Biography
Hum are an American rock band formed in 1989 in Champaign, Illinois, when Matt Talbott and Andy Switzky met at a café in nearby Urbana.[2] Their lineup settled around Talbott on guitar and vocals, Tim Lash on guitar, Jeff Dimpsey on bass and Bryan St. Pere on drums.[2]
After the albums Fillet Show (1991) and Electra 2000 (1993), they signed to RCA and released You'd Prefer an Astronaut in 1995, which included their biggest hit, "Stars".[1][2] A follow-up, Downward Is Heavenward, arrived in 1998, and RCA dropped the band in 2000.[2] They split that year, reunited for occasional shows, and returned in 2020 with the surprise album Inlet, their first in 22 years.[2] Bryan St. Pere died in 2021.[2]
Their blend of heavy guitars, slow-moving dynamics and lyrics full of space and science imagery has made them an influential name in space rock and early American shoegaze.[6]
References
- You'd Prefer an Astronaut (Wikipedia) — Release date, label, personnel, singles, chart peaks, sales, critical reception and legacy
- Hum (band) (Wikipedia) — Band history from formation in Champaign through breakup, reunions and later albums
- Stars (Hum song) (Wikipedia) — Writing and recording context, radio and chart history, video, Cadillac commercial, covers and critical comparisons
- Hum reissues review (Post-Trash) — 2024 vinyl reissue review describing the sound and endurance of Stars
- You'd Prefer an Astronaut album retrospective (Consequence) — Shoegaze context, Cadillac ad, Chino Moreno influence