The Quirky Folk Music of Couldn't Be Happiers

The Quirky Folk Music of Couldn't Be Happiers

Bruce Von Stiers

Jodi Hidelbran Lee and Jordan Crosby Lee are a married couple. In addition to being married, they are a musical duo known as Couldn't Be Happiers. Their music is kind of alt folk with a bit of other music styles sliding into the mix.

Although both Jodi and Jordan graduated law school, the didn't meet as a result of that. They met at a music circle. They became friends and sometime later, more than that. Together they have crafted songs and a style that has been called “energic and quirky.”

Jodi and Jordan already have garnered a decent sized fan base amid touring and releasing their first album. Now they are set to release their sophomore album, Couple(t)s.

By definition, a couplet is two lines of verse that have similar intent and are joined by rhyme. This kind of sets the tone for this album. As Jodi has stated, her and Jordan are different people but collaborate to create “unique, but relatable, folk-music.” The album is being released in two parts, synonymous with the definition of couplets.

The album has twelve songs. All of the songs on it were written by either Jodi or Jordan.

Jodi was on lead and backing vocals and played acoustic guitar, harmonica, drums and percussion. Jordan did lead and backing vocals and played electric and acoustic guitar,

Jodi and Jordan worked with Doug Davis of Flytrap Music Production to bring the album together. Davis lent his musical talents to the album on electric and acoustic guitar, bass, mandolin, Mellotron, Hammond organ, VOX organ, Omnichord, Melodica, piano, percussion and did the horn arrangements.

Corky McClellan played drums on the album. Jack Gorham was on accordion for a couple of songs. Kenny Butler was on trumpet for a couple of songs. Rob Yingling was on saxophone for a couple of songs. Rick Nathay played pedal steel for two songs. And Bernie Hall was on trombone for a couple of songs.

Appearing on just one song each was Urshawn Matthews on sousaphone, Travis Williams on double bass, Dustin Foley on drums and Pete Pawsey on banjo and lap steel.

Come Back Tomorrow is a melodic, toe tapping song. Not only are there nice vocals, but there is also accordion, trumpet, sax, trombone and sousaphone music for a great sound.

When I Die is an interesting, strictly folk styled song. Jordan does the lead vocals for this song. He wants to be remembered for things he did, not for what he didn't.

Plastic Bag Odyssey (I'll Never Die) is a strange but entertaining song. It is intended as a kind of protest song about our non-recyclable trash that, as the album press release states is, “told from the perspective of a grocery store bag that will not die and wrecks havoc where it goes.” Like I said, strange but entertaining.

Tear It Down is somewhat fast paced and has an almost Roma folk music tone to it.

Devil's Tramping Ground is another folk styled tune but has a some parts that are fairly fast paced.

Pretty Polly has Jodi doing the vocals on a melodic, yet haunting ballad. It is about a supposed nice boy, and perfect for her, but he really isn't. He takes her down a deep, dark hole.

King of Austin is toe-tapping tale of a guy and his friend, one of them made it on top and the other didn't.

Wherever You Go is a love ballad. He'll be in love with her, wherever she goes, “from the Parthenon to the Alamo.”

I Got You is a toe-tapping tune. It has a bit of harmonica in it that made me think of Dylan. There is a nice, melodic duet chorus.

Weatherman is somewhat comical song of a weatherman's lament.

Brown Mountain Lights is a tale of someone who'd mined for gold but came up short. And still, there is his love waiting for him to come back to her. Or so he thought. Both Jordan and Jodi have parts in the song, Jodi's being beautifully melodic.

Lydia's Bridge is a somewhat haunting retelling of a North Carolina folk story. Apparently Lydia was killed and her spirit catches rides from people. I hadn't heard the story before, but it makes for a interesting backdrop for this song.

Couple(t)s is an interesting folk album. It has songs with great music and vocals with some fun and, indeed, quirky lyrics. The goal for the album was to create songs that would “speak to people.” I think it did just that.

Couple(t)s is set to be released on June13th, 2025. It is available for pre-order at major music outlets and streaming services.

You will find more details on the album and the duo, Couldn't Be Happiers, at https://couldntbehappiers.com/

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