Hem

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Number of Discs: 1
• ASIN: B000066RLI
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (66 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #226,322 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
It's written into the logic of creativity that something like urban clatter and din can create calm. That's Hem. The Brooklyn quartet makes acoustic latticework of guitars, mandolins, piano, an array of orchestral instruments, and the floating voice of Sally Ellyson, which is equally suited to whisper-quiet tunes like the brief opener, "Lord, Blow Out the Moon Please," as it is to "Stupid Mouth Shut" and the band’s boisterous rendition of "The Cuckoo." Hem’s mellowness follows a post-punk New Age bend in the neo-folk road (especially on the sentimental "Burying Song"), but mostly the lyrics recall early Cowboy Junkies, the Hank Dogs, and the Be Good Tanyas. "All That I’m Good For" combines pedal steel with a full complement of strings to create an almost Lambchop level of rustic richness-—while Ellyson’s voice goes from absolute glassy-lake calm to heights Sarah McLachlan would recognize. --Andrew Bartlett

Q Magazine October 2001
Gorgeous debut from alt-folk New Yorkers

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Just lovely, February 12, 2004

By	Elliott Brown (San Francisco) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Rabbit Songs (Audio CD)

I bought this album as a present for a friend of mine who loves to sing along with Gillian Welch, Norah Jones, Joni Mitchell, and the Indigo Girls, but I ended up keeping it for myself.

Saddled firmly in the beautiful space between country, folk, and bluegrass, the meloncholy songs on this album continually please. Sally Ellyson's breezy vocals set the tone for a consistently strong, but delicate album. As far as instrumentation goes, most of the songs are centered on piano or acoustic guitar, but they are wonderfully layered with fiddle, lap steel, and orchestral flourishes. The musicianship is top notch -- and I can't help wondering whether these guys spend more time in Nashville than their stated home of Brooklyn.

The lyrics are simple and heartbroken. Solid for the genre, but neither an asset nor a distraction.

Of the selections Amazon lets you try out, "When I
was Drinking" and "Half Acre" are the most consistent with what the rest of the album has to offer. Give those a listen, and it should be pretty easy to make up your mind. If you're anything like me (or my poor friend who gets no present), Rabbit Songs will become part of your collection.

One small caveat: the reason I gave this album four stars instead of five is because it's not for everyone. If you're into this genre, you'll definitely like it, but I know a lot of people who would be bored or put off by its slowness. Also, there are better albums that are very similar to this one (Gillian Welch's "Soul Journey," for example).

Still, if you like your music like a pretty morning sunrise, go no further.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gentle Rain, September 14, 2002

By	Lee Armstrong (Winterville, NC United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Hem's "Rabbit Songs" is a beautiful mix of soft gentle melodies that soothe and lull you. At the same time, there's a lyrical edge as in "When I Was Drinking," "When I was with you living it up when the rent was due." Dan Messe's piano on "Halfacre" gives a sweet undulation, "So we carry every sadness with us." "Burying Song" is a lovely instrumental that flits by quickly. Sally Ellyson's vocals are soft and beautiful like a high flying bird on "Betting On Trains," "I held a silver dollar tight inside my fist & let you go." There is a classic feel to "Leave Me Here" with the yin and yang of a happy piano and sad viola. "I got shadows snapping at my tail who say I'm no damn good," Sally sings on "All That I'm Good For," with its feel like a gentle rain. "Idle (The Rabbit Song)" gives a carefree feel, "Gonna waste some time with you & let this world go." Part of the magic Hem creates comes from its sterling attention to the arrangements. On "Stupid Mouth Shut" we hear viola, cello, clarinet, flute, oboe, piano, guitar, and pedal steel guitar! "Lazy Eye" is a sentimental remembrance, "I can still see the hem of your dress." "Salior" is a dreamy float made magical with Tim McCarthy's french horn wafting over the clouds. "Polly's Dress" is a pretty instrumental piano piece. My favorite track is Steve Curtis' "Night Like A River" with the happy pluck of strings, "I could live a long while on the sweetness of her breath." Hem does a great reading on the traditional song "The Cuckoo." The instrumental "Waltz" is a very dear reflective piece with Meese's piano and Heather Zimmerman's violin. The CD concludes with "Horsey," "You float over everyone in your rings and your wing-tip shoes." "Rabbit Songs" is a delightful CD because it is both well done and different; it feels old and new at the same time. This is one for the quiet moments. Enjoy!

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Grace and brilliance, February 2, 2003

By	Alex Junaid "College Arty Type" (Denver, CO) - See all my reviews

Sally Ellyson's heavenly voice, unaccompanied, quietly singing a lilting lullabye opens the masterpiece of an album that is Rabbit Songs.

The remainder of the album paints a haunting picutre with mixed musical influences. If I had to classify, I'd be most tempted to file this one under country, but it's a far cry from Shania Twain. Folk, gentle pop, bluegrass and even some moderate rock all spill into the stew as well.

Ellyson's smooth, almost smoky vocal sings out lilting tales of lost loves ("When I Was Drinking," "Lazy Eye", almost loves ("Stupid Mouth Shut") and current loves ("All That I'm Good For," "Idle"). The lyrics spawn some memorable images ("I'm not so strong out of my shoes / dragging like anchors" - from 'Sailor,' "restless stars through the trees / enough to fall to our knees / make no sound so no one sees" - from 'Idle'), and definitely aren't anything close to bad, but in the same breath, they're not the star of the show.

The music succeeds, more than the lyrics, in creating the albums colour. Most songs rely on a piano and/or acoustic guitar, usually with some gorgeous horns or strings and some light percussion backing them up. "When I Was Drinking," "Horsey" and "All That I'm Good For" have a definite twang to them; "The Cuckoo" could've been on the 'O Brother Where Art Thou' soundtrack; "Leave Me Here," "Sailor" and "Lazy Eye" are sublimely slow numbers and "Stupid Mouth Shut," "Night Like a River" and the absloutely fantastic "Half Acre" have a more folk/pop flavour, through all of which floats the beautiful vocal.

There are also three instrumental tracks. "Burying Song" has some light, plucked guitar, countered with an oboe, a violin, a flute and some piano. "Polly's Dress" is a shy, piano driven number with a supportive string arrangement. "Waltz" is also piano driven with a violin lead and is somwhat somber and moody.

This is not loud, abrasive or anything like that, but if you're a fan of softer music, you'd do well to give this a spin. The band has created a beautiful, haunting peice of work, and I for one, eagerly await their follow-up.