No 'MMMBop' here: Hanson retools, tours with stop at Aladdin

09/09/03


They came. They sang. They conquered. And then Hanson -- three photogenic teenagers from Tulsa, Okla., who harmonized their way into the hearts of America with the giddy tune "MMMBop" -- disappeared.

After their debut album, 1997's "Middle of Nowhere," went many-times platinum, the brothers Hanson released a follow-up that virtually ignored the teen-pop craze they had ignited. "This Time Around" was warmly received by critics in 2000 but fizzled with the fans.

So Hanson went home. Taylor got married. Zac got his driver's license. They wrote some more songs.

Over three years, they made another album. "Underneath" was written and largely produced by the three brothers, now 17, 20, and 22. They are performing songs from the new album as part of an acoustic club tour designed to introduce the new Hanson to old fans. It stops tonight in Portland.

The band parted ways with Island Def Jam earlier this year, and Hanson is self-releasing an acoustic EP of "Underneath" (available at www.hanson.net and at shows). A full-length CD will follow next year.

"Everything about who we are and our mission has been refined," Taylor says. " 'Underneath' is a pop-rock record with hooks and guitars, but in the end we really wanted it to have a lot of open space to it."

8 tonight, Aladdin Theater, 3017 S.E. Milwaukie Ave.; $20, Ticketmaster.

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