Customer Reviews

20th Century Masters: Millennium Collection

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Even though Hanson are viewed as that lil boy group that sang that "Mmm Bop" song, one might be surprised to know that they did more after that and even still have a small, but very devoted fanbase. This set represents their work from 1997-2000. It has the singles that made them famous from their first album including their only two top 10 hits "Mmm Bop" and "I Will Come To You." They also had minor hits with "Where's the Love", "This Time Around", "Weird", and "If Only." This even includes a track from their Christmas album.

OK, so I've noticed this group off and on since hearing MMMbop way back when. Every time I heard or saw them on a show I thought "those kids are so talented (and cute of course)" but for some reason decided I needed to wait for a "Best of" album before buying their music. Well, I now have to say I regret waiting 9 years; their first 2 albums, most of which are on this CD, were very diverse, fun, well-written and performed! I actually gave this to my 9year old for his b-day, and honestly, I'm not sure which of us is enjoying it more! I'm starting to order everything Hanson I can get my hands on (within reason) and their newer music is only getting better. Underneath is more mature but still enjoyable, and I can't wait for The Walk.

First of all, congratulations to Hanson for being named the 20th Century Masters! Take THAT, Beatles! I couldn't believe it when I saw the news. No band is more deserving of the honor than this rowdy band of misfits from Oklahoma. I know this because I've been supporting the band since I first heard some of their underground stuff back in '94.

Now, most of you know this band from their huge hit, "MMMMMMBOP". That's a great song, but when measured against the breadth of their catalogue, it only rates as one of their ten best - if that. I have a bootleg version of MMMBOP from a show they did at the Iowa State Fair in '98 that far exceeds the studio version. Believe me: Hanson ROCKS live. In fact, my only complaint about the chosen tracklist for their "20th Century Masters" compilation is that it excludes their live recordings, such as their epic performance at the Randolph County Convention Center in September 1997 (yes, I was there).

Then there are the live cuts Hanson did for Radio Disney in January 1998 that get no attention here. Egregious as the omission is, I will forgive that trespass because somebody was given the impossible job of whittling Hanson's best music from 1997-2000 into a short, album-ready format. If it were my job, I would have created a 48-disc box set!!

As some other reviewers have mentioned, this CD does not include the work Hanson has done since 2001, so "buyer beware" if you are seeking versions of Hanson's more recent tracks. However, it is a good introduction to the work of Hanson for any new listeners out there. But watch out, all you Hanson "newbies": you will soon get hooked just like I was! To date, I have attended 87 Hanson shows in 36 states and have YET to be disappointed. They give it their all, wherever they go. They're not a bunch of whiny quitters like the Beatles or the Police. Perhaps this is something the "20th Century Masters" voting committee took note of in their deliberations.

Anyway, this is an exciting disc to take for a spin no matter where or who you are. As the boys of Hanson would say: "MMMMMBOP BE BOP BA DOOOOWOOPPPP, BE BE DEEE DOWOP, MMMBOPP WAAAAOOOOOHHHH!!!"

I love this CD! Has a collection of some of Hanson's greatest songs from '97 through 2001.

Unlike the Backstreet Boys or N Sync, these guys actually wrote their own stuff and could play their own instruments. I give them all the credit for being more talented than the "boy bands" that came out at around the same time.

A good collection of Hanson hits. Especially for those whom missed out on Hanson's debut CD.

You generally know what you're getting with compilations like this...a bunch of singles with a remix or two thrown in. This album doesn't do much to fight that standard. However, they did manage to pick out, for the most part, the best of the best when it came to the "filler" tracks. Aside from the out-of-place techno mix and the Christmas song at the end, you can generally listen to this in one sitting without skipping ahead.

The I Will Come To You techno remix is horrid and easily the ugliest thing on the disc. It's (obviously) not representative of the group at all and is merely a relic of their uber-popular phase, where their label threw absolutely everything out there because people were buying it up. I understand the need to throw remixes on here so it can appeal to people who already bought the studio albums, but they probably could have just left this one alone, there are plenty of other remixes on here.

Speaking of which, the rest of the alternate versions are fine. Slightly shorter radio edits (MMMBop, Where's The Love, & This Time Around) and a few other remixes (If Only, Thinking of You, & Weird - although the Weird "remix" is identical to the album version) do no harm. Where this disc really shines is the choices to fill in the gaps here. A Minute Without You from their first album is a decent choice, while Runaway Run and You Never Know are fantastic, underappreciated offerings from the This Time Around album.

Rounding out the lineup is "Wake Up," from a movie soundtrack a few years back and their final major label offering. This is a worthwhile semi-rare track to beckon completists to pick up the disc.

Oddly enough, the track selection on this album is superior to the similar-intentioned UK disc titled "MMMBop: The Collection"...despite the fact that there are more tracks on the UK disc. The quality ratio is higher on this 20th Century Masters disc, and this is a pretty solid retrospective of their major label days. Ignore the "bah, this is just a greedy cash-in" feeling you may get by picking it up. It's much better than I was expecting.

New/younger fans who missed out on the MMMBop era of '97 may be better off by picking up Underneath first (their first indie record) and then perhaps The Walk, which continues their evolution....then work your way backwards, using this album as a test to see if you want to continue.