A Simple Trick to Happiness
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name = A Simple Trick to Happiness
| type = studio
| artist = Lisa Loeb
| cover = Lisa Loeb - A Simple Trick to Happiness.jpg
| alt = A photo of Loeb looking upwards
| released = {{start date|2020|02|28}}
| studio = {{ubl|Audio Eagle Studio|Buddhaland|Deathstar Studio}}
| genre = Pop
| length = 34:29
| label = Furious Rose
| producer = {{hlist|Rich Jacques|Lisa Loeb}}
| prev_title = Lullaby Girl
| prev_year = 2017
| next_title =
| next_year =
}}
A Simple Trick to Happiness is a studio album by American singer-songwriter Lisa Loeb, released on February 28, 2020. The album is Loeb's most personal and reflects her interest in simple and direct songwriting paired with inspiration from her children and personal life. Loeb was inspired to write positive, uplifting music due to the complexity of modern life and after having written several albums of children's music. The album was preceded by a music video for "Skeleton" in December 2019.
Produced by Loeb and Rich Jacques, A Simple Trick to Happiness is a snapshot that examines life as a mother, wife, artist, and businesswoman seeking to find that rare perfect balance between personal fulfillment and purpose. The album features 11 original songs, co-written with Jacques, Scott Effman, Rosi Golan, Eric Lumiere, and others. The first track "Doesn't It Feel Good" features Michelle Branch on backing vocals.
Critical reception
The editorial staff of AllMusic gave the album four out of five stars, with reviewer Mark Deming calling it, "one of the best and most satisfying albums Lisa Loeb has made to date".
Track listing
{{Track listing
| total_length = 34:29
| title1 = Doesn't It Feel Good
| writer1 = {{hlist|Rosi Golan|Rich Jacques|Lisa Loeb}}
| length1 = 3:38
| title2 = Skeleton
| writer2 = {{hlist|Scott Effman|Jacques|Loeb}}
| length2 = 3:08
| title3 = Another Day
| writer3 = {{hlist|Yoshi Breen|Jacques|Loeb}}
| length3 = 3:28
| title4 = This Is My Life
| writer4 = {{hlist|Jacques|Loeb|Tom Rhodes}}
| length4 = 3:02
| title5 = For the Birch
| writer5 = {{hlist|Loeb|Anna Schulze|Maia Sharp}}
| length5 = 3:24
| title6 = Most of All
| writer6 = {{hlist|Loeb|Kevin Scott Rhoads}}
| length6 = 3:26
| title7 = Shine
| writer7 = {{hlist|Effman|Jacques|Loeb}}
| length7 = 3:14
| title8 = Sing Out
| writer8 = {{hlist|Loeb|Eric Lumiere}}
| length8 = 3:24
| title9 = I Wanna Go First
| writer9 = {{hlist|Daniel Ahearn|Jacques|Loeb}}
| length9 = 2:41
| title10 = The Upside
| writer10 = {{hlist|Kyler England|Jacques|Loeb}}
| length10 = 3:16
| title11 = Wonder
| writer11 = {{hlist|Loeb|Rhoads}}
| length11 = 1:48
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Japanese release bonus tracks{{cite web |url=https://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/-/Discography/A019008/VICP-65542.html |title=ア・シンプル・トリック・トゥ・ハピネス {{!}} リサ・ローブ |publisher=JVCKenwood Victor Entertainment |access-date=May 5, 2021}}
| title12 = Close Your Eyes
| writer12 =
| length12 = 2:56
| title13 = Lullaby Girl
| writer13 =
| length13 = 2:10
}}
Personnel
- Lisa Loeb – art direction, banjo, guitar, production, vocals
Additional musicians
- Michelle Branch – backing vocals
- Yoshi Breen – piano
- Scott Effman – guitar, ukulele, backing vocals
- Kyler England – backing vocals
- Vanessa Freebairn-Smith – cello
- Rich Jacques – bass guitar, drum programming, engineering, guitar, Mellotron, organ, piano, production, programming, synthesizer, ukulele, backing vocals
- Bill Lefler – snare drums, percussion
- Adam Levy – guitar
- Kevin Scott Rhoads – engineering, piano
- Anna Schulze – backing vocals
- Kazumi Shimokawa – bass guitar, keyboards, Mellotron, piano, ukulele
- Blair Sinta – drums, engineering
Technical personnel
See also
References
{{Reflist|refs=
{{Cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/simple-trick-to-happiness-mw0003345727 |title=Simple Trick to Happiness – Lisa Loeb |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=March 3, 2020 |last=Deming |first=Mark}}
{{Cite web |url=https://americansongwriter.com/lisa-loeb-new-music-skelaton/tina-benitez-eves/ |title=Lisa Loeb Lets 'Skeleton' Out of Upcoming New Album |last=Benitez-Eves |first=Tina |date=December 15, 2019 |access-date=March 3, 2020 |work=American Songwriter}}
{{Cite web |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/arts-entertainment/music/2020/02/24/with-a-new-album-out-feb-28-lisa-loeb-just-wants-to-live-in-the-moment/ |title=With a New Album out Feb. 28, Lisa Loeb Just Wants to Live in the Moment |last=Christensen |first=Thor |date=February 24, 2020 |access-date=March 3, 2020 |work=Dallas News}}
{{Cite web |url=https://parade.com/1001359/laurawhitmore/lisa-loeb-new-album/ |work=Parade |date=February 27, 2020 |access-date=March 4, 2020 |last=Whitmore |first=Laura B. |title=Looking for Happiness? Listening to Lisa Loeb's New Album May Be the Simple Trick You Need}}
{{Cite web |url=https://www.queerty.com/exclusive-listen-grammy-winner-lisa-loebs-new-pride-anthem-sing-20191011 |title=Listen to Grammy Winner Lisa Loeb's New Pride Anthem 'Sing Out' |last=Reddish |first=David |date=October 11, 2019 |access-date=March 3, 2020 |work=Queerty}}
}}
External links
- {{official website}}
- [https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/lisa-loeb-reflects-on-her-25-years-in-the-public-eye-191442731.html Long-form interview on Loeb's career in advance of the album release] by Yahoo! News
- {{MusicBrainz release group|mbid=40631783-0178-4271-97cb-6c52caf6c35c|name=A Simple Trick to Happiness}}
- {{Discogs master|master=1771302|name=A Simple Trick to Happiness|type=album}}
{{Lisa Loeb}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Simple Trick To Happiness}}