cover
This second-to-last issue of MOE seems to fray some of the tightly held traditions of past MOEs (more on this later) . . . albeit unspoken traditions, you wonder if these breaks with the past represent a slip in the armor or if, given Hanson's public persona, they're an intentional snicker. The third option is that I read far too much into MOE than I should, which is probably the most likely explanation.

Anyway, the cover is so completely Tiger Beat . . . so BOP (How would I know anything about this genre?! I'll leave that up to you gentle reader to ponder if you care.). I mean, their gazes are so directly into the camera, so self-consciously casual . . . sans blemishes as in past MOE close-ups. They're that mix of accessible and cool that comes from years of responding to "Be yourself" while taking direction from photographers with their own ideas.

Why embrace this tradition for a MOE cover? To shamelessly offer what supermarket tabs haven't been since Florida-based groups have taken root on their pages? To gently begin to nudge devoted MOE fans from their ardent support of an artistic publication--"Hey, MOE was just our own version of SuperTeen, so there's nothing to cry about"? To pay ironic homage to these publications, baiting anyone to get the joke? OR they just liked these pictures, end of story! Sheeze. (c;

Now the back cover . . . 2 thumbs, way up and a cheesy grin.

tour 2000 heads south
I've always admired Hanson for doing their personal best to keep promises to their fans. When I read over the accounts from South America, I just kept thinking about how Hanson was remembering their roots and making good on their promise to return to this region of the world. The devotion of these fans is incredible and Hanson certainly fed off their energy in memorable ways. Not the least of which included Isaac's birthday celebration in Brazil and spirited, once-in-a-tour performances from Zac and Taylor involving the finales. Isn't this why we try to go to so many shows anyway? What a gift of love Hanson gave their far-away fans. Plus, South America responded by giving the guys some of the most gorgeous photo opportunities and memorable pictures as proof.

My thoughts on the "I voted twise/twice" t-shirt:
I find it somewhat troubling that Hanson chose this statement as their intended political humor. There were certainly a lot of amusing ways to view the knockdown drag-out close call of our US presidential election. I found many angles of it highly entertaining . . . not the least of which involved OJ Simpson commenting on his boredom as he watched CNN broadcast the police escort of the trucks loaded with ballots to be recounted en route to the Florida state capital.

In my opinion, Taylor's t-shirt had an unseen target, adult literacy. The irony is that Hanson themselves could never deny that their own publication has occasional grammatical and spelling flaws from time to time . . . (i.e. "new" "knew"). We all make mistakes sometime--that isn't the point. I'm sure the serious issue of illiteracy is not the single explanation for the ballot confusion, but we can all make a difference in the life of an adult who has a desire to read. Check out: Literacy Volunteers of America

the new music
This is where things get weird. I've often wondered about Hanson's state of mind when they're writing for MOE. Most of the time, I think of it as one of their "real life" assignments that are a product of home-schooling. Suck the marrow out of life, learn while doing something authentic--like writing for your own magazine that reaches thousands of your eager fans. ::grin:: I guess, my question is how guarded are the guys as they re-count portions of their lives . . . are their fans trusted friends on some level or are they people who can only handle a part of the truth? With the long-standing tradition of not revealing authorship--until now--my sense was that their writing reflected more of the guarded perspective. Below is my guess at authorship of the individual uncredited pieces and why.

Gregg Alexander
author: Isaac
reason: includes lots of details that may or may not advance the main idea

Matthew Sweet
author: Taylor
reason: 2 "great"s in one sentence, no shortage of other superlatives and sometimes dated idioms

Dan Wilson
author: Zac
reason: each single word does the work of twenty. "We like."

france
"Never Love Again"
We finally read an authentic piece in which Taylor receives the byline without his brothers. Does it contain code that will definitively allow us a conclusive analysis of his authorship in past publications? hmmm . . . Anyway, Taylor captures beautifully the genuine brooding and complete release that is the creative process.

"Someone"
Isaac's turn in the spotlight. Without paragraph breaks and the almost stream-of-consciousness detailed tone did we need further proof? Endearing, as always. I'm just surprised that the account wasn't in both English and French, punctuating the breakthrough behind the bilingual songwriting process recounted for us.

"Hey"
Zac, as always doesn't need to spell out his part. The account of this songwriting event is a sweet tribute to any of us who has ever suddenly misplaced a rough draft or the napkin notes for a potential poem or story . . . and just know that those ideas were THE ONE--near to perfect now that they're lost. We're all inspired to keep a notebook by the bed for those occasions when the very ideas may return in dreams. . . . a reminder that creativity is purchased with "blood, sweat, tears" and it doesn't hurt to keep that "X@*#" tape recorder always turned on . . .

save me video
I'll say it again . . . A-ha's "Take on Me," like Paul Simon's "Graceland," was my top video (and album, respectively), before 1997. Thank you Ashley and Hanson for this non-studio video that is definitely joining the ranks of my 80s favs.

sundance and beyond
Guys, I'm exhausted just reading this section. However, your radio interview version of your Sundance experience will live forever in infamy and, for once ::smile::, the MOE version sounded like a second scoop . . . you were scooped by your own live selves--actually, at the time, wasn't it just Taylor since Isaac and Zac were down and out with a nasty bout of the flu? Isn't it somewhat frightening how fans' collective memory can follow you as your life unfolds in semi-real time via the internet. I just scared myself just now. (c;

chatroom
Only one reaction, the "franks and beans" (a down-voted fictional title for their music publishing company) comment always makes me think of Ben Stiller in "There's Something about Mary" and that's just too much!! hahaha

netpicks
The international choices are 100% Hanson.

dr. food:
Even Hanson encounters poor service at restaurants sometimes . . . is even completely hung out to dry by a bilingual hostess in France . . . Unthinkable. I guess that explains Isaac's comment in the new music section, "it is not every day that the French and English get along so well." Well, either way, when life hands you onions, make French Onion Soup Gratinee.

Thank you Dr. Food.

issue eleven
The first double-digit prime number as we all wait for the other shoe to drop---> MOE 12. Even paging through, the scent of the pages chokes me up. Will the 'net ever provide "scratch and sniff" sites to simulate the aura of real print? ::sigh:: Just a moment of nostalgia before, of course, maturely accepting the inevitable. C'est la vie.