Search - Hush Sound :: Like Vines

Simply Incredible

Madison | Dreamland | 07/06/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Hush Sound is one of the best bands to emerge from the Chicago Music scene and they're better than most popular bands I can think of. Don't believe me? Listen to this album. "Like Vines" is one of the best cd's I own, it's definitely in the top 10, and I own around 500 CD's.



This album stands out not only because of it's unique style, but the musicianship, lyrics and attention to detail are also noticeable. The bass lines aren't that bad either. I'm obsessed with the bass lines, seriously. Normal people sing along to the lyrics, I hum along to the bass lines and have them stuck in my head the whole day.



1.We Intertwined- GREAT opening track by Bob Morris. It prepares the listener to the rest of the album by showing off the bands musical style, and lyrical style that relies heavily on imagery. The song, complete with trumpet and trombone, tells the story of a couple who share a romantic moment alone in a field; yea they're totally making out. Only we find out that this was a dream, as the lonely lover wakes up alone in bed clutching his pillow. This was actually based on a dream Bob had, and it features some sweet bass lines and a fantastically cheery piano part (that the bass player came up with) 9/10



2.A Dark Congregation- A wonderful song by Greta Salpeter. When you first listen to it, you instantly fall in love with it because it's so beautiful and upbeat with some of the best guitar work on the album (that adds SO much to the song by the way, along with the ) But when you sit down and read the lyrics, you realize that this is actually a sad song. This song is actually a description of a burial that sadly, Greta had to attend. First, she uses imagery so we see the setting in our minds, and then she describes her feelings as she's standing there watching. Good bass line too. 10/10



3.Sweet Tangerine- Another fantastic song by Bob. The song sounds sweet, and at first you think it's about a guy who made a mistake and is trying to get his girlfriend back. However after the first chorus, we start realizing there's something else going on. During an eerie brake in the song during the bridge Bob lets on, over Chris Faller's sweet bass line, that he's actually stalking this girl! *Gasp* This is why the Hush Sound is so great; their lyrics totally don't match the song, and that somehow works and adds to their unique style.



4.Lions Roar- Bob hits a home run with this song. Really, really, really good song that Bob must really be proud of. I wish I could say I wrote that song. Probably the most unique song on the album, its about a guy looking for a girl...at a circus? Yea, I don't get it either. Not everyone might like this song, but just wait till the "EVERYBODY STOP!" part cause the part that comes after that is incredible. I cannot even describe it. But I can describe the bass in that part. It's reeaaally good. I talked to Chris about it, cause I just knew he had used a fretless bass for that part cause it sounded sweeeet. Well, turns out he used his regular p-bass and he said he was proud of the sound he was able to get out of it. 10/10



5.Lighthouse- Ahh, finally! A song where the lyrics and music match! A truly beautiful song by the beautiful Greta, it tells a story of someone who's walking from a disaster, trying to find shelter. While she's walking, she tells a ghost story about a girl in a lighthouse. When she finally arrives at the lighthouse, which she thought would be her shelter, she finds nothing. It's a pretty sad song, so sad that Greta was hesitant about recording it but Bob, Chris and Darren were able to convince her other wise. This song will definitely haunt you. 10/10



6.Don't Wake Me Up- The first song I heard off this album, and just based on this song, I knew the album was going to be amazing. Great song by Greta, with additional vocals by Bob and producer Patrick Stump. Great beat, really really really good lyrics, amazing bass lines... I really do love the lyrics, about a girl who finds love in her dreams, which explains the title of the song. The lyrics and music match once again, as the verses are soft and the chorus comes in and wakes you up. 9/10



7.Where We Went Wrong- I really like this song by Bob. It's just a simple, chill song. The highlight of the song comes around halfway through, where Greta comes in with "Hey come back to me" and Darren echoes her "Baby come back to me" while Chris comes in with the "Ba ba-da"s and the song takes off from there with some pretty sweet drumming. 8/10



8.Magnolia- Another great song by Greta, similar to "Dark Congregation", as in it pairs sad lyrics with beautiful music that isn't all that sad. The music is sorrowful, but it also gives you a sense of hope. The lyrics are a bit vaguer than others, you only get a general idea of what the song is about and everyone will interpret and relate to it differently. 9/10



9.Wine Red- First single off the album, written by Bob and Greta. A hard song to describe, so I will only comment on a few things. First of all this is another song with great bass lines. Seriously. And the drumming ahhh I love Darren Wilson in this song mainly cause he totally rocks out when they're playing this song live. I also love it when Greta and Bob sing together. And the lyrics, wow are they good, mostly because of the story behind them. It's basically about something that's too beautiful to exist, like the Garden of Eden was said to be. Greta was studying Greek mythology and creation stories of different faiths at the time she wrote the lyrics so a lot of that is seen in the lyrics. The line "Death of beauty" was inspired by a girl that the band had all met who was viciously murdered. So again, sad song, happy music. 10/10



10.Out Through The Curtain- I love this song cause it's about how Bob was afraid of going outside cause he was afraid the bullies would beat him up. Haha so cute. But yea, this is definitely a song that everyone can relate to. The lyrics are just fantastic. I admire Bob for writing this song, cause even though I'm a girl, it would be hard for me to admit these things even to myself, let alone the whole world. Again, really really really really really good bass lines in this song. 9/10



11.You Are The Moon- A great album closer. I wish I could say I composed this song. Greta is just amazing (and she just graduated from high school!) the music alone brings tears to my eyes. 9/10



Overall: 100000/10









"

4.5 Stars... Outstanding debut album

Paul Allaer | Cincinnati | 07/22/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The Hush Sound was "discovered" by Panic! At the Disco's lead singer, and with some assistance from that, after an EP last year, the Chicago foursome now has released its debut album.



"Like Vines" (11 tracks, 36 min.) brings a poppy, upbeat sound that immediately feels comfortable. It's hard to categorize the band's sound, althoug it did remind me of (the now split-up) Think of England's sound, some years ago. The lead vocals are shared song-by-song between Bob Marris and Greta Salpeter, and it provides a nice change of pace. The songs fly by in no time. Highlights for me on the album were the opener "We Intertwined" (from where the album's title "Like Vines" comes), "Sweet Tangerine", "Where We Went Wrong", and the closer "You Are the Moon", but really, there are no weak tracks on the album.



I saw these guys open for (of course) Panic! At the Disco not long ago, and they put on a very entertaining, if not blistering (with an all-out energy that was refreshing) 30 min. set, playing most of the songs of this album. "Like Vines" is an outstanding album, and sure to make my top 10 of the year. Highly recommended!"

Great Sophomore Release

Laur | USA | 07/23/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This isn't their debut album, to correct the review by Paul. They put out 'So Sudden' in 2005 with Fueled By Ramen. They just didn't get a ton of press coverage (well, they still don't get tons) until they signed up with the Panic! At The Disco tour.



To review the album...I bought 'So Sudden' a few months ago and was very impressed. There aren't many popular bands that 1) have both a male and female singer and 2) give them both about equal singing time. At first I didn't really like Greta's voice, but it grew on me a lot as I listened to the album a few times. Now I actually like the songs where she sings better than the ones where Bob sings.



To point..'Like Vines' is a wonderful CD. The singing is great, the instruments are well played, and the lyrics are beautiful. The songs are about things that people can relate to (love, loss, hope, etc.) and it's a really solid sophomore release. The Hush Sound appears to have learned and matured as a band since their first album. The songs are longer (most of them over 3 minutes) unlike 'So Sudden', where more than half of the songs are under 3 minutes.



It's a relaxing listen that you won't get tired of, and it's definitely worth buying."