You'd Prefer an Astronaut explained

You'd Prefer an Astronaut
Type:studio
Artist:Hum
Cover:Hum - You'd Prefer an Astronaut.png
Alt:A zebra standing on a dark green background
Recorded:1994–1995
Studio:Playground, Chicago (Track 5 recorded at Pachyderm Studio, Cannon Falls, Minnesota)
Genre:
Language:English
Label:RCA
Prev Title:Electra 2000
Prev Year:1993
Next Title:Downward Is Heavenward
Next Year:1998

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

Technical

External links