The Best of Hanson Live and Electric
Artist: Hanson
Genre: Pop
Publisher: 3CG Records
Released: 2005


Boys to Men
A Review by Kim Lumpkin
10/25/2005
Link to the review

In the days when Backstreet Boys and Spice Girls ruled the airwaves and video channels, the Hanson boys, with their wholesome image and retro looks, were like a throwback to a more innocent time, relying more on optimism and talent than the cynical, calculated raunchiness of NSYNC and their ilk. This CD, taken from a strong performance in Australia, captures the range of their style, from light, breezy pop to much more mature sounding rock and soul.

The live set opens with an atmospheric cover of Radiohead's “Optimistic” (the U2 Cover “In a Little While,” also included here, is a much better fit, and they do a great job with it). The dark lyrics seem like an odd fit hearing them sing, “Nervous messed up marionette/Floating around on a prison ship,” but they manage to make it work by slowing down the tempo (which also highlights the similarity to “Pictures of Matchstick Men”), and it's a good, dramatic opener. "Every Word I Say" is pure 80's Bon Jovi-esque pop, with its simple lyrics and urgent piano chords urging the enthusiastic audience to sing along:

I want you for always
I hear your name in every word I say
I'm a fool and I don't care
I hear your name in every word I say

"Where's The Love" is another pop rocker that starts off so much like “that song” that I almost started singing the wrong words. "Look At You" is a capable stab at funk, celebrating self assertion through dance, while "Strong Enough To Break" is a cheesy but likeable ode to resilience. The Richard Marx-like ballad “I Will Come to You” with its tight harmonies is another real crowd-pleaser. "Underneath" is one of the most passionate performances, followed by the snarling vocals and gritty guitar of “Hand in Hand.”

"Penny & Me" is a personal favorite of mine, with some of the guys' most poetic lyrics:
There's a rug with bleeding dye under the fan in the room
Where the passions burning high by the chair
with the leopard skin under the light
It's always Penny and me tonight

And then, of course, the inevitable hit. The thing about "MMMBop" is that there is a surprising perceptiveness underneath the bubbglegum, which is particularly noticeable with their more mature voices. “This Time Around,” a lively sing-along, almost gospel-like, is then followed by the sharply contrasting “Rock ‘N Roll Razorblade,” an energetic classic rock style tune. The set closes with “If Only,” a rowdy dance number that echos “MMMBop,” and “A Song to Sing,” a quiet piano ballad.

In what is sure to be a major trend as record companies look for new ways to get people to stop downloading and buy CDs again, Best of includes a dvd with videos and photos, making this a must have for any Hanson fan.

The best thing about The Best of Hanson Live and Electric is hearing a talented young band that hasn't been burnt out by the music industry machine but actually enjoy what they do. Recently moving from a major label to an independent, Hanson have beaten the odds simply by continuing to record and perform together after most bands from their era have disappeared now that their teen idol appeal has long since waned. In an industry where image has ruled ever since the birth of MTV, it's always refreshing to see a band with the integrity to put the music first.

© Copyright ToxicUniverse.com 10/25/2005