The Hush Sound

The Hush Sound have a sexy sound that's equally inspired by smoky film noir and bombastic, epic alternative rock. However, that description doesn't even truly do them justice. They've got their own style, and they're rolling with it on Goodbye Blues. Their sound can't quite fit in any kind of box, and that's apparent from the beautifully melancholic opener "Intro." It kicks off the record with a strangely sensual croon courtesy of vocalist Greta. A slow piano melody builds, as her voice resonates like a faint, old jazz song sent forth from some heavenly antique record player. It's the album's best song in many ways, because it defines the aesthetic. The piano feels wistful, while Greta's gorgeous voice explores what seems like heartache and pleasure all at once. Even though it's under two minutes, the song's got some serious power. It conjures more feelings and images than most of The Hush Sound's peers do over the course of entire records.

The first song to follow "Intro" is "Honey," which couples a tambourine driven rhythm with a huge chorus. It's catchy, bouncy and evocative of modern cabaret. "Medicine Man" channels a similar vibe, but it builds with a more classical drum beat that allows for the guitar-piano-bass combo to stand out even more. Again, Greta's voice takes center stage, and the theatrical melody mid-song draws equally from Broadway and classic soul music. The slow and pensive "Hurricane" possesses a faint feeling almost on par with "Intro," before sending off into lullaby territory. The instrumental passage "Six (Interlude)" serves as another classically dreamy segue. Basically, The Hush Sound have crafted an intriguing and thought-provoking sound. The male vocals sometimes clash too much with Greta's croon, and her voice should remain the main focus. Nevertheless, she's got some serious star power, and the music's brilliant.

In a sense, if Portishead and The Dresden Dolls had a kid, it would sound something like The Hush Sound. However, the band needs no comparisons, they're on their own trail to greatness.

—Rick Florino
05.30.08

The Hush Sound's emphasis on mature, piano-driven pop makes them a rarity on the Fueled by Ramen roster, where the punk-pop sounds of Fall Out Boy and Panic at the Disco reign supreme. With songs like "Medicine Man" and "Honey," Goodbye Blues distances the band even further from their Ramen brethren, adding shades of old-timey swing music and torch song balladry to their catalog. Returning fans will still take comfort in the Hush Sound's usual mix of co-ed vocals and jaunty songcraft, but the group also shows a willingness to experiment that few of their labelmates possess. With pianist/vocalist Greta Salpeter at the wheel, Goodbye Blues opens with the aptly-named "Intro," an early morning ballad that sounds destined for playback on a Victrola, before launching into the snappy "Honey." The bouncing piano chords and semi-jazzy harmonies evoke a sense of 1930s Americana, and while that feeling has mostly waned by the album's second half, it gives the album enough momentum to sustain the weaker moments on Side B. Most of those limitations show up in the songs helmed by guitarist Robert Morris, whose vocals are certainly competent -- particularly when flanked by the harmonies of his three bandmates, all of whom sing -- but can't claim to be as unique or as endearing as Salpeter's throaty alto. The songwriting duties on Goodbye Blues were split, a result of the group's short-lived decision to disband, and Morris' contributions can't quite rival those of his bandmate. With a breakup looming on the horizon in 2006, Morris and Salpeter scrambled to write their own songs, intending to use that material to launch their respective solo careers. The Hush Sound ultimately stayed together, however, and those solo tunes became the building blocks of their third album. So while Goodbye Blues is one of the most mature releases in recent Ramen history, it's not altogether cohesive, with Morris' songs all but banishing Salpeter's piano in favor of guitar-based progressions (and, by extension, banishing the one thing that helps the band truly stand out). But when the bandmates are on -- when Greta Salpeter leads her boys through the sexy stomp of "The Boys Are Too Refined" and the poppy big band strains of "Medicine Man" -- they come across as the co-ed equivalent of Jack's Mannequin, which is worlds away from being the sibling band to Straylight Run. ~ Andrew Leahey, All Music Guide