Hum renews its fame with 'Heaven'

Hum's previous album, "You'd Prefer an Astronaut," spawned the minor alternative hit "Stars," an accessible example of the band's trademark soft-loud dynamics. "Downward is Heavenward," shows the band generally sticking to the same sound as that album, with relatively few alterations.

But it is a formula that Hum has mastered. The lone acoustic guitar that introduces the track "If You Are To Bloom" quickly drowns in the crunch of Hum's two guitarists, Tim Lash and Matt Talbott. "Dreamboat" alternates between an all-out wall of noise and a playful quiet interplay of effect-laden riffs.

But the downside to having such a set formula, however, is the lack of variation between songs. The band shows its faster side on "Comin' Home," riding the propulsive drumming of Bryan St. Pere, and showing off their punk-ish roots. But when things slow down, as on the title track and "Apollo," the songs begin to sag under their own weight.

Hum
	"Downward is Heavenward" 3 stars RCA Records Reviewed by Robert Mitchum, Daily Arts Writer

These songs expose Hum's biggest flaw: a tendency to let songs get too long and complex. While most tunes have enough changes and variety to hold a listener's interest, some would be classic if stripped down to their basic structure. But it could also be argued that this very complexity is what separates Hum from the rest of the crowd.

The strength of Talbott's vocals is also inconsistent from song to song. Tracks like "Downward is Heavenward" and "Ms. Lazarus" are hurt by the weak vocal parts, with Talbott restricting his smooth voice to a lazy monotone. But when his vocals shine, as with the great vocal hook in "If You Are To Bloom," Talbott shows his full potential as a singer.

Despite these flaws, the majority of "Downward is Heavenward" serves as an example of Hum's strong, inventive sound, if not of much growth from previous albums. Though it is highly unlikely that they'll hit the radio jackpot again, the album shows that Hum is still a vital part of today's rock scene.

02-03-98