Customer Reviews

No Word From Tom

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3 star:		(2)
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It's easy to dismiss an album of covers, demos, outtakes and live tracks when it follows a small body of original, distinctive work.

But that is precisely the reason to embrace No Word From Tom. Hem, an eight-piece collective from Brooklyn, N.Y., has found a way to extend the charm previously exhibited on two acclaimed albums, the folky Rabbit Songs and polished Eveningland.

Perhaps Hem's biggest asset is the exquisite voice of Sally Ellyson. She uses it to elevate memorable compositions by Dan Messe. Live renditions of "Betting on Trains" and "All That I'm Good For" soar as Ellyson takes advantage of slow tempo and fresh arrangements to weave a lush vocal tapestry. She continues to work her magic on "Cincinnati Traveler," which was originally released as an instrumental.

When Ellyson auditioned for the band, she gave Messe a "lullaby tape," featuring a cappella versions of traditional songs. Several of those gems have been re-recorded. Two of them - one with added guitar and harmony vocals - shine here.

Covers include a honky-tonk classic ("Crazy Arms") and an R.E.M. standard ("South Central Rain").

What is appealing about Hem is the band's affection for traditional American music. What is impressive is the band's willingness to experiment by combining traditional themes with contemporary arrangements. The songs on this CD are bits of Americana, enhanced by diverse instrumentation.

Fans of Hem will find this collection enchanting. But those looking for an introduction to the band might do well to pick up one of the full-length studio albums that inspired it.

You might have shied away from Hem's CDs titled "Rabbit Songs" or "Eveningland" - perhaps you might have expected slow, dull, sleepy music. Hem's music is quiet, but it is melodic, tuneful and uplifting. Sally Ellyson sings clearly, emphasizing each syllable, like a mother singing to her child. She emphasizes the beauty of the music. Instrumentation includes mandolin, pedal steel and violin, occasionally backed by a full orchestra.
"No Word from Tom" is an odds-and-ends collection of live songs, outtakes and cover song. Some of the covers work well - Hem adds a Cowboy Junkies groove to "Rainy Night in Georgia" and they perform a straight delightful country rendition of "Crazy Arms." But, to these ears, Hem's versions of "So. Central Rain (Sorry)" (REM) and "Radiation Vibe" (Fountains of Wayne) lack the urgency of the originals.
If you are new to Hem, I recommend starting with the "Eveningland" CD featuring the uplifting "Dance With Me" or the "Rabbit Songs" CD. But if you are already a Hem listener, you'll appreciate this collection.

This is one of those "not-quite new albums" that recording artists occasionally release to plug a gap while touring and/or working on a forthcoming opus: live versions of their own previously recorded songs; tracks that didn't make the final cut of the previous album; fragments and covers, odds and ends. As a representative of its kind, "No Word From Tom" holds up as a pleasant and surprisingly seamless (I'm trying *hard* to stay away from the sewing puns) collection -- if there are things here that don't quite sink in and stay with you, there's certainly nothing painful. On a good night, this group can be a mesmerizing live act, and also an enterprising and inventive one in terms of adapting its often heavily instrumented concoctions to the limitations of a small-group live performance. The four "Rabbit Songs" tracks that get the in-concert treatment here may make some fans wish for a full-length live disc or DVD. Both "All That I'm Good For" and "Betting On Trains" surpass their familiar studio versions on the strength of the greater assurance and confidence of Sally Ellyson's singing, as well as more vibrant recorded sound ("Rabbit Songs" had a slight bleariness to its recording quality; its rawness appealed to some, but the live versions point out that it's not the only way to hear these songs). Elsewhere, there are expanded versions of a couple of the short instrumentals heard between tracks on "Eveningland" (including a "Cincinnati Traveler" with words); a not-quite-finished outtake from same album; another a capella selection from Ms. Ellyson's audition tape; and a guitar/mandolin-backed alternative version of "Lazy Eye," this author's favorite track from the debut disc. The covers are of greater interest -- characteristically wide-ranging in their selection, if, more often than not, pleasantly predictable in their execution. Hem has previously draped its relaxed, understated, lulling Americana velvet over songs by everyone from Elvis Costello to Bruce Springsteen (odd that "Valentine's Day," a comparative rarity available via download, isn't on this disc) to Johnny and June Carter Cash; here, the same treatment is given to Brook Benton ("Rainy Night in Georgia") and R.E.M. (a gorgeous "South Central Rain" that alone is worth the price of purchase). The group flirts with more of a pop approach on Fountains of Wayne's quirky "Radiation Vibe," and gives a surprisingly wholehearted embrace to honky-tonk on "Crazy Arms" (chiefly associated with Patsy Cline, but no doubt done by others), on which Ellyson foregoes her usual seductive murmuring and insinuating and comes as close as she ever does to really belting one out. This collection would not be the best buy for a newcomer, and some of the faithful may grumble that it's a little early in Hem's career for a "filler album"; but for most of us, it will do until the real thing comes along, as they say.

