The Happiness Playlist

‘The Happiness Playlist' is a strange title for a book that is ultimately about grieving. But it works. Like so many things Mark Mallman does, it seems strange at first, but in the end, it works. You don't necessarily know HOW it works, but it does. That's the magic of Mallman.

My buddy, Scot, introduced to me to Mallman many years ago. He'd seem him a few times around Minneapolis and told me, “You've got to see this guy.” Eventually, I did. My first Mallman show was at First Ave. in Minneapolis. It was a sight to behold. Mallman occupies musical space somewhere between Frank Zappa and the Muppets. He's not a comedy artist, but there's a humor to his performances. He's not overly-serious, but he definitely holds music as sacred. He is a genius on outlier, somehow remaining relevant, but on the fringe on a constant basis.

It took me exactly .03 seconds to become his fan. I have all his records. I've seen him live maybe fifteen or twenty times now. I've seen him play large venues and small. He never phones it in. He always delivers. When he announced his memoir, ‘The Happiness Playlist,' I knew I'd read that, too.

Plagued by anxiety that stems from grief over the loss of his mother in 2013, Mark is seeking a cure. Could music succeed where proscription drugs and sleep research have failed? That's the basis for this short memoir.

Mallman writes like he's writing lyrics. The sentences are short and punchy. They move rapidly from space to space. There's something musical about his words. It's not the jazz-rhythm riffs of Kerouac or Ginsberg, though. It's different. It's Mallman music. Somewhere between rock and metal, touches of glam, but ultimately simple and likeable when you really look at it.

The healing road is not an easy journey. Mallman is not the first musician to write about grief. He won't be the last. Grief is one of those universals that we'll never nail down because it is so intrinsic and so personal. We all struggle with loss differently.

But, as Mark learns, music makes it more palatable. And music makes life more worthwhile.