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3 Car Garage
Note: It's taken about a year to post my
reactions to a Hanson album. I don't listen to this one as regularly as Hanson's
others, but it's always my mellow mood album. Its sweetness permeates my sometimes
sad times and brings to mind things that are lovely, pure, gentle, kind and of good
report.
Day Has Come
The beginning of this song reminds me of the intro to "Great Adventure"
by Steven Curtis Chapman. It's in that vein of dramatic openers that push
"play" on wide camera angles, taking in vast scenes. I'm talking about
those sweeping pans as the camera rushes over tumbleweed and sagebrush. The only
difference is that, if you're familiar with the Chapman song, it delivers a Western-style
adventure song, whereas Hanson's song sounds more like nephews singing at their aunt's
wedding. Don't get me wrong, I love this endearing track, but the intro sounds a
little dramatic set alongside the music and words of the rest of the song.
Two Tears
I have a theory about this song that is probably completely inaccurate.
However, after spending time in a large family of small children, a person realizes how
much of the day is spent consoling them. Instead of thinking of this track as a
young man's reaction to hurting his girlfriend, I always envision Isaac (since he sings
lead), bending down to speak kind words to Jessica, Avery or Mackie after they've tripped
or a dog frightened them or a bee stung them. Following this theory, the guys put
the relationship spin on it later. Just my own perspective . . . (grin)
Thinking of You
Just like on Boomerang, these early versions of the songs paint more
vivid images of the guys actually playing their instruments while
recording the album. I mean -- on TT&MON, the guys show how on Middle
of Nowhere, as I assume with all professionally recorded material, the music was
recorded separately than the voices. Of course, the same thing probably happened in
the creation of 3 Car Garage, but on this album the sounds seems to have an
organic quality that doesn't involve mixing. There is a freshness to this version of
TOY that makes you feel like you're closer to its creation (which you are).
It also makes me think of the Isaiah 40 passage and another song about eagles that
was sung at my Grandma's Memorial Service:
They will soar on wings like
eagles:
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
River
I still think that the chorus to this song is more gospel than With You in
Your Dreams . . . It shares a category with other great "river songs"
including Billy Joel's River of Dreams -- which he has sung with a full gospel
choir at the 1994 Grammies. The imagery is pure gospel -- not to mention the
connection with Taylor's first name. That having been said, I have mixed emotions
about the comparison with the concert version. I love the rockier chords and the Live
version does sound more complete. The added lines are clever and seem to fill in
some gaps. Yet, they almost sound too clever. They tip the scales away from
gospel into mainstream. This is fine -- it's just like growing up. It's not
bad, it's just not the same.
Surely as the Sun
This song is a real sunset, roses, diamonds -- "Who should we ask to stand
up for us at our wedding?" -- kind of piece. When I first heard it, Isaac
calling himself a man at age fourteen amused me . . . However, this is the boy who
reportedly had plans to marry in the third grade (grin). So, if you're in the middle
of planning your Big Day at the alter . . . be sure to consider Track #5 from 3CG.
MMMBop
"We're recording."
From its first conception as a back-up section to an earlier piece (Lonely Boy?)
to its explosion during the Spring and Summer of 1997, I'm sure nothing replaces the
thrill of its first recording. I ask myself, if I were a record executive, would I
have been able to spot the potential of this piece from the demo? Sometimes I think
that of all of the many songs on this album where Isaac sings lead, none were chosen for Middle
of Nowhere -- and this renews my respect for the guys' non-competitive relationship.
I am amazed by the way both Isaac and Taylor approach their "best friend"
relationship and preserve it -- out of the reach of public opinion . . . But about this
version of MMMBop: The Dust Brothers had some great raw material to work
with. I like what they did with it, but this version reveals that the genius of it
existed before they ever picked up its tempo and added some scratchy record sounds to it.
Soldier
Recently, I received a copy of Andersen's Fairy Tales for Christmas.
It contained "The Steadfast Tin Soldier." Like Don't Accuse (on
Boomerang), the band reveals their compassion for others who may not be exactly like
themselves. In these two songs, they seem to reference stories they've heard which
have shaped their perception of people with disabilities ("A boy who was lame"
and "the soldier with the missing leg"). Their sisters' voices at the
beginning show how natural it is to share this love with others. Who needs any more
reason than that for reading aloud to children?
This song is extremely long and honestly, it took me awhile to warm up to
it. But as a former student of the ballet (with a heart of gold? hmmm), just how
long could I hold out before falling victim to its charm?
Stories
At this point, this song could be called, "Legends" or
"Myths" or "Fairy Tales." Could a song be any more
heart-breakingly adorable? Who doesn't want to enter the story of included in the
lyrics and live it for him or herself? This track seems not only written
specifically as a tribute to the band's relatives, but also to their most loyal
fans. I mean the ones who will continue to tell these stories "'till the end of
time."
Pictures
How nutty!! This song so completely captures the feelings of a first crush
. . . I mean, who hasn't seen a face they recognized with a goofy grin on their face in
the clouds in the sky? I also thought of Erasure's song Imagination when
this song first came on: "It's just my imagination rolling over the past, it
can change your mind completely, it's just my imagination running wild and too fast, but I
know it won't defeat me." It must be the idea of being trapped in a
"mental room" or something (shrug).
Sometimes
Readers of this page know that this song is near and dear to me. Initially,
I couldn't get past Isaac's mention of "being a man" again -- it made me chuckle
-- or the Brady Bunch "sha na na na's." But . . . the lyrics!! How wise!
How applicable to so many situations. If only we all took these words to heart:
"It's not my place to judge who you are or what you're going to be. I guess
sometimes I forget just how much you mean to me . . ."
With You in Your Dreams
This is probably one of my favorite recordings of this song. Can you hear
the grief in the "Oh-oohs" here that are kind of toned down in the Middle of
Nowhere version? I also have a feeling the "Please don't sigh" is a
direct quote from their Grandma that was edited out for the later studio recording.
The Live version gives me chills since it's so well-received by the
concert-goers, but this 3CG version is obviously more intimate. Also, at
the very end of the song -- Whoa!! Taylor's voice never ceases to amaze me at the
end of any version of this piece. And after watching TT&MON, we know
that his emotion sometimes caused him to get a little too close to the mic when recording
his solo . . . (c:
Final note: The pictures accompanying this album reveal
that the guys:
- used to coordinate their clothes
- wore normal jeans
- all wore sneakers at the same time
In fact, the only piece of clothing of mine that even resembles anything they have
worn, is the maroon 3-button shirt featured here.
I just realized how much I appreciate this album after writing this. I know I'm
not alone in understanding why the guys have said of this album, "We're proud of
it."
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