# Introducing HEM for your musical enjoyment.
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/introducing-hem-for-your-musical-enjoyment/627180
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [July 4, 2012, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/introducing-hem-for-your-musical-enjoyment/627180 "2012-07-04T04:27:54Z")
**Posts on this page:** 19
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Curiosity\_Kills\_Her](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Curiosity_Kills_Her)
#### Post date: [July 4, 2012, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/introducing-hem-for-your-musical-enjoyment/627180/1 "2012-07-04T04:27:54Z")
I was listening to [radio paradise](http://www.radioparadise.com/rp_2.php?#) yesterday when they played ‘Half Acre’ by HEM. I’ve spent part of my evening (the part not spent listening to Big Head Todd) checking out a couple of their albums and I think they’re great. Perfect music for a quiet evening with a glass of wine and The Dope.
[Not California](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQNknNX7HoA)
[Half Acre](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVH3HDdM1SQ)
What are you listening to?
---
### Author:  [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)
#### Post date: [July 5, 2012, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/introducing-hem-for-your-musical-enjoyment/627180/2 "2012-07-05T18:59:21Z")
Lately I hate everything. Not music, just everything else.
But I love Kaki King.
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### Author:  [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)
#### Post date: [July 5, 2012, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/introducing-hem-for-your-musical-enjoyment/627180/3 "2012-07-05T19:02:14Z")
Half Acre was used a while back in an insurance commercial.
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### Author:  [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)
#### Post date: [July 5, 2012, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/introducing-hem-for-your-musical-enjoyment/627180/4 "2012-07-05T19:35:52Z")
2002 called and wants its OP back? 😉
Actually, I remember really liking her sound, and I think she did a Springsteen cover that was pretty sweet. Maybe it’s time I finally look up some of her music.
As for me, I’ve been listening to some Little Feat for the first time in a long while. Great stuff.
---
### Author:  [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)
#### Post date: [July 5, 2012, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/introducing-hem-for-your-musical-enjoyment/627180/5 "2012-07-05T19:43:08Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#):
>
> Half Acre was used a while back in an insurance commercial.
No, that was _The Part Where You Let Go_. Unless there was more than one.
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### Author:  [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)
#### Post date: [July 5, 2012, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/introducing-hem-for-your-musical-enjoyment/627180/6 "2012-07-05T19:49:16Z")
> [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](#):
>
> No, that was _The Part Where You Let Go_. Unless there was more than one.
There were two Hem songs used in Liberty Mutual commercials; we’ve listed both of them.
I both like & dislike Hem. Each song is individually lovely, but listening to an entire album is difficult because each song is so similar to all the others. See also: Evanescence.
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### Author:  [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)
#### Post date: [July 5, 2012, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/introducing-hem-for-your-musical-enjoyment/627180/7 "2012-07-05T23:58:16Z")
I heard “When I was Drinking” on NPR one night while running errands, took a detour to Amoeba music (a giant music store in Los Angeles) and bought Rabbit Songs. I haven’t really listened to any other album.
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### Author:  [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)
#### Post date: [July 6, 2012, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/introducing-hem-for-your-musical-enjoyment/627180/8 "2012-07-06T00:03:50Z")
[Half Acre commercial](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMwoexR1evo)
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### Author:  [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)
#### Post date: [July 6, 2012, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/introducing-hem-for-your-musical-enjoyment/627180/9 "2012-07-06T04:00:08Z")
I think I have all of Hem’s albums, but I haven’t listened for a while. Thanks for the blast from the past. I got their first one in 2002 because it was talked about on a mailing list I was on then. It’s beautiful stuff, reminiscent in some ways of Cowboy Junkies, The Innocence Mission, a bit of October Project, Penelope Houston, Robin Holcomb and others I’m blanking on at the moment.
My favorite song (at the moment) is [“Horsey”](http://youtu.be/KUoGtP_UAQ8) (correct spelling) but most of them are very nice indeed.
---
### Author:  [@Curiosity\_Kills\_Her](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Curiosity_Kills_Her)
#### Post date: [July 6, 2012, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/introducing-hem-for-your-musical-enjoyment/627180/10 "2012-07-06T05:16:08Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#):
>
> Lately I hate everything. Not music, just everything else.
>
> But I love Kaki King.
I love Kaki King as well! I think I also discovered her on radio paradise.
> [@Eonwe](#):
>
> 2002 called and wants its OP back? 😉
>
> Actually, I remember really liking her sound, and I think she did a Springsteen cover that was pretty sweet. Maybe it’s time I finally look up some of her music.
> As for me, I’ve been listening to some Little Feat for the first time in a long while. Great stuff.
Be nice! 😛 It was new to ME. I don’t know anyone else that knows them, so hey! I’m blazing my own trail over here!
> [@Equipoise](#):
>
> I think I have all of Hem’s albums, but I haven’t listened for a while. Thanks for the blast from the past. I got their first one in 2002 because it was talked about on a mailing list I was on then. It’s beautiful stuff, reminiscent in some ways of Cowboy Junkies, The Innocence Mission, a bit of October Project, Penelope Houston, Robin Holcomb and others I’m blanking on at the moment.
>
> My favorite song (at the moment) is [“Horsey”](http://youtu.be/KUoGtP_UAQ8) (correct spelling) but most of them are very nice indeed.
Thank you for the suggestions! I don’t know Innocence Mission, October Project, Penelope Houston or Robin Holcomb at all.
I would also like to say that I just managed to stumble upon the way to do multi-quote replies. LIKE A BOSS. Damn, that’s handy.
