Artist Biography
by Blake Butler
Endless feedback, a heavenly drone, and an obsession
with science and outer space: these three elements perhaps most define
the beautiful style that has become the trademark of the unmatchable
Hum. Despite a career marked with slight commercial successes, most obviously their 1996 radio hit "Stars,"
Hum have never quite been given the full attention and emphasis that they deserve.
Forming in 1989 in the now notorious musical region
of metro Illinois, more specifically in Champaign-Urbana, the band
released their first album,
Fillet Show, on the 12 Inch label created by a friend's band
the Poster Children.
This album displays a markedly different style from the feeling they
would later create, probably due to the lineup change that would soon
follow.
Poster Children members
Jeff Dimpsey and
Tim Lash took up bass and guitar responsibilities respectively, and
Hum, in their true form, released their last independent album,
Electra 2000, on the band's own label Martians Go Home.
Electra 2000's
somewhat rough production perfectly captured the spacy, other-worldish
sound of the band, but their greatest work was yet to come. The band
supported the album by touring with such pronounced indie acts as
Shellac,
the Jesus Lizard, and more well-known ones such as
the Smashing Pumpkins and
Liz Phair.
After signing to major label RCA in 1994,
Hum released their benchmark album
You'd Prefer an Astronaut, eventually selling nearly 250,000 primarily due to their breakthrough radio single "Stars." Subsequent touring with
Bush and
the Toadies
further pushed the band into somewhat of a spotlight, but due to the
short memory of popular music and the lack of understanding of the
public to such quirky and heartfelt music, this would be the pinnacle of
Hum's media attention. At this point,
Hum
had established a strong, somewhat underground and die-hard fan base
that realized just how incredible and endless their music was.
Four years passed with mouths watering between the release of their first major-label effort and 1998's
Downward Is Heavenward,
as the band took some time off to relax and incubate. This, their
fourth and sadly last album, was recorded twice, due to the band's
perfectionist tactics in the studio and their promise that every member
must love every part of every song. The wait was well worth the product,
as
Downward Is Heavenward is one of the most darkly romantic and timeless albums ever created.
Hum's
gorgeous, spacy, and limitless sound expand to new lengths; however,
those unfamiliar with the band remained so. The album sold poorly, only
38,000 copies in two years, and resulted in RCA's decision to drop them
from their roster. Further misfortune struck as their tour van was
destroyed in an accident while touring, essentially pounding the last
nail in the coffin.