I really hate that this band is referred to as country, I do not like the country music of today. It is so contrived and to me sounds like pop music with a twang. Now don't get me wrong, some of thier songs certainly do have a twang, but it is more like that of the country of old...sort of reminicent of Patsy Cline. I like to think of Hem as more of a Progressive Folk band or Americana...but I am tempted not to catagorize them at all. With all that said, I love Hem. Sally Ellyson's voice is hypnotic. This compilation is wonderful as are all of their other works. Every album of their's is absolutely worth buying. If you don't have a lot of extra cash lying about though, I would say get this particular album. Why you ask, because it has a little bit of everything. But you will also have to get rabbit songs as it has Halfacre on it which is not to be missed. I love the arrangement on this album, it seems to just flow like honey from heaven. I am lulled into such a peaceful state listening to song after beautiful song on this thankfully long album. As a little aside, the song titled "ALL THAT I'M GOOD FOR" was written about a dog. When I heard that little tidbit of info, I made it a point to really listen to the lyrics. Sure enought it fits. I started the song on my cd player, grabbed my old hound dog curled up with her and sang the song to her and got teared up a little bit. Ok, now go buy the album and sing to your pets. They and Hem will surely love you for it.

It was in a hippie shop on Ocracoke island (NC) that I first heard this music. It was playing overhead, and when I inquired, the shop owner (bassett hound at his heels) showed me the disc and also played some tracks from Rabbit Songs. But No Word From Tom (more than their other works) just has a gorgeous, moody, smoky-pub, deceptively simple, bluesy-girl-with-a-guitar sound that makes one mellow-out. The lyrics and melodies will make you think that all the songs are from the "Tennessee Waltz" era and locale, but the instrumentals and vocals are beautifully fresh. And I can't stop listening to Sally's sweet, husky, subtle voice.

I was surprised (and a bit deflated) to find they are from Brooklyn and not a local Blue Ridge group as I was certain from the sound that they must be. (Not from Asheville?!?) But if they're really from New York, where did Sally get her "y'all"?

No Word from Tom is a country and folk infused compilation slowly swaying in a hammock of peaceful contemplation. If you are looking for a peaceful escape with a soothing voice and breezy lyrics, then this will be a dreamy retreat from the stress of life.

When you hit Eveningland, you may imagine your CD player has changed CDs and is now playing a dreamy soundtrack to a romantic movie. The music then returns to Sally Ellyson's dreamy voice mingling with magical lilting phrases.

If you enjoy Dar Williams, Catie Curtis, Sheryl Crow, KT Tunstall, Jane Siberry or Jewel this might appeal to you.

~The Rebecca Review

Sally Ellyson's singing is as beautiful as she is. Her rendition of Rainy Night in Georgia is the best I have ever heard. She has a gentle etherial quality to her voice that is unique and endearing. Lovely interplay with the group.

I discovered HEM in order of their released albums, starting with Rabbit Songs and then continuing on with Eveningland. If you, like me, own both of those albums already, I honestly wouldn't bother with No Word From Tom. I'd say at least half the CD is tracks from Eveningland and the rest is covers. It's not worth it.

I just saw them in concert last night and they mentioned that they were just in the recording studio for 6 weeks. If you are a diehard fan like I am just wait for this completely new album instead of investing in a half album.

This was my first purchase of music by this group. I was very pleased and would rate it a 4 1/2.

I am a huge Hem fan but hearing this album makes me really appreciate them even more. The live songs are worth having and they were recorded as well as the studio songs. The covered songs here are great too. This album seems to have more of a variety of sound and mood to it. I instantly loved it.