Customer Reviews

Electra 2000

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

i heard Hum's You'd Prefer An Astronaut about 2 1/2 years ago. it didnt take me very long to fall in love with it. Hum has quickly become my favorite band. but i never expected anything as good as this record. i cant tell you how incredible it is. they have the most perfect, complete songs that you can imagine. every instrument is carefully placed to create an enormous and dense sheet of musical matter. Matt Talbot's vocals are sincere and touching, while his screams are intense and moving. Diffused, Pewter and Double Dip are three of the most beautiful, yearning and agonizing songs i have ever heard. but at the same time its also a fun listen, with great space rock, like Winder and Iron Clad Lou. A word of warning: although this album is a bit better than its follow up cd, Astronaut, Matt Talbot hadnt yet developed his signature spacey/homey lyrics. some of the lyrics, especially those on Pinch and Roll, are a bit silly. but dont worry... you wont mind.

Yes production values are not 2004 Major label, they are 1992 Martian Go Home Indie label from Urbana, Ill. When this record came out, the sound was comparable to other bands emerging from this underground. Indeed, the Noise movement was burgeoning in the midwest right then, many wanted an Albini sound (very analog). As a radio programmer then i found the writing and chunk values high on WINDER and Iron Clad Lou.

Lo these 12 years later we can laugh at the quaintness of the understated vocal approach. I met these guys, and it is no act- they are really meek guys, but their sound would kick you in the chest. Also, remember, THIS IS THE RECORD THAT GOT THEM THE MAJOR LABEL DEAL- so I guess the negative reviewers should second guess the execs.

Any fair analysis should include or atleast account for context. Basic, really.
ted offensive '04

Hum is the last of the great fuzz bands from the great state of Illinois. Unlike the Smashing Pumpkins, Hum stays with the ROCK sound, and they show it all off on Electra 2000. This guitar heavy album shows what some guys can do with some good fuzz pedels and some smart songwriting. This album should be heard by everyone who likes the Smashing Pumpkins or Radiohead, because Hum knows how to rock. This album is the closest thing you can get to there amazing live show. BUY THIS ALBUM!!!!!!!

Originally released in 1993, independently, before Hum was signed to a label, this album showcases Hum's unique and dynamic sound, while showcasing Matt Talbott's amazing writing and singing ability. A firm beginning to what Hum would become, the songwriting is pure bliss, although it does not appeal to me as much as Hum's other albums, this is still a great staring point for any Hum fan, just be forewarned that it is not as easy to find outside of the internet as Hum's other albums are. You might have to order it through books a million or something like that ( I did). Standout tracks are double dip, iron clad lou, and many others. Hum, however, has not developed their spacey sound, as exhibited on their amzing You'd Prefer an Astronaut, but the lyrics are still pretty out there, well done overall though. Still deserves 5 stars in my book as Hum is one of those bands that CAN NOT be missed out on. Currently trying to find Glifted, National Skyline, and Castor, a couple other bands that fit into this type of sound, and some are off shoots of Hum, having members from this group, as well as others too.

I'd only heard bits and pieces of "Electra 2000" prior to buying it. When I found the reissue (which includes the bonus track, "Diffuse"), I was hooked from the very first time I listened to it. I'd already owned "You'd Prefer An Astronaut" and "Downward is Heavenward" for years, and both had always been on heavy rotation in my CD players, iPod, etc. "Electra 2000" joined that top tier of favorite albums the very day I bought it. Favorite tracks are "Pewter" and "Diffuse", though all are very good. Don't listen to anyone who gives this a bad review; of course it is not "You'd Prefer an Astronaut" or "Downward is Heavenward"... all three albums are different but with common threads among them, and all three are excellent. In my opinion, HUM never got nearly enough attention for their efforts; their work was amazing.

I actually purchased this CD a few months ago. I had already owned Astronaut and Downward when I made the purchase, and I was expecting Electra to be the typical early "early-days" record, where the band is still perfecting their sound, and the production isn't exactly immaculate. In fact, that's how it turned out. There's something to be said for that raw, underproduced sound, though. It's like comparing the skinny little freckle-faced girl next door to somebody like Pamela Anderson Lee. I, most definately, prefer the girl next door, because of her natural, honest appearance. That's how I feel about Electra 2000. It may not be the most glamorous-sounding record around, but it is beautiful because it has an undeniably honest sound to it.

This is HEAVY, so be careful. The riffs are HUGE and the songs are KILLER. This is not speed metal, thrash, hardcore or even emo. Its just good heavy alternative music. There is no CHEESE here, only MEAT. You can feel the PAIN along with the BASS in your speakers. The ORANGE cabinets and drop-tuned SGs feel me with glee as the album CHUGS along, CRUNCHing more with each song. And the vocals are RAW- No studio tricks here - just straight-up rock! So turn up the GAIN, CRANK the DISTORTION and BANG YOUR FILTHY HEAD!!!! They may be gone, but HUM still RULES - MUCH RESPECT

The early strums of guitar and bass on "Iron Clad Lou" might make you think you are listening to a band from Seattle in the early 1990s, but Hum created a sound in 1993 that was entirely their own. "Iron Clad Lou" was the perfect track to lead off "Elektra 2000." The song busts out into a full-fledged, tuned-down Black Sabbath-like rocker, complete with droning vocals by Matt Talbott, depressed lyrics and a simple riff that brings the message home. The flurry of repetitive guitars at the end of the song might be the heaviest two minutes ever layed to tape on a rock and roll record. "Pinch & Roll" keeps the rockin' vibe going, with its fast and punchy sound that Talbott enhances with his angst-ridden scream behind the microphone, which rivaled that of Kurt Cobain.

Yes, "Elektra 2000" is a much rawer, loose and rugged album than Hum would churn out in the future. But raw seems to fit this band like a glove. It's worth noting that Talbott's vocals on this album are probably the best of his career: He sounds loose, smooth, angry, groveled at times, loud and vengeful. In short, he was the Midwest's version of Kurt Cobain back in 1993.

"Elektra 2000" was recorded on the cheap, similar to Nirvana's Bleach of the same time period. Hum comparisons to early Nirvana and early Soundgarden (see Screaming Life/Fopp) are apt. This album is monochromatic, tuned down and heavy, just like those bands did it when they first started. Hum also released songs with abstract one-word titles so common of that era. Tunes like "Pewter" and "Scraper" might not sound inviting, but they are. This stuff is miles away from ultra-pleasing arena-ready rock, but that's what makes it so cool.

The surprise tune of the album might be the gentler, melodic "Double Dip," an atmospheric ditty with simplistic strums of the guitar that sound nice amid all the heavy rocking. Nonetheless, "Double Dip" eventually rocks out itself, proving that Hum, at least on their debut album, were incapable of not pumping up the amps with their brand of loud rock and roll.

The musicianship of Hum was impressive. Drummer Bryan St. Pere graced the album by pounding the snare, crashing the cymbals and expertly tapping the high hat in several songs. Tim Lash provided the simple but effective headbanging riffs, and added in a few background solos for good measure. Jeff Dimpsey chugged out the deep bass and Talbott was a special talent. Overall, Hum were a force in the '90s who sadly called it quits too soon.

This CD definintly defines heavy, not just in the raw sound, but in the emotional content. I highly recommend this CD as well as You'd Prefer an Astronaut.

This album rocks harder than all of their other albums, but may be a little sloppier and less produced. Some would say this is good, others not so good . Either way you look at it this is a definate for any "rocker" or curious where hum made their name.