---
### Author:  [@Curiosity\_Kills\_Her](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Curiosity_Kills_Her)
#### Post date: [July 6, 2012, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/introducing-hem-for-your-musical-enjoyment/627180/11 "2012-07-06T05:18:43Z")
Also - thanks for sharing the commercial. I saw reference to the commercial in some youtube comments, but thankfully didn’t find the band via the advertisements. It just feels so… _cheap_ when it happens that way. 😉
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### Author:  [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)
#### Post date: [July 6, 2012, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/introducing-hem-for-your-musical-enjoyment/627180/12 "2012-07-06T06:35:02Z")
> [@Curiosity\_Kills\_Her](#):
>
> Thank you for the suggestions! I don’t know Innocence Mission, October Project, Penelope Houston or Robin Holcomb at all.
Oh! If I may, a taste…
**Innocence Mission:**
[“Revolving Man”](http://youtu.be/ASJqyJz8vTQ)
[“Now In This Hush”](http://youtu.be/J5035_MGFdM)
[“And Hiding Away”](http://youtu.be/SjSWl_68JxI)
[“Every Hour Here”](http://youtu.be/J-HpCC6FLm0)
Just get that album (Umbrella) if you can find it, because every song is great. I am especially fond of their first self-titled album too because it’s the first album I got. Unfortunately none of my favorite songs from the album are on YouTube but here are a couple of good ones.
[“Wonder Of Birds”](http://youtu.be/-sXOIrvOMKU)
[“Clear To You”](http://youtu.be/f1NYjtx3gAA)
Glow is a great album too. Here’s one song from it.
[“Bright As Yellow”](http://youtu.be/ArJ8809OUrA)
**October Project:**
[“Bury My Lovely”](http://youtu.be/puGEpGzk2hk) (warning, bring tissues)
Listening now, **Penelope Houston** doesn’t sound anything like Hem, but you’ve never heard her, so here are a few songs.
[“Waiting Room”](http://youtu.be/SN1ti6mXDZQ)
[“Stoli”](http://youtu.be/KXoQISmi3Qw)
[“Qualities of Mercy”](http://youtu.be/snbR6M2r91w)
My favorite song on the album, because I’m a sucker for popwaltz:
[“Summers of War”](http://youtu.be/39owcovq51Q)
That whole album (Birdboys) is great)
Forget I mentioned Robin Holcomb. Not only is she an acquired taste, nothing on YouTube sounds anything like Hem.
However, **Over The Rhine** is definitely another band that Hem reminded me of.
[“When I Go”](http://youtu.be/Sf8aMLIBlVg)
[“Rhapsodie”](http://youtu.be/LgrHNyCCtV8)
I’m not familiar with all their output, but I’m very fond of their first two albums.
I have to check myself or I will positively BURY you in female vocals. For many many years I had a radio show on 2 stations in 2 cities (Kansas City and Chicago) and I played nothing but female vocals. Give me an inch and I’m liable to take several dozen miles. Whatever you do, do not, I repeat, DO NOT ask me about [H_ **y R** _\*s](http://happyrhodes.org/). 😃
(Ok, everybody can breathe a sigh of relief. I did not provide a bunch of links to Hap songs. Just a link to where there ARE Hap songs.)
---
### Author:  [@Braydon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Braydon)
#### Post date: [July 6, 2012, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/introducing-hem-for-your-musical-enjoyment/627180/13 "2012-07-06T06:42:07Z")
> [@Tangent](#):
>
> [Half Acre commercial](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMwoexR1evo)
Has the video been deleted from there? Actually, when I visit it, there was not video
to be played. Would you like to share it again?
I’ll be thankful to you. regards
---
### Author:  [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)
#### Post date: [July 6, 2012, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/introducing-hem-for-your-musical-enjoyment/627180/14 "2012-07-06T06:50:36Z")
It still plays fine for me at that youtube link.
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### Author:  [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)
#### Post date: [July 6, 2012, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/introducing-hem-for-your-musical-enjoyment/627180/15 "2012-07-06T17:14:00Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#):
>
> Lately I hate everything. Not music, just everything else…
Stop that.
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### Author:  [@amaguri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amaguri)
#### Post date: [July 6, 2012, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/introducing-hem-for-your-musical-enjoyment/627180/16 "2012-07-06T21:12:35Z")
One of my favorite bands of all time! I saw them at a really small show in San Diego after Rabbit Songs came out and they could not have been any lovelier in person. New album this year, I think.
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### Author:  [@Braydon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Braydon)
#### Post date: [July 7, 2012, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/introducing-hem-for-your-musical-enjoyment/627180/17 "2012-07-07T10:40:10Z")
> [@Braydon](#):
>
> Has the video been deleted from there? Actually, when I visit it, there was not video
> to be played. Would you like to share it again?
> I’ll be thankful to you. regards
[pomeranian diet](http://pommymommy.jimdo.com/)
---
### Author:  [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)
#### Post date: [July 7, 2012, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/introducing-hem-for-your-musical-enjoyment/627180/18 "2012-07-07T16:53:38Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#):
>
> There were two Hem songs used in Liberty Mutual commercials; we’ve listed both of them.
>
> I both like & dislike Hem. Each song is individually lovely, but listening to an entire album is difficult because each song is so similar to all the others. See also: Evanescence.
See also: Adele. My husband bought two of her albums, and I can barely get through them because they get so repetitive.
---
### Author:  [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)
#### Post date: [July 8, 2012, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/introducing-hem-for-your-musical-enjoyment/627180/19 "2012-07-08T18:29:45Z")
NM