Customer Reviews

Hush

5 star:		(41)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Texas had been around as a group for eight years when their 1997 album "White On Blonde" really broke them into the mainstream, so the success must have been a great surprise and relief. That album made Texas the biggest band to come out of Scotland in years as millions of adoring British public snapped up a copy. The sound was very much pop/rock with some highlights of the fading Britpop that was slowly dying at the time. This sound is carried further with more R'n'B influences in their 1999 follow-up, "The Hush." The album features a lot of variety in terms of music and production. Also the album is somewhat more accessible than its predecessor.

The Hush went straight to No.1 in the UK upon its release, making it their second No.1 album. For me, this is a good follow-up album, but it doesn't nearly match the genius of White On Blonde. The Hush is a very contemporary album, which seems aimed more so at a mature audience of middle-aged women. That sounds a bit harsh, doesn't it? Especially considering Texas are one of the best and most cutting-edge bands to come out of Scotland in years. However, White On Blonde was fresh new and funky.

"In Our Lifetime" opens the album in superb fashion. A fantastic and traditional slice of pop perfection, this song became a huge hit in the spring of 1999 and had an eye-popping video to accompany it! The beats on this song are fresh, clean and open whilst Sharleen Spiteri's understated vocals work in delicious harmony with the up-tempo, happy feel to the song. "Tell Me The Answer" is a brilliant up-tempo song in which Sharleen attempts a high-pitched vocal effect. She pulls it off, but any more could be disastrous. "Summer Son" was the second single to be taken from this album in August 1999 and was another Top 5 hit for the band. The saucy video was racy and hot and totally banned from MTV UK throughout the day! Go Sharleen! The chiming beats on this song just sizzle and the rocky bridges make this one of Texas' best ever songs. "Sunday Afternoon" is a really chilled-out, laid-back mid-tempo track from Scotland's finest. Sharleen's vocals are soft whilst the piano works well too.

"Move In" is an average song, which features a more sexier vibe to Sharleen's voice. There is also a hint of R'n'B in the background. "When We Are Together" was the third single to be taken from this album back in the fall of 1999. The song starts off superbly and quietly before breaking out and totally assaulting your ears with the infectious beat. The melody and lyrical co-ordination of the composition is particularly memorable, whilst the swimming pool influenced video was one of my favourites for quite some time. "Day After Day" is an album highlight as Sharleen approaches her song in a classy and extremely sultry way. This is highlighted enormously by the brilliant violin in the background and the summery, dreamy beat that infects the song. "Zero Zero" is a fantastic interlude with an electronic kind of beat that separates and divides the album. It's a brilliant interlude and works in stark contrast to the ones we find on White On Blonde.

"Saint" is quite possibly one of the finest songs that the band have ever produced, with its chilled and picturesque mood. This song paints many vivid images in my mind of open landscapes and the beautiful Earth - I guess I'm just mushy like that! "Girl" is a Motown style up-tempo pop song, which places Sharleen's vocals at the forefront of the composition. The beat is striking and jumpy - very typical of the band, yet you couldn't see it coming. "The Hush," the album's title track has a hint of "Good Advice," the sultry track from the last album. The production here is really impressive as Sharleen's vocals echo all over the arrangement. "The Day Before I Went Away" is the album's true ballad, a slow and entrancing composition, it totally completes the album in the best way. Sharleen seems tired on this album, as if she's travelled a long road and has learned so much, yet has such a long way to go. The future is bright.

OVERALL GRADE: 9/10

I own four Texas albums - White On Blonde, The Hush, Greatest Hits and Careful What You Wish For. White On Blonde is easily Texas' greatest album, and one of the best albums I have ever listened to. Their latest effort, Careful What You Wish For, is a severely underrated masterpiece in the pop rock genre. This leaves the Greatest Hits which was one of 2001's biggest sellers, whilst The Hush is probably their 'worst' album, and I use the term 'worst' very lightly. The Hush is nothing short of a brilliant album that defines Texas as a band, yet it simply can't compete with it's genius predecessor or their latest gem. Still, if you want to listen to some superb mature pop music, buy this.

