The Happy Fits’ third full-length is a massive leap forward for the New Jersey trio, who have already built a serious following with their energetic and electrifying pop-rock style. At once a showcase of rock-solid songcraft and gleeful experimentation, Under the Shade of Green is a deceptively bright opus that also zooms in on the anxieties and catastrophes of daily life while never losing its irresistibly hooky attitude.

Under the Shade of Green is the latest chapter in The Happy Fits’ impressive rise, following their second album What Could Be Better in 2020. The album reflects the band’s changing perspectives through the last few years—how they’ve grown, what they’ve learned, and how to face the uncertainties that are yet to come. Sonically, Under the Shade of Green is bold and vibrant, spanning the multifarious sounds of modern indie rock and gentle psychedelic touches that feel fuzzy in all the right ways.

From the punchy “Changes”, the swinging “Dance Alone”’ massive anthemic sway and the serpentine riffs of “Do Your Worst,” Under the Shade of Green finds The Happy Fits unloading earworm after earworm—even as darkness looms, as suggested by the album’s cover of a pineapple covered in flaming money. If these songs don’t make you feel alive—well, you might just want to check your pulse.