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You’d Prefer an Astronaut (RCA) (star) (star) (star)
On their third record and major-label debut, Champaign quartet Hum fuse their ocean-waves-crashing-against-the-rocks guitars with lurching metallic riffs that have become as common as body piercing ever since “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” Fortunately, the band emphasizes sharp hooks over crunching harshness and doesn’t reduce the beat to stomping around in lead boots, giving “I’d Like Your Hair Long” a propulsive kick and “I Hate It Too” a slinky, reggae-flavored groove. Matt Talbott’s bottom-of-the-well vocals rob some songs of energy, but they’re well-matched to the folksy, drawling melodies of “Suicide Machine” and simple, plaintive tunefulness of the radio hit “Stars.” While the elements Hum uses to craft its sound are familiar, the band’s tasteful intelligence and creative flair distinguish it from the pack.
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