Spring Break
Hanson isn't entirely horrible anymore
Tim Pfarr
Issue date: 5/8/09 Section: Diversions
Remember Hanson, that irritating teenybopper band from the late '90s? You know, the ones with the long hair and the high voices? The ones who wrote songs so terrible they seemed to rip the fabric of the space-time continuum? Believe it or not, they're still making music, and ironically, they aren't entirely horrible anymore.
In the early 2000s, the Hanson brothers did the best thing possible: they became indie, leaving Island Def Jam Records to start 3CG Records, their own record label. In 2004, they released the studio album "Underneath," and in early 2007, they released "The Walk."
"The Walk" can only be described as an album of pop-driven rock infused with a healthy dose of blue-eyed soul. The boys are all married with children now, and this personal maturity is reflected in more mature songwriting. The Hanson brothers are no longer "MMMbop-ing."
The album begins with a chanting introduction that leads straight into the rhythmic guitars and pianos of "Great Divide," which was recorded with a school choir in South Africa. Taylor Hanson's voice is incredibly distinctive, and listeners will easily recognize it from the first few lines of the song. His lyrics are as thoughtful as they are hopeful, as he sings "I've found hope / and it gives me rest / I've found hope / in your beating chest."
The album's third track, "Been There Before," is easily the best on the album. It's soulful and catchy, and the backing vocals during the chorus seem to invite the listener to sing along.
However, the remainder of the album, while often fun and quite slick, doesn't accomplish much of anything new. There isn't much to look forward to after track three, and one could almost replace the rest of the album with lame Gavin DeGraw songs and nobody would notice. There isn't any true innovation here, and while the brothers may be better than they were 10 years ago, they still shy away from new, unexpected territory.
The vocals are also irritating at times, as Taylor's voice is just as over-the-top as it was in the '90s. Apparently he never got the memo that he is not Aretha Franklin. Isaac and Zac also have a bit of the same problem, and while all three are very talented singers, they fail to realize that more vibrato and emotion isn't always better.
The new Hanson sound may have a fair amount of imperfections, but the brothers are headed in the right direction. Give them another 15 years or so and then they might even earn a little bit of respect.
Tim Pfarr
diversions@dailybarometer.com
In the early 2000s, the Hanson brothers did the best thing possible: they became indie, leaving Island Def Jam Records to start 3CG Records, their own record label. In 2004, they released the studio album "Underneath," and in early 2007, they released "The Walk."
"The Walk" can only be described as an album of pop-driven rock infused with a healthy dose of blue-eyed soul. The boys are all married with children now, and this personal maturity is reflected in more mature songwriting. The Hanson brothers are no longer "MMMbop-ing."
The album begins with a chanting introduction that leads straight into the rhythmic guitars and pianos of "Great Divide," which was recorded with a school choir in South Africa. Taylor Hanson's voice is incredibly distinctive, and listeners will easily recognize it from the first few lines of the song. His lyrics are as thoughtful as they are hopeful, as he sings "I've found hope / and it gives me rest / I've found hope / in your beating chest."
The album's third track, "Been There Before," is easily the best on the album. It's soulful and catchy, and the backing vocals during the chorus seem to invite the listener to sing along.
However, the remainder of the album, while often fun and quite slick, doesn't accomplish much of anything new. There isn't much to look forward to after track three, and one could almost replace the rest of the album with lame Gavin DeGraw songs and nobody would notice. There isn't any true innovation here, and while the brothers may be better than they were 10 years ago, they still shy away from new, unexpected territory.
The vocals are also irritating at times, as Taylor's voice is just as over-the-top as it was in the '90s. Apparently he never got the memo that he is not Aretha Franklin. Isaac and Zac also have a bit of the same problem, and while all three are very talented singers, they fail to realize that more vibrato and emotion isn't always better.
The new Hanson sound may have a fair amount of imperfections, but the brothers are headed in the right direction. Give them another 15 years or so and then they might even earn a little bit of respect.
Tim Pfarr
diversions@dailybarometer.com
Note: writers will not reply to comments.
Be the first to comment on this story
Comments by registered users are approved by default.