The Signal

Issue date: 5/14/08 Section: Entertainment

The Hush Sound, classic/pop rockers from Illinois, has been thrust into the spotlight with its new album "Goodbye Blues" and a set on the 2008 Honda Civic Tour. Despite the band's quaint indie background it seems able to keep up with the task of pleasing both critics and fans.

Since this band is new on the scene here is a brief history.

The band started out as collaborative effort between Greta Salpeter (vocals/piano) and Bob Morris (vocals/guitar) who mixed classical piano with modern guitar riffs for an interesting acoustic sound. Unsatisfied with this combo, in 2004 they decided to experiment with electrical instruments and recruited Darren Wilson (drums) and Chris Faller (bass) to complete their sound and form what is now known as The Hush Sound.

After their debut album "So Sudden" appeared on Pure Volume, Ryan Ross of "Panic at the Disco" liked what he heard and passed it on to "Fall Out Boy" bassist Pete Wentz who signed them to his label Decaydance Records, a part of the Fueled by Ramen family.

Unlike most bands under Decaydance and Fueled by Ramen, The Hush Sound shies away from electrifying rhythms and bass, and instead incorporates beautiful piano work with guitar riffs and a danceable beat.

On "Goodbye Blues", the group's third full length album, Salpeter and Morris do double duty as leading "man" for the band.

Salpeter serenades us with her beautiful and full voice on tracks like "Honey", "Medicine Man", and "Molasses" while Morris belts out his earnest, heartfelt chords on songs like "As You Cry", "Not Your Concern", and "Hospital Bed Crawl".

As the title suggests, the album's main theme s about saying goodbye to someone or something you once loved. However, don't compare it to the whiny emo tunes from other Decaydance bands.

The first time you here licks such as "Honey" or "As You Cry" you wouldn't know these were sad songs unless you pay close attention to the lyrics. The music itself is bouncy and puts the listener to a feel-good, jump around mood. This is thanks to Salpeter's piano work and the support given by Morris, Wilson and Faller.

Some tracks, such as "Hurricane", slow the tempo down a bit but are softly crooned in a way that makes you stop and take notice and pay attention to what you're listening to. In today's "radio-friendly" music environment it is rare that an artist makes you stop and realize that their music is much more than Top 40 material.

If "Goodbye Blues" is any indication, we can expect great things from The Hush Sound and it's once pegged as emo label. Both The Hush Sound and Decaydance Records are taking steps in the right direction to introducing today's sugar hyped kids what real music is all about.

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