From teen pop to credible rock
Hanson brothers, now
in their 20s, journey through stardom and find success with new album

By Alison Daly
Staff Writer

Nine years ago, the pop music scene erupted when a trio of brothers from Oklahoma released the bubble-gummy anthem "MMMBop," turning millions of girls into giddy, screaming teenyboppers.
Today, with 2005 a few weeks away from closing its eyes, Isaac, Taylor and Zac Hanson continue their passionate journey into the hearts of all those who are willing to listen.

Now 25, 22 and 20 years old respectively, the brothers are making sweet, sweet rock music - with an almost unrecognizable ability to reach the naysayers, who, along with nearly the rest of the world, turned their backs after the "pop adventure" came to a crashing halt.
The reviews of the trio's latest studio release "Underneath" and their brand-new live album have been flourishing, and as Isaac said in a phone interview, have been the best of their entire career.

The magazine "The Village Voice" says of the band: "You think you've got Hanson pegged as MMMBopping has-beens of the '90s teen boom. However, they are secretly the finest straight-up rock band in America, now sowing sonic oats as independents."

While out of the public eye, Hanson conquered more trials in the past few years than one realizes.

Between 2001 and 2004, the band struggled with the ugliness of the corporate business that their major label, Island/Def Jam, had begun to turn to. Leaving the label in '04, the brothers decided to use the situation to their advantage and form their own independent label, 3CG Records.

The success has been abundant: "Underneath" debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's Independent charts and No. 25 on the Billboard 200 charts. The album's first single, "Penny & Me," was the No. 2-selling single in the country, said Isaac, who couldn't be happier these days.

"We're a band who believes in the music we do, and that is what's important," he said.
And music isn't the only thing that's been keeping them busy these days. They've started a campaign for independent music featured on www.AreYouListening.com.

Isaac said the decision stemmed from dealing with the problems of the corporate music industry.

"We're going out and saying, 'We, as an industry, need to take a long, hard look at ourselves," he said.

Ali Castellini, a business support representative at WXPN in Philadelphia, claims that while the music industry is growing with the digital revolution, the record industry is slowly disintegrating.

"The record industry failed to embrace the new forms of (music) distribution early on and instead tried to stop it. Obviously, (that was) a big mistake, as the large labels are still trying to play catch-up," she said in an e-mail.
Isaac seems to agree. "Bands aren't going to make it through multiple records and have a career left. There are clear statistics ... (that) radio-ship as a whole is wrong," he said.
The goal of "Are You Listening," Issac said, is to "spread and help various (independent) bands' music proliferate through multiple bands."
Currently, the Web site is a place that houses links to over 40 bands. Hanson hopes that music lovers, especially those among the college audience, will stand up and voice their opinions.

"It's all a growing thing and it's related to who gets involved and how actively they get involved," Isaac said.

Hanson surely can rely on their devoted fanbase that hasn't abandoned them since the golden "MMMBop" days. Isaac credits their fans to keeping them afloat throughout the trials they have faced.

"Our fanbase has been an intricate part of what we do. We owe so much to (them)," he said.

Isaac said that their recent "Live & Electric" tour has been extremely encouraging because he sees so many diverse faces in the crowd each night. He said that's enough to know that they're doing something right.

The passion that drives Hanson gives them an edge over many of their peers and is what keeps them trucking through the sticky spots.

"We're really lucky to be doing this, and in the end, passion is what keeps us going," Isaac said. "We have enough passion to never stop."
Keep an eye out for a documentary illustrating the trials the band overcame to rise from the ground back into the public spotlight.

The film, aptly titled "Strong Enough to Break," should be released by the end of the year.