“Goodbye Blues”
The Hush Sound
Members: Greta (Piano, Vocals, Guitar); Bob (Vocals, Guitar); Darren (Drums, Vocals); Chris (Bass, Vocals)
Label: Fueled by Ramen

  This third CD from The Hush Sound has a different style than their first two, but should not disappoint fans. The tracks were written by all the members of the band, when they thought they were going to break up, thus the title, “Goodbye Blues”. The CD starts out with the appropriately named “Intro” featuring Greta alone on piano and vocals. The whole song has a scratchy sound overlay, as if played through an old phonograph. Next is “Honey”, the ‘lead’ song on the cd, as it is the one they made a music video for. This song is more reminiscent of their original style, and has a really cute music video if you want to check it out featuring the whole band: The Hush Sound .

The end of the music video is what transitions into the next song: “Medicine Man”, featuring heavier beats and tribal-esque ‘oh’-ing from the boys (this one is fun to play in the car with the bass turned up). Followed by an equally upbeat “The Boys Are Too Refined” then a slower, sadder “Hurricane”, “As You Cry” is a jazzy, fun song, the first on the CD led by Bob. This is one of my favorite tracks, and we choreographed a jazz dance to it in dance class. After that is track number 7, “Six” which can be skipped as it is all piano. It sounds like the beginning to a song that they didn’t go through with. After that is another one of my favorites, “Molasses”, a great showcase of Greta’s amazing voice. Then the slower “That’s Okay” and the early rock-ish “Not Your Concern” (another one by Bob and the boys). Then comes my favorite track ever, the light, fun “Love You Much Better”, broken up by voice-and-drums ‘La La’-ing sessions by all the members. Then Bob’s “Hospital Bed Crawl” and “Break the Sky” (a great showcase of the group’s new sound) round out the CD. If you got the Bonus version from iTunes, you’re treated to “You Are My Home” (another showcase of their sound) and the lighter “Pretty Down to Your Bones” featuring an almost A Capella section asking ‘Do adore me, dear? Don’t say that you don’t!) All over, this CD is my favorite by far of the group and I’m very disappointed I won’t be making it to their concert this year.

For people who aren’t familiar with the group, they were made famous by their most recognizable song, “Wine Red” off their second CD, a remix of which was in the movie “Snakes on a Plane”. Their early sound is similar to groups Panic! At the Disco and Fall Out Boy, without the... insanity associated with those bands (sorry to fans-I’m a fan of their sound, but not their songs). They share the same label, Fueled by Ramen, as these groups, and often tour with them. Their sound of late has become something of its own, featuring more abstract vocals by the classically-trained Greta and a jazzier sound. While fans of darker music fans may find them too ‘pop-y’, they have a more indie sound that you don’t see too much these days.