THIS TIME AROUND: TIPS FOR BETTER LISTENING:
  • If Only's sunny, infectious vibe is only heightened by singing the scratching. (ie "Wicki wicki wah," etc.)
  • I Wish That I was There: Grab favorite stuffed animal. Hug. Pretend it's Zac.
  • To fend off the diappointment you felt when, after singing the songs one way for two months, you found out that 80% of your lyrical interpretations were wrong, sing them your way anyway. Insist to your friends that either a) the liner notes are wrong, or b) Taylor is.
  • Get in your car. Put in Runaway Run. Roll down windows. Turn up stereo. Hang head out window like a dog. Sing. Loudly. (Passenger seat only need apply.)
  • While listening to Hand in Hand, dance provocatively around the room. (You might want to try this alone the first couple of times.)
  • Listen to the album from start to finish while paying extra attention to the way Taylor pronounces the letter L. Repeat. This time without disolving into fits of affectionate giggling.
  • Sing This Glassy Surface as though it were another verse in Song to Sing. (That's actually what it is, but no matter...) Ponder why in heck they took it out.
  • When singing along to Hand in Hand, add a bit of an Elvis-y snarl to the end of "another man." (Anothah man-ah) It's funny. I swear.
  • Do the Can't Stop dance during Can't Stop. (As seen on Entertainment Tonight performed by Isaac. To do dance: Make fists. Hold up in front of your face. Move them back and fourth in one-potato-two-potato style to the rhythm of the song.)
  • During the "tell me once again" breakdown in In the City, turn the volume up loud enough so you can hear Taylor's breaths in between each one. It's sexy.
  • Listen to it while you're falling asleep. The revelations you get at those times are truly incredible. By the time you nod off, you'll truly think you've discovered the meaning of life.
Lyrical Misinterpretation: Intentional and Not
  • "I heard they told her, it was dilly live or die..."
  • "I want it day or night..." (Oh lord, the implications...)
  • "There's a picture of Tay in the back of my head..."
  • "She's shootin' up between her toes..."
  • "... the picture of the wrong high road..." (I actually think our version is better than the actual lyric on this one, but who am I to dispute Hanson, right?)
  • "Now it's too late for a fight to unfold..."
  • "Do you love me? Am I pretty?"
  • "It's getting colder in the street where I lie..."
  • "Hold you, love you, in my arms in bed."
Interesting, Very Interesting
  • The conspicuous placement of the number 13 in the album notes.
  • The slightly confusing numbering of Song to Sing as track 21. I can just imagine all of those little girls out there breaking their CDs and CD players playng it upside down and backwards in hopes of finding a hidden track.
  • The utterly disapointing reality that in those gorgeous promo shots of the boys taken in semi-darkness, Zac is wearing... goofy athletic shoes.
  • The shout-out to Ric Ocasek for his "inspiration and friendship."
  • The unelaborated nod to... Jeff Fenster.
  • A "smoking team" eh? Too bad Steven Lironi went and killed their inside joke by talking to Spin. That officially brings the cigar reference tally to 3.
Bottom Line:
Hanson rules.