This is an amazing album. Instantly hits such as Summer Son, In Our Lifetime and When We Are Together stand out. Then further listening, oth tracks begin to emerge such as Move In, Sunday Afternoon, Saint, Day After Day. Sharleen Spiteri's voice is lush, and the music has originality. I can see the 'Motownesqueness' of it, but that doesn't overpower it. It has it's own unique style, and it is a pleasant change from a lot of the bland music that is out at the moment. The songs are classy, and feel good, but are definitely not 'meaningless' - it is obvious that time has gone into the writing of the lyrics, and of the music. Sharleen really brings the songs to life, with her amazingly emotional vocals. Her voice can be powerful on one track, and yet whispery or smooth on other tracks. Her voice is one of the best in the music world. For most this is seen as a pop album - but I doubt very much whether it crosses Texas into the world of pop - to me this is neither rock nor pop, it is simply 'alternative'. Freshly alternative!

After making a comeback of dramatic proportions(at least in the UK) with 1997's flawless WHITE ON BLONDE, Texas followed up with this project, which leaned even more heavily on smooth pop/R&B production that first surfaced on said last album. In the process, they have jettisoned whatever rock edges were prevalent on the previous album, and focused more on their classic pop sensibilities, to great effect. Though I don't think this album matches the overall greatness of WHITE ON BLONDE, the album has a stronger cohesivesness due to the smooth production, and thus makes the album sound fairly seamless. Most of the tracks here are midtempo fare, of which highlights include 'In Our Lifetime(which, contrary to the Amazon website reviewer, sounds nothing like TLC's 'No Scrubs'-!?!?)and 'Day After Day'. The best track on the album, however is 'When We Are Together', a could-have-been lost Motown masterpiece and sonic sequel to 'Black-Eyed Boy' that moves along with beautiful urgency. It goes without saying that Sharleen Spiteri continues to amaze, showing great range of emotion on all the tracks, as her voice moves from full-bodied to a sultry Prince-like falsetto(specifically on 'Tell Me The Answer' and 'Move In'). One can only hope that at some point the US will realize what they've been missing out on.

There's one thing you can always say about Texas - never underestimate them. That so many people do is why White On Blond came from nowhere to become, quite possibly, the most accomplished album of 1997. In spite of that awe-inspiring album, and as succesful as it was, people still thought nothing of them for two years. Now, The Hush has arrived with minimal fanfare and is, whilst not the best of the year, certainly one of the most comfortable, developed and secure sounding albums you'll ever hear.

Spiteri and Co. have found the music they've always wanted to make and work it to breaking point. The evolution from Southside to WoB to this is so obvious you'll wonder why you didn't see it coming. Listen to Summer Son and you'll hear Abba bubbliness mixing with Springsteen grit. Move In is Motown smoothness combined with Spice Girl sass. Day After Day is every beautiful emotion you've ever felt sung by the voice of an angel. Spiteri of course takes centre stage on all of them but after hearing the songs you wouldn't have it any way. Whether breathing the words on the title track or piercing them into you on Tell Me The Answer she remains the glue that keeps the tracks together. And yet listen to Saint. This one track is quite possibly the finest song they've ever produced and is the combination of all the bands efforts. That should serve to remind people that although Sharleen gets all the press she's merely the most visible member of an extremely accomplished band that are making the music they want to and are damn good at it.

Blasphemous as this will sound I don't think the album is as good as WoB. That album was almost musical perfection and the majority of tracks here are just slightly weaker. There isn't a single bad track but there's no Halo or Black Eyed Boy to rush the adrenalin, no Put Your Arms Around Me to sway to or Polo Mint City to chill to.

Not that it really matters. Texas are the band that will push British pop music into the next millenium. Not Steps, Billie or anyonee else. They're as essential to the genre as Madonna and they're finally doing what they've always wanted to. The future is bright. The future is Hushed.

whether you prefer old or new texas, it does not matter - this is some of the most life affirming music you will never tire of experiencing. new fans that discovered texas through white on blonde please go out and get southside, mothers heaven and ricks road-you will not be disappointed. and all you old timers-give white on blonde, the hush, and be careful what you wish for a chance- once you get through what at first listen is all glittery candy the ole comforting texas blanket will enfold you.

