Humming

Duncan Sheik

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 6, 1998)
• Original Release Date: October 6, 1998
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Atlantic / Wea
• ASIN: B00000D9WE
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #6,444 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
"Barely Breathing," the hit single from Duncan Sheik's 1996 debut, remained on the charts for a record-breaking 55-week spell, but his follow-up album is far from being the sequel to those tortured love songs. This time Sheik visits his art-rock influences with an honesty far more brutal than emotional. With the studio as his playground, he toys with layers of strings, meticulous arrangements, and that familiar, almost haunting voice to create songs--like "Nothing Special" and "Bite Your Tongue"--that say as much about Sheik's own backlash against his romantic image as the larger social issues he's addressing. Humming, laced as it is with anger, is refreshing in its bite. It's not an easy first listen, but that's the whole point. --Rebecca Wallwork

The New York Times
Mr. Sheik's beautifully orchestrated meditations suggest that pop can still aspire to a lofty, searching classicism.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I justified it then, i may well justify forever..., December 31, 1999

By	Erin Kathleen (Donegal, Ireland) - See all my reviews

What can u say about an album such as this. To start off, if absolutely..gorgeous. On, "Humming", Duncan Sheik uses an impressive number of instruments to convey his emotions, and does it with absolute beauty. While listening to these songs, I find that it is not hard to "get into them", as previous reviewer's have stated, in fact I feel quite the opposite! Listen to this CD when your alone, and turn it up loud. After that, just let your mind drift through the breath-taking melodies, of songs like "In Between" and "That says it all." (My favourite song, is Everything to Everyone by the way.) With his strong, yet gentle voice, Duncan Sheik manages to charm me once again, although this is a far more, "deep," album than his first. His tribute to Jeff Buckley on, "A body goes down" clearly demonstrates the eerie strings, and soft voice Duncan uses so well. This is, without hesitation, the absolute best album that Ive ever heard. Bravo Duncan!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sheik offers sweet, smooth moods, September 26, 2004

By	Moven (Ann Arbor, Michigan) - See all my reviews

I loved Sheik's debut album. There's something comforting about his watery voice. On his first album, he knocked me out with Barely Breathing and the enchanting She Runs Away, but Sheik offers something different on Humming. I consider this album one of my classics. Sheik paints a drury portrait of life just out of the sun's warm reach. It's a step just outside the realm of peaceful optimism that sends the listener into a state of thoughtful self-reflection. Sheik's voice is sweeping, biting and occasionally sardonic in its tone and scope, and I never get sick of hearing it. It's just so surreal to listen to someone I can relate so easily to. I actually enjoy the simplicity of Sheik's vague philosophizing. Besides, to a certain extent, isn't that what we all do, all day?

Favorites of mine here are In Between; That Says It All; Everyone, Everywhere; Nothing Special; and House Full of Riches. Regardless, Humming is a load, play, and eject piece of art... there's never a reason to skip around. Beautiful.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I justified then, I may well justify forever.., January 4, 2000

By	Erin Kathleen (Donegal, Ireland) - See all my reviews

Brilliant. This is by far the most enchantingly beautiful CD that I've bought. Duncan has indeed done it again. His strong, yet gentle voice paired with the written word, and music arrangements fit for a king, make this, by far, the most enjoyable CD I own. There is nothing about it that I don't like. While listening to these 11 songs, I find it utterly impossible not to enter into a state of reflection. The music is so calming, but packs such a message, that one cannot go wrong with buying it. Although this CD is nothing like his first, self titled album, "Duncan Sheik," it is a gem in its own right. Duncan stands alone in his sound, but, can aptly be compared with the late Jeff Buckley, who was tributed in the track, "A body goes down." Truly worth the buy, this haunting CD will please you over and over again. Bravo Duncan, the world is indebted to you for giving us such a remarkable accomplishment. "You ARE something special!" Bravo!