I'm not sure how many of us remember this band's video for a song called "stars" way back in 1995, but for those of us who did see it, it most likely left a lasting impression. What i remember of was an all out barage on the optical senses, with hard rockin' noise/core in the background. I promised myself i'd buy their album if i ever found it. I did eventually find "You'd Prefer an Astronaut" and although there were a couple of good songs, I was kinda let down. However, I did see enormous amounts of potential for Hum, and i knew I would probably get their next album simply because i like to throw in the occasional 'wierd' album with my growing collection of punk rock cd's, tapes, and records. After like 2 fuckin' years of searching for it used (I refuse to pay 20 bucks for a damn cd), i finally found "downward is heavenward" in Lexington Ky. This was what I was waiting for.

The cd is truley incredible. Hum combines hard rock, some emo(i hate that damn word) and maybe a little metal to create a very original style of alt rock. Their lyrics are intelligently written, the singer's voice is unlike any other band i've ever heard, and their music is tight, loud, and unique.

My three favorites are the upbeat, lighthearted "Ms.Lazarus", "Green to Me", which i'm pretty sure they made a video for, and the last track "The Scientist", which leaves you begging for more at the end. Most of the songs clock in at 4 to 6 minutes long, which is kinda rough on those of us used to the 2 1/2 minute punk song, but Hum makes it hard to notice.

If you're looking for a cd to add a little variety to your collection, "downward is heavenward" is the perfect fit. Their meloncholy hard rock is just right for those days when you're not feeling up to speed with NOFX and Propagandhi.