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You'd Prefer an Astronaut
Studio album by Hum
Released	April 11, 1995 (1995-04-11)
Recorded	1994–1995
Studio	Playground, Chicago Pachyderm (Cannon Falls, Minnesota) (Track 5)
Genre	Post-hardcore space rock alternative rock shoegaze
Length	45:53
Language	English
Label	RCA
Producer	Keith Cleversley Hum
Hum chronology
Electra 2000 (1993) You'd Prefer an Astronaut (1995) Downward Is Heavenward (1998)
Singles from You'd Prefer an Astronaut
"Stars" Released: 1995 "The Pod" Released: 1995 "I'd Like Your Hair Long" Released: 1995

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Chicago Tribune
Kerrang!
MusicHound Rock

You'd Prefer an Astronaut is the third studio album by the American alternative rock band Hum, released on April 11, 1995, by RCA Records as their major label debut. The title of the album is a lyric lifted from the song "I'd Like Your Hair Long".

The album has sold over 250,000 copies since its release, mostly due to the second single from the album, "Stars". It became Hum's highest charting song, reaching 11 on Hot Modern Rock Tracks and 28 on Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks; it regained popularity a decade later after being featured in a Cadillac commercial with actress Kate Walsh. The song and its video were also featured on the television show Beavis and Butt-Head.

The album spawned two other singles, "The Pod" and "I'd Like Your Hair Long", although neither received the commercial success of "Stars".

Legacy

Discussing You'd Prefer an Astronaut, Deftones frontman Chino Moreno said, "This is a heavy record, and it's where Deftones get a big part of our influence from, tone-wise."

In 2016, Sam Blum of The A.V. Club listed the album as an overlooked masterpiece.

Track listing

1. "Little Dipper" – 4:44
2. "The Pod" – 4:38
3. "Stars" – 5:09
4. "Suicide Machine" – 5:58
5. "The Very Old Man" – 2:45
6. "Why I Like the Robins" – 4:58
7. "I'd Like Your Hair Long" – 5:26
8. "I Hate It Too" – 5:59
9. "Songs of Farewell and Departure" – 6:16

Personnel

Hum

• Jeff Dimpsey – bass guitar
• Tim Lash – guitar
• Bryan St. Pere – drums
• Matt Talbott – guitar and vocals

Technical

• Keith Cleversley – production

References

1. Raggett, Ned. "You'd Prefer an Astronaut - Hum". AllMusic.
2. McKeough, Kevin (June 22, 1995). "Wry Guy". Chicago Tribune. p. F8. ProQuest 2074903572.
3. Brannigan, Paul (March 30, 1996). "Albums". Kerrang!. No. 590. EMAP. p. 45.
4. MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 566.
5. Turner, Luke (2010-11-23). "Bakers Dozen: Deftones' Chino Moreno Chooses His Top 13 Albums". The Quietus. Retrieved 25 November 2010.
6. Blum, Sam (April 19, 2016). "Hum's You'd Prefer An Astronaut is an overlooked masterpiece". The A.V. Club. Retrieved October 20, 2018.

External links

• Cleversly on getting the guitar sound for the album
• You'd Prefer an Astronaut at Discogs (list of releases)

• 1995 albums
• Hum (band) albums
• RCA Records albums