Pretend You're Happy

about

Pretend You're Happy used indie rock to encourage reverence and catharsis in everyday life. Based out of Brattleboro and Burlington, VT, the band played in a variety of live forms. One night they might be a stripped down acoustic 2-piece, the next an 8-piece electric entourage including two drummers, a doublebass player, and a clarinet-noise player. Their music takes influence from divergent genres such as folk, classical, and hardcore. With their official 2008 release on Fake Four Inc. and DIY Bandits Pretend You're Happy set out to spread their word further than ever before. Acoustic guitar compositions by Jeremiah Morelock were the initial points of inspiration that formed these now richly orchestrated pieces. Formerly known as "Mantits", Jeremiah gained some recognition throughout the DIY Acoustic Punk movement for his sarcastic solo releases including a split release with Vermont band Johnny Hobo and the Freight Trains. In 2005 Jeremiah retired the "Mantits" title to start Pretend You're Happy with Jeremy Bernozzi (drums) and Mikey Cham (doublebass). Eventually the list of collaborators on the project grew to include Lauren Bernozzi, Nicholas Gangel, Forrest Mulerath, Jonas Fricke, Ruth Garbus, Seqouyah Leaf, Timothy Findlen, Ron Schneiderman, Caitlin Senni, Ike Wittman, and Flash-C. During the summer of 2007 a decidedly hi-fi recording full of introspective lyrics, quirky yet lush orchestration, 9 parts pop and 1 part dissonance was completed. "Pretend You're Happy" i

top songs

albums

Pretend You're Happy

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mp3s

The Great Joyful Rebellion

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Fake Four Inc.: A Record Label Sampler vol. 1

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The Grand Joyful Rebellion

No Way Out

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The Great Joyful Rebellion (mp3)

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Said the Gramophone's Best of 2008

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A Record Label Sampler Volume 1

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Fake Four inc a Record Label Sampler vol. 1

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PREPARING FOR FREEDOM - A Benefit Compilation

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Pop! Goes the Culture - 3/27

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