Señor Happy / Senor Happy

Señor Happy's melodic brand of power pop was debuted on the trio's 1998 self-titled disc on Boston's Q Division Records. The album begins with "Take You There," with Derek Schanche's composed vocals and the song's increasingly edgy instrumentation. That short song is followed by the whimsical "Hey, C'mon and Sin." The music starts off softly on the fourth track, "On the Down." The moody song offers an up-and-down song structure. The joyous "We Will Fall" is followed by the droney and frantic "Ain't That True." Tom Polce's drumming and Joe McMahon's bass work, combined with Schanche's guitar, create a tight indie rock sound throughout. On "So-Called Reviews," Schanche's focused voice is reminiscent of Dan Johnson of the Detroit band Judah Johnson. On "Be Inside," his vocal exercises playfully dance over the most joyous song on the disc, while Fancisco Lugo guests on mandolin. The disc comes to a close with "14 Days," a rollicking singalong. It's a slightly festive ending to a mostly subtle and subdued indie rock album. The album was recorded in Brighton, MA, with producer/musician Jennifer Trynin. Overall, the disc offers a gentle dose of thoughtful indie rock.