Guest Review

You Never Know
This was my favorite from the internet demo leak. I pictured it with a horn
section, and I could have sworn that Zac was singing lead on the demo.
Gosh, what a song to blast you into Hansonland! Favorite part: where Isaac
sings an octave lower than Taylor - one of my favorite song "things." I'd
been afraid that when the voices settled, they wouldn't be able to do this
anymore ... thanks, guys! And that double-entendre line: "I got my gun but
I am low on ammunition..." Save me, Space Ghost!

If Only
I was so delighted to see Taylor on the "harp," I went out and did a foolish
thing (I've gone out and bought a harmonica to learn ... pitiful, ain't I?). Will this boy ever stop? I hope not ... other favorite thing: the "wocka wocka" guitars in the bridge. ("There's a lot of good stuff in there." - quiet voice [Lironi? Popper?] as the song ends)

Runaway Run
Can you say "Ric Ocasek"? Very cool. Favorite thing: the way the lyrics
start in the middle of a "thought": "and I waited for you", and then all the
rest of the verse lyrics, too. And then the bombastic orchestration! I
guess I really like this song!

Save Me
Are the hairs standing up on the back of your neck yet? No? They will be.
Fav part: the tabla (at least I think it's tabla!) in the instrumentation.

Dying to Be Alive
Grammy for: best use of a gospel chorus in a rock song since the Rolling
Stones' "You Can't Always Get What You Want".

Can't Stop
Can't you just picture Taylor in a white disco tux boppin down a Tulsa street
with a paint can swinging from each hand? Plus, can you hear the Beck
influences? Considering that I don't own any Beck albums, that's a pretty
rash question - but from what I have heard ... psychedelic disco, baby!
This is the only song that you could imagine N'Sync covering (now that would
be something, wouldn't it? Now that Britney has covered "Satisfaction" ...)
- and it's still better than anything the Guy Groups have done, and it's
five years old!

I think with this album, Hanson has at least equaled The BeeGees as
pop/rock composers - and yes, that's a compliment, in case you're not an
appreciator of the Brothers Gibb! I've come to that appreciation in
hindsight, mostly. Hey - come to think of it: how come the Saturday Night
Fever soundtrack album isn't on "The List"s list for Best Pop Album? I'm
gonna go email them ...

Wish That I Was There
Well, here's another retro-ish song: sort of Bobby Brady meets Keith
Partridge! But again, Hanson just simply has "it" (you know - IT, as in The
"It" Girl), so they can even pull off this maneuver. It's the intertwining
lines and harmonies that do it - which is the same reason I like MMMBop.
And Taylor plays a way better tambourine than Tracy ever did. :^)

Sure About It
Next bus stop after "Man From Milwaukee" - as many have mentioned. Best
lyrics of the album. "Just between 'I wish I could' and 'I don't know' "
WOW...priceless.

Hand In Hand
Whoa - very quirky and atmospheric Isaac! Sade move over! Find that man a
coffee house! Saved by the bangin' bridge and Jonny Lang's solo break. And
extra points for taking chances, dude.

In The City
OMG - knock me down and call me Mildred! (?!?) Love it! Two thumbs up.
If they hadn't buried Taylor's vocals in the break/bridge, I might have had
a heart attack, I swear. "Do you love me?" - what, is he kidding? I hope
when they do this one in concert, they just jam on for days and days ...

O.K. - here's my Senior Thesis:

A Song to Sing
When Hanson says it's all about the music, you can take their word for it.
And here you have the proof. Absolutely NOBODY else these (that I know of)
is coming up with this kind of songwriting ... and every now and then I have
to remind myself: these guys haven't made it out of their teens yet, not
even Isaac ... Now, I know that I have become highly prejudiced toward them
over the last two-plus years, but I do believe that it's much more of an
accomplishment to be able to be able to write Tin-Pan-Alley-caliber songs,
than to write, say, a blues song, or your typical "angry" rock or rap ditty.
Even though I can and do appreciate all kinds of styles of music, I must say
that I have a very soft spot in my heart for pop music, for hooks and
melodies that stick in your head; the last wave in pop music that really got
my attention, before Hanson swept over me, was New Wave: Squeeze, The
Police, Elvis Costello, Warren Zevon - all groups or individuals who knew
how to write a SONG.

I think I get my taste in music from the same spring that Hanson drinks
from: rock - blues - gospel - heck, there have even been hymns that have
made an impression on me. So it's not surprising that my favorite song from
This Time Around is "A Song to Sing." My first impression is that it's a
love song to The Power of Music, and a prime example of that same power.
It's a hymn - like "Maybe I'm Amazed". It's a rock ballad, like Steven
Tyler doing "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing." It's a melodic, intelligent
piano gem that a Billy Joel or an Elton John might be proud of. Or maybe it
could be the new "Desperado," both for those who are old enough to remember that classic, and for those who have never heard it. It slices, it dices..."A Song to Sing" is such a wonderfully gorgeous track. The emotion and country-tight harmony of it bring me - honestly - this near to tears.

Overall comment:
I love the prominence of piano - and, as far as I can tell from the album
credits, it's all Taylor! I'm impressed ... as if I could be more impressed
than I already was/am/will be ...

Ann describes her devotion to the band as "her hobby." If you'd like to comment on her review, you can email her at: amillerick@ny.fk.com Thanks Ann, I owe you.