Rating:   19 Ratings     12345  

Hem No Word From Tom Nettwerk Records

      The driving force (and saving grace) of Hem has always been their quietly seductive lead singer, Sally Ellyson. And on No Word From Tom, Ellyson continues to elevate Hem from a typical alt.country band to something more.

      Now, two albums is not necessarily enough to merit a collection of “covers, rarities, outtakes, demos and live recordings,” especially for a band only half-a-decade old. But judged as a stand-alone CD, No Word From Tom holds up relatively well, with its intriguing blend of folk, country, and traditional Americana.

      In perfect irony, Hem are a band from New York who sound more attuned to cattle-rustling against the sunset, with stoic resignation to the world that passes by. As if Brokeback Mountain hadn’t made the West hip enough. Songs like “Idle” have a star-eyed wonder about them, enhanced by Ellyson’s Emmylou Harris vocals. On the stellar “The Beautiful Sea,” she bursts out, “I imagine places that I’ll never go,” and you can practically see the mountains rising from the dusty ground.

      The covers work (surprisingly) well, from the chilling “Rainy Night in Georgia,” to the subdued version of R.E.M.’s “So. Central Rain.” Even Fountains of Wayne receive the Hem special treatment, with “Radiation Vibe”--a pop-twang number equipped with a gorgeous, boozy swing.

      Hem could, however, use more diversity in their sound. After all, there are only so many acoustic-folk interludes that one can handle in a sitting. More of the Cat Power influence on “Cincinnati Traveler” would be greatly appreciated, as opposed to the been-there-heard-that pastiche of “Lazy Eye.” But Hem are still an evolving band, one still testing and shaping their sound. With any luck they’ll explore even further, going beyond the old ranch and on to pastures new.

-Emily Tartanella 02/21/06