The Hush Sound is a pop quartet from Chicago, Illinois formed in 2004. On h… Read Full Bio ↴The Hush Sound is a pop quartet from Chicago, Illinois formed in 2004. On hiatus from 2008 to 2012, in Spring 2013 they released an EP, "Forty Five". There has been nothing since then.

Initially named "The Hush," the band changed their name to "The Hush Sound" when Geffen Records objected that their name was too similar to rapper Hush. The band consists of Bob Morris on vocals and guitar, Mike Leblanc on bass and vocals, Darren Wilson on drums and vocals, and Greta Salpeter on vocals and piano. Original bassist Chris Faller left the band in October 2008 in order to pursue other musical interests and was replaced by Mike LeBlanc, who had toured with them previously on their "Dance Across the Country Tour".

In 2005 the band released their first studio album So Sudden. Their second studio album, Like Vines, was released in 2006 on Fueled by Ramen.

The Hush Sound was founded by Greta Salpeter and Bob Morris. The two met when Greta was in 7th grade and Bob was in 10th. In the eyes of many of their peers, Bob and Greta were deemed an "odd couple." Bob had always been a player and performer of rock music, whereas Greta was a classical pianist.

By the end of March of 2005, The Hush Sound took their music into the studio to record their debut full-length album. The studio was the Gallery of Carpet located in Villa Park, IL run by owner Brian Zieske. They named it "So Sudden"--a reflection on how quickly things were moving for the band. They released their first album with no label support at the time, but nevertheless sold 300 CDs in two nights.

Five months later, the band began playing shows. They soon gained the attention of Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz. On the day they were streaming "So Sudden" on purevolume, Ryan Ross of Panic at the Disco discovered their page and passed it along to Pete Wentz. Wentz knew Bob from his previous work in Chicago-based band the AUDITION, and, after listening, he sent The Hush Sound an email saying that he was interested in signing them to his Decaydance Records label.

So Sudden was re-released on Decaydance (with some minor lyric changes) and the band soon became a part of the 2006 Black Clouds and Underdogs tour, with Fall Out Boy in the headlining slot and also featuring From First to Last, Hawthorne Heights, and the All-American Rejects. During this time, the band started recording the follow-up to So Sudden, entitled Like Vines, which was produced by Sean O'Keefe and Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump (who also does guest vocals on the song "Don't Wake Me Up").

Like Vines was released on June 6, 2006. In support of the new record, the band went on a summer tour with label mates Panic at the Disco and fellow cabaret-rock band the Dresden Dolls. The album has since sold steadily. The band took a month-long break before beginning another tour with Jack's Mannequin, Copeland, and Daphne Loves Derby.

In November 2006, The Hush Sound embarked on their first headlining tour, supported by This Providence, This Is Me Smiling, and Murder By Death. Since then, they've toured heavily all over the United States with Straylight Run, Spitalfield, HelloGoodbye, Boys Like Girls, and Pablo among others, making stops including the Wiltern in Los Angeles, The Warfield in San Francisco, and the SXSW festival in Austin, TX.

The band's third studio album, Goodbye Blues, was named one of the Most Anticipated Albums of 2008 according to Alternative Press Magazine. "GOODBYE BLUES" was recorded Fall 2007 at North Hollywood's Fairfax Recordings with producer/engineer Kevin Augunas (Cold War Kids, Jon Brion) at the helm. In tracks such as "Honey" and "Medicine Man",The Hush Sound shows influence of Blues, Swing, Rock, and Folk. On January 16th, a press release said that that album would in fact be released on March 18th and that the first single, Honey, would be available for purchase on the iTunes store on February 5th. Goodbye Blues is available for purchase through The Hush Sound's official website. Shortly after the release of Goodbye Blues the band announced an indefinite hiatus.

In August 2012 the band announced a series of fall 2012 tour dates. In Spring 2013, they released an EP, "Forty Five".

Unsafe Safe
The Hush Sound Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Facetiously fiction when Albrite was bitten
While kissing the girl of his dreams on the lips
When I was watching, when I was clocking
Seconds to minutes, their lips locked like digits
On safes unsafe mainly due to ticking contents
When I was watching, timer tick tocking

Don't open the safe is unsafe

No you won't disarm my heart
No you won't disarm my heart
The last gift you''ll ever get from me
Is the combination or the key
No you won't disarm my heart

The dial was rusted, vintagely constructed
To carry out thoughts of a small scale destruction
I saw this one coming, there's no use in running
Safe in the distance, ignorantly witnessing
Everyone scatter as I had a vision
A regret, you might say
A worry, you might say

Don't open the safe is unsafe

No you won't disarm my heart
No you won't disarm my heart
The last gift you'll ever get from me

Is the combination or the key
No you won't disarm my heart

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Unsafe Safe" by The Hush Sound tell a story of a dangerous love affair. The first verse starts with the singer, Albrite, being bitten while kissing the girl of his dreams on the lips. It's not clear what has bitten him, but it's clear that something is not right. The second verse continues with the singer watching them, counting the seconds and minutes as their kiss locks their lips like digits on a ticking safe. The metaphorical language used - describing their kiss as digits on a safe whose contents may explode if the safe is opened - sets the ominous tone for the rest of the song.

The chorus repeats the phrase "Don't open the safe is unsafe" as a warning, suggesting that their love affair is dangerous and potentially explosive. The singer then declares that their heart will not be disarmed by the other person. The last line of the chorus tells us that the singer will not give away the combination or the key to their heart to the other person.

The last verse speaks to the singer's worry and regret. They watch as others scatter from a safe in the distance. The dial on the safe is rusted and vintagely constructed, implying that it has not been opened in a long time. The singer seems to have foreseen the danger in their own love affair and realizes that there is no use in running from it. The final repetition of the chorus solidifies the idea that the singer's heart is a safe that cannot be opened by anyone but themselves.

Overall, "Unsafe Safe" is a cautionary tale about love and the potential dangers that come with it. The lyrics use metaphorical language to paint a vivid picture of a relationship that may explode if not handled carefully.

Line by Line Meaning

Facetiously fiction when Albrite was bitten
Albrite's love story was too good to be true

While kissing the girl of his dreams on the lips
Albrite was in the midst of true love

When I was watching, when I was clocking
The singer was observing their every move

Seconds to minutes, their lips locked like digits
Their kiss felt like time was standing still

On safes unsafe mainly due to ticking contents
The ticking contents of the safes made them unsafe

When I was watching, timer tick tocking
The singer was keeping track of the time ticking away

Don't open the safe is unsafe
Opening the safes is dangerous

No you won't disarm my heart
The artist's heart can't be won over

The last gift you'll ever get from me
The artist is done giving gifts

Is the combination or the key
The only thing the artist will give is access to the safes

The dial was rusted, vintagely constructed
The safes were old and worn