The Hum Goes on Forever

The Hum Goes on Forever
A young girl's shadow is reflected in the water. The words "The Wonder Years" are printed above her, and below is written "The Hum Goes on Forever", upside down.
Studio album by
the Wonder Years
ReleasedSeptember 23, 2022 (2022-09-23)
Studio
  • The Omen Room
  • Studio 606
  • Studio 4
GenrePop punk, alternative rock, emo
Length44:37
Label
Producer
The Wonder Years chronology
Sister Cities
(2018) 		The Hum Goes on Forever
(2022)
Singles from The Hum Goes on Forever
  1. "Oldest Daughter"
    Released: April 21, 2022
  2. "Summer Clothes"
    Released: May 19, 2022
  3. "Wyatt's Song (Your Name)"
    Released: June 22, 2022
  4. "Low Tide"
    Released: July 27, 2022
  5. "Old Friends Like Lost Teeth"
    Released: August 31, 2022

The Hum Goes on Forever is the seventh studio album by American rock band the Wonder Years. It was released on September 23, 2022, by the Loneliest Place on Earth and Hopeless Records.

Style and composition

The band originally planned to begin writing their next album after the conclusion of their 2020 tour, but the COVID-19 pandemic meant that they did not see each other for several months. They struggled to write virtually, and the record was not created until the band quarantined in a Pennsylvania farmhouse for a week.[1] Many songs on The Hum Goes On Forever reference previous tracks from the Wonder Years' discography: the protagonist of "Oldest Daughter" is named after the titular character in "Madelyn" from The Greatest Generation, while "Cardinals II" is a sequel to the track on No Closer to Heaven.[2]

Recording and production

Steve Evetts, who frequently collaborated with the Wonder Years, produced most of the album, while Will Yip also produced certain tracks, which were initially intended for a standalone EP preceding the album. During production, the band decided to combine the results of both sessions.[3][2] The recording took place at The Omen Room, Studio 606 and Studio 4.[4]

Release and promotion

On April 21, 2022, the Wonder Years released "Oldest Daughter", their first single since Sister Cities was released four years prior to that and the lead single for a then-untitled album.[5] On May 19, they released "Summer Clothes" as a follow-up single.[6] On June 22, the band announced that The Hum Goes on Forever would be released on September 23 through Hopeless Records. Accompanying the album announcement, which included cover art and a track listing, they released the single "Wyatt's Song (Your Name)".[7]

In October 2022, the Wonder Years headlined a small East Coast tour to promote The Hum Goes On Forever. They were supported by Fireworks and Macseal.[8]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic80/100[9]
Review scores
SourceRating
Exclaim!8/10[10]
Kerrang!4/5[11]
Pitchfork7.3/10[12]
Sputnikmusic3.9/5[13]

The Hum Goes on Forever was met with "generally favorable" reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, this release received an average score of 80, based on 4 reviews.[9]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Dan Campbell; all music is composed by The Wonder Years, except where noted

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Doors I Painted Shut" 3:00
2."Wyatt's Song (Your Name)"
3:45
3."Oldest Daughter"
3:19
4."Cardinals II" 4:12
5."The Paris of Nowhere" 3:30
6."Summer Clothes" 4:00
7."Lost It in the Lights" 3:53
8."Songs About Death" 3:21
9."Low Tide" 3:37
10."Laura & the Beehive" 4:04
11."Old Friends Like Lost Teeth" 3:14
12."You're the Reason I Don't Want the World to End" 4:37
Total length:44:37

Personnel

Charts

Chart performance for The Hum Goes on Forever
Chart (2022) Peak
position
Australian Digital Albums (ARIA)[14] 29
Australian Physical Albums (ARIA)[14] 53
Scottish Albums (OCC)[15] 48
UK Album Downloads (OCC)[16] 34
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[17] 17

References

  1. ^ Mitchell, Matt (September 22, 2022). "How the Wonder Years got older and wiser with The Hum Goes on Forever". Alternative Press. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  2. ^ a b Sacher, Andrew (September 20, 2022). "The Wonder Years on fatherhood, Mark Hoppus, and making a record that's RIYL The Wonder Years". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  3. ^ "The Wonder Years - Coughing Out Embers (Album Documentary)". YouTube.
  4. ^ The Wonder Years (2022). The Hum Goes On Forever (booklet). Hopeless Records. HR4087-1.
  5. ^ Sacher, Andrew (April 21, 2022). "The Wonder Years return with 'Oldest Daughter,' confirm new album". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  6. ^ Sacher, Andrew (May 19, 2022). "The Wonder Years release new song 'Summer Clothes' (listen)". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  7. ^ Sacher, Andrew (June 22, 2022). "The Wonder Years announce new album 'The Hum Goes On Forever,' share new song". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  8. ^ Sacher, Andrew (July 20, 2022). "The Wonder Years announce tour; reunited Fireworks opening!". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  9. ^ a b "Metacritic Review". Metacritic. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  10. ^ Feibel, Adam (September 20, 2022). "The Wonder Years Find Defiance in Defeat on 'The Hum Goes on Forever'". Exclaim!. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  11. ^ Ruskell, Nick (September 22, 2022). "Album review: The Wonder Years – The Hum Goes On Forever". Kerrang!. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
  12. ^ Gordon, Arielle (September 29, 2022). "The Wonder Years: The Hum Goes on Forever Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
  13. ^ Rowan5215 (September 20, 2022). "Review: The Wonder Years – The Hum Goes on Forever". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved September 27, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ a b "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 3 October 2022". The ARIA Report. No. 1700. Australian Recording Industry Association. 3 October 2022. pp. 7, 10.
  15. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
  16. ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
  17. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 1, 2022.