I dont want to talk about money, or something else (about the change of music between ricks road and white on blonde), I could call it "evolution", they just decided to update their music, I see no crime. MAybe the change was a bit too fast, but this is the way things are. Ricks road is a superb album, and the hush (after white on blonde) gave us a different Texas (not better not worse, just different). Nice production, electropop sounds, the blues influences are long gone, electronic arrangements, the guitar is no longer the star in Texas sound. The result is a pleasant one anyway, the melodies have the right arrangements, above all....they sound natural.
You have been warned, but I will never regret I bought it.

Why is a band from Scotland named Texas, and why do they sound like Motown? Who knows? Who cares? This is a brilliant album. I've played it straight through over and over, and I'm by no means done with it. The sound is lush, yet has an edge. Just as you think you're floating in a big gooey marshmallow of retro sweetness and lilt, an undercurrent of dissonance looms into consciousness. It may take a try or two to listen beyond the confectionary dazzle of the surface style, but don't slack it -- the core is just as cunning as the candy coating. This music is full of ideas, subtle and canny. "Saint" is the jewel, the one with the heart-gripping lyrics, and the whole setting is pure gold. A wonderful album, start to finish.

Reading all the reviews to-date indicates divergent opinions, mostly favorable. The detractors seem to yearn for the raw-er, less commercial sounds of previous albums, and resent Texas' reinvention of themselves as a main stream pop band. Sorry - I'm afraid that's their prerogative. I like the album just fine, and, as a hot-blooded male, not the least because of the bubbling sexuality percolating just underneath the surface. It's ebullient, cleverly blending the familiar with original ideas, making its appeal quite irresistible. Very well thought-out, not over-produced or over the top. The way it pays tribute to significant musical roots from Motown to Prince without resorting to directly ripping these artists off is admirable. My favourite tracks (besides the hit single Once In A Lifetime) are Saint, When We Are Together, Day After Day (although I kind of wished Sharleen would have sung a little more right on pitch; it's sung with feelings alright, but it's JUST a little off in places), and Girl (tender girl-power tribute to Lauryn Hill!). This is not deep music, but we can't all listen to Mahler or Coltrane ALL the time. I highly recommend it.

This CD replaces Sarah's SURFACING as my favorite make-out CD. :)~ From beginning to end I love all of the well produced arrangements that Sharleen lays here beautiful vocals over. I can't help but always skip to my favorite song, "Saint"..wow! I'm not sure who wrote the songs but I love the lyrics on this album.."grown ups don't know how to dream anymore, their head's in the sand and they choose to ingnore it all." If you even half way liked WHITE ON BLONDE (with the amazing "Put Your Arms Around Me"~another example of fantastic lyrics) then you'll love THE HUSH. My other favs are "Day after Day" and "The Day Before I Went Away"...how can you not love a song that starts out "You know I'm needing you for so much pleasure, I'm always wanting you to take me there." ?????? BUY IT!!! (For fans of TEXAS, check out "Like Lovers(Holding On) on the Titan A.E. soundtrack. Another incredible Texas tune that I wish was on THE HUSH. The reviewer compared Texas to TLC and Prince but I haven't heard anyone that sounds like they do. My absolute favorite music group.

Yes, some people really loved the country/blues rock of Texas' 3 first albums. I can't believe Texas made the dramatic change into ordinary synth pop of their own will (at least, entirely). It was about money, I suspect. As is easy to see by reading these reviews, more people like modern "trip-hop", or whatever you want to call it, than close-to-the-Earth rock Texas used to make.

From my point of view they sold themselves, as their "Rick's Road" album (for example) is far superior musically. Then again, can 10.000.000.000 flies be wrong: s**t is good! The Hush isn't bad, even less "s**t". It just isn't what Texas was at their best. Only one song really moves me and that's "Saint" - a masterpiece.

People have different tastes and in a commercial world, that's what rules, no matter how little may some of us like it. Still, I recommend "Southside" and "Rick's Road" if you wish to hear Texas at their best.