been trying to make the voices sound distant, alien, or ethereal, but this did not work for me. Instead of giving the music a magical effect, it sounds more like vocals sung inside an empty room. This sound does not permeate the entire album, but it was enough to immediately put me off.
I can see the appeal of Happy Crimes but I didn’t connect to the music, and, as a result, I didn’t follow the story. I like the concept of a rock musical and some may experience this differently than I did, so I wouldn’t rule out giving this a listen. But, if you’re like me and you require an instant connection to the content you consume, you’re better off finding something else to enjoy.