Kiefer Shackelford follows up a strong debut LP on Leaving Records with an even stronger outing on LA’s mothership of all things beats, the mighty Stones Throw. By now you know his rap sheet: keyboard player for Mndsgn’s live trio, formally trained under the tutelage of Kenny Burrell at UCLA, collabs with Kaytranada, Anderson .Paak and more. As you could probably infer from the album title: “this album is focused on both joy and sadness, and how they are always intertwined.” Sorta the same vibe I always get when I see a pug (or French bulldog, or Boston terrier; I honestly don’t know - or care - what the difference is) like the one on the album cover. Throughout Happysad, Kiefer nails that gorgeously melancholic grand piano mood but keeps the smack intact, perhaps best exemplified on the blunted Bill Evans boom bap of “Socially Awkward” and “AAAAA,” but check out “Highway 46,” “Magnetic,” “Memories Of U,” “FOMO,” the woozy soap opera schlock of “Agoraphobia” and the post-Funkmosphere modern funk of “Upwards” to taste the full spectrum of Kiefer’s emotions.

• black vinyl pressing
• music label: Stones Throw Records 2018

reviewed by big dumb man 06/2018