Hum – You’d Prefer an Astronaut
A wastey, wild record which conjures up relations to the likes of The Posies Frosting on the Beater and Pavement’s Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain. A nutty ride for sure.
As always, I was introduced to this via my co-writing partner in crime Robbie Jadowski, and assured this would be a ‘new found love’ of mine. I approached this 9 track album with caution – so often many of us fall into the ever deceiving first listen love trap – and that’s because its new, it’s a taste of something varied, and the idea of the unknown is one that captures our definite curiosity without fail. Second run-throughs have always taught us different. Ever gone back to an album and wondered what the hell ever made you buy it? I think that’s what kept me on my toes. However, Hum seemingly crammed 9 anthems onto one beautiful blend of dusty guitars and cold vocal work.
Matt Talbott and Stephen Malkmus (Pavement) share a similarity somewhere within the attitude of it all – both possessing the singing voice of men who daren’t come across as either enjoying themselves or giving a shit about what they have to say – although both somehow managing to convey the strongest of passions through their music. Pavement’s Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain – a record released in 1994, approximately a year prior to You’d prefer an Astronaut – delivers similar vibes in many ways, yet certain tracks set the two mountains apart. ‘Why I Like The Robins’ is one of those that create a division – opening with an animated riff proving to have equal qualities to that of a tornado; jerking the listener from their every day mundane existence and throwing them about relentlessly until they begin to see life for what it truly is; a rollercoaster.
You’d prefer an Astronaut is a record with its very own spirit. It’s a dynamic, exuberant, and at times frenzied collection of passionate, thought-provoking musical journeys. Track number 2 ‘The Pod’ is a rare slice of 90’s attitude which represents something so genuine that efforts to re-create it would only end in failure. It’s a perfect homage to the time of its production, and acts as a time machine for those who are familiar with the era. At times the record sports a contradicting mixture of noises – the deadpan, cold-blooded vocal style of lead singer Matt Talbott combined with the furious, polluted guitar riffs.
Without a shadow of any doubt, You’d prefer an Astronaut is an album to get listeners amped; The tracks able to spark up the kind of legendary crowd every band dreams to perform for. The album, lasting an entirety of 45 minutes, managed to grip hold of me for the whole duration and leave me dry mouthed towards the end, anticipating the next time I would be able to hear the same electric winds roll by.
It’s a purposeful, angst-sodden and quite frankly potent piece of artwork. Check it out if you’re a 90’s nut, or if you just love music that gets you movin’.
– Luke Bartlett
The Two-Way Radio 