Hem - Funnel Cloud
Hem is a band I just recently started listening to, probably in the last year. I first heard their cover of Fountains of Wayne's "Radiation Vibe" and I immediately was drawn to Sally Ellyson's voice. I picked up No Word From Tom which included several covers, and outtakes, and live recordings. I found it's really good music to relax to.
Now Hem's come out with Funnel Cloud, and I must say it's quite the musical dish. This time Hem is joined by a 21 piece orchestra, and even James Iha(!) on the guitars. I don't know which song or songs he's on, but Hem is a long way from his other bands (Smashing Pumpkins, a Perfect Circle). The songs all have a real folk sound, and the guitars and piano are hypnotic.
I can't really say there's any song I don't like on the CD, but there are a few that stand out. "We'll Meet Along the Way" opens the album, with a strong piano melody repeating as Sally tells the listener to "Go easy now." And I do. "Not California" has a strong, powerful chorus that I wish I could sing along with, but I don't have the voice.
Probably the song that rocks the hardest is "The Pills Stopped Working," which has a good bluesy sound. Sally sings "And I know that I don't belong with you, I know the pills stopped working for me, So if you want to set me up, I'll fall on my knees and fix what I have broke." I find I can really relate.
From what I've heard of Hem, none of their albums are complete without a lullaby, and "Great Houses of New York" fills the bill on Funnel Cloud. I can feel the sleep filling my eyes as the piano and orchestral accompaniment pull me under.
Though Sally Ellyson's voice is the strong point of the band, the subtle background vocals of Steve Curtis shouldn't be overlooked. His voice is barely noticable but gives the perfect counterpoint to Ellyson's yearnings. Not every song has vocals though, listen to the piano take over in the instrumental "The Burnt Over District."
Finally the album draws to a close as Ellyson sings alone, with a simple accompaniment how "Every night, open eyed, I wait for the sun, The world's too wide to bring me round, But I'm not sorry." It seems to come to soon, and I'm ready to go dig through their back catalogue to find albums I have missed.
For further reading:
Hem's homepage
All Music Guide's Hem entry
Wikipedia's Hem entry
Now Hem's come out with Funnel Cloud, and I must say it's quite the musical dish. This time Hem is joined by a 21 piece orchestra, and even James Iha(!) on the guitars. I don't know which song or songs he's on, but Hem is a long way from his other bands (Smashing Pumpkins, a Perfect Circle). The songs all have a real folk sound, and the guitars and piano are hypnotic.
I can't really say there's any song I don't like on the CD, but there are a few that stand out. "We'll Meet Along the Way" opens the album, with a strong piano melody repeating as Sally tells the listener to "Go easy now." And I do. "Not California" has a strong, powerful chorus that I wish I could sing along with, but I don't have the voice.
Probably the song that rocks the hardest is "The Pills Stopped Working," which has a good bluesy sound. Sally sings "And I know that I don't belong with you, I know the pills stopped working for me, So if you want to set me up, I'll fall on my knees and fix what I have broke." I find I can really relate.
From what I've heard of Hem, none of their albums are complete without a lullaby, and "Great Houses of New York" fills the bill on Funnel Cloud. I can feel the sleep filling my eyes as the piano and orchestral accompaniment pull me under.
Though Sally Ellyson's voice is the strong point of the band, the subtle background vocals of Steve Curtis shouldn't be overlooked. His voice is barely noticable but gives the perfect counterpoint to Ellyson's yearnings. Not every song has vocals though, listen to the piano take over in the instrumental "The Burnt Over District."
Finally the album draws to a close as Ellyson sings alone, with a simple accompaniment how "Every night, open eyed, I wait for the sun, The world's too wide to bring me round, But I'm not sorry." It seems to come to soon, and I'm ready to go dig through their back catalogue to find albums I have missed.
For further reading:
Hem's homepage
All Music Guide's Hem entry
Wikipedia's Hem entry
Labels: Fountains of Wayne, Hem, James Iha, Sally Ellyson, Steve Curtis
posted by Tom at 6:52 PM
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