Boston indie-pop quintet The Hush Now have made an impression on music crit… Read Full Bio ↴Boston indie-pop quintet The Hush Now have made an impression on music critics and fans by wedding the “lush sugar-spun melodies of shoegaze’s dreamy heyday” to “the hooky muscle of bands like Guided by Voices and Built To Spill” as one critic put it. The band’s self-titled debut, released in October 2009, climbed independent radio top 100 charts and drew comparisons to the Cure, Guided By Voices, My Bloody Valentine, and Teenage Fanclub, among others. Blog buzz and radio play by legendary BBC 6 DJ Steve Lamacq further fueled interest in the band, who had yet to even play their first gig.

Produced by David Newton of The Mighty Lemon Drops and released in October of 2009, the debut climbed independent radio top 100 charts. All the while, the band had already finished recording album number two.

After a tour of the west coast, The Hush Now went back into the studio and put the finishing touches on their sophomore effort, Constellations which hits radio in the US and UK in Feb 2010. Of the album’s first single, Hoping and Waiting, the UK Music Review writes, “a little Stone Roses, a dash of Guided By Voices, a smidgen of Flaming Lips and a dose of Yo La Tengo; one of those classic pop tunes that pop up from time to time and catch you pleasantly off guard. This is superior indie pop from a band well worth keeping a very close eye and ear on.”

Like their debut, ‘Constellations’ pounds along at a blistering, powerful pace, and gladly the invention and surprises are all still there. Among the many standouts, ‘Thorns’ successfully employs some U2-style delayed guitar rhythms before it’s controlled pressure cooker lets fly with a soaring atmospheric trumpet solo. This is their transient, festival-headlining moment it seems. “Haven’t you had enough already?” Noel Kelly chant’s as the brakes gently come on. “No” is the answer actually, as they then effortlessly dispense ‘All You’ve Said and Done’, all stop-start blunt rock riffs with a sheen of retro keyboard sounds and subtle horns teasing out every bit of feeling. (Americana UK)

“Shiver Me Starships,” is The Hush Now’s 3rd release in as many years. With the band’s line-up secured including Adam Quane (lead guitar), Barry Marino (drums), John Millar (keys), Pat MacDonald (Bass), and Noel Kelly (vocals/guitar), The Hush Now bunkered down to write and record in May and June in Boston, MA. Produced by The Hush Now and aided by the talents of Benny Grotto (mixing) and Jeff Lipton (mastering), “Shiver Me Starships,” is a powder-keg effort boasting soaring vocals over The Hush Now’s unique melancholy AM Gold groove that pulses behind curtains of melodic guitar. The band has not abandoned their sonic trademark but rather, have expanded and taken their sound to the next level. This is the work of a confident and mature band ready to make an impact.

The Hush Now are preparing for a tour of the US around SXSW this spring. And as Ian Fildes at Americana UK points out, “with album number three, amazingly, already in the pipeline The Hush Now are in danger of lapping the competition.”

Subtle Like Bombs
The Hush Now Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Red, green and white
Hot tracers steal across the sky
(How long)
Crashing down
And Burning through the night
For you and me
These things pretend we do not see
(How long)

Bare remains
Huddled in their graves
Side by side

Don?t tell me how
We?re safe for now

Clever disguise
Our tanks, our bombs in single file
(How Long)
Bearing down
Nowhere left to hide
Can?t deny

Don?t tell me how
We?re safe for now

How long, How long?
Will this go on.

Don?t tell me how
We?re safe for now
Don?t tell me how
Time we opened up our eyes
Not safe for?

How long, How long?
Will this go on.

Overall Meaning

The song "Subtle Like Bombs" by The Hush Now uses violent and explosive imagery to convey a message about the dangers of ignoring the destructive actions of society. The lyrics begin with a description of fireworks, using the colors red, green, and white to create a vivid visual image. However, the use of "hot tracers steal across the sky" implies a sense of danger and aggression. This feeling of danger is solidified as the fireworks "crash down and burn through the night," representing the destructive force that is often hidden behind something seemingly innocent and beautiful.

The second verse continues with this idea, shifting the focus from fireworks to military weapons. The lyrics "clever disguise, our tanks, our bombs in single file" suggests that the military is trying to hide their destructive nature behind a carefully crafted facade. However, the line "bearing down, nowhere left to hide," creates a sense of impending doom, as if there is no escaping the destructive force of military actions.

The chorus repeats the line "don't tell me how we're safe for now," emphasizing the idea that society is ignoring the danger of these destructive actions. The lyrics "time we opened up our eyes, not safe for?" suggests that it is time to acknowledge the danger and take action before it is too late. The final repetition of "how long, how long? will this go on?" conveys a sense of urgency and desperation, questioning how much longer society can ignore the destructive actions that surround us.

Line by Line Meaning

Red, green and white
The colors of hot tracers in the sky during war

Hot tracers steal across the sky
Bullet tracers flying through the sky during war

(How long)
A repeated question about the duration of the conflict

Crashing down
Explosions and destruction of buildings

And Burning through the night
Fires caused by bombs and artillery

For you and me
The impact of war is felt by all people, regardless of background

These things pretend we do not see
Many people ignore or try to forget the horrors of war

(How long)
Another repetition of the question about the duration of the conflict

Bare remains
The destruction left by war on cities and lives

Huddled in their graves
The sad fate of those who lost their lives during the conflict

Side by side
A reference to the graves of soldiers who fought together