Hum Resources

Category:
Rock

Try if you like:
Jawbox, My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive, Smashing Pumpkins

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Official Hum Website

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Hum - Downward Is Heavenward

Album Details

Artist: Hum
Album: Downward Is Heavenward
Label: RCA
Year of Release: 1997
ME Rating: Indie Classic
Reviewed by: Dennis Scanland on 2007-03-21
Viewed: 1126 times

Media

Ms. Lazarus (demo)

Recommend

You want a long lost classic? Look no further than Downward Is Heavenward. Hum has a little success with their album You'd Prefer An Astronaut and the single "Stars" but I think it was Downward Is Heavenward where they really started firing on all cylinders. If you are unfamiliar with their sound you have to know that Hum was able to take such influences as early Smashing Pumpkins (who later turned around and used Hum as an influence) and My Bloody Valentine to really blend their own style creating a wall of guitar sound with some very pleasant and accessible vocals. Matt Talbott's voice really stands out as one of the bands strongest features. To really get a sense of this check out the lovely "Ms. Lazarus". The guitars are a close second to Talbott's wonderfully unique voice. Really, the best part about Hum is the dynamics they are able to perform. "Afternoon With Th Axolotls" starts out ever so gentle and then rises to a cacophony of sound without really getting "loud". "Dreamboat" is another fine moment on Downward. Really, Hum needs to be heard either on a stereo with the volume cranked or a pair of really good headphones. It needs your full attention to get the full experience. I think that is why people didn't get this album. They were looking for a radio hit which is not here. This is a complete album that needs to be listened from beginning to end, undisturbed. Oh, Billy Corgan owes a lot to Hum. Find this album now!

This was sadly their last album. Talbott went on to form a band called Centaur, which I still haven't managed to find their sole album In Streams.

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Rating: 9.2/10
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on 2009-04-09 SolitaryMan Said:

I have a feeling I would have enjoyed this band/album had I come across them some years ago, but that doesn't detract much from how good I think this album is. Comparisons to the Pumpkins are justified but Hum brings more technical prowess, and dirge-like songwriting, and when you couple those assets you get a very spacey, progressively-tilted and crushing album. Thanks for the rec Dennis, took me awhile to check it out but it was worth it.
Rating: 8/10

Review:

on 2007-04-13 christopherdrew Said:

'Downward Is Heavenward' is indeed a classic. Sci-fi lyrics without becoming too prog, and a guitar distortion mixed with hooks and melody that equal (if not outright DSTROY) anything that the Pumpkins were putting out then. I still listen to this album and get shivers.
Rating: 10/10