Customer Reviews

Underneath [Limited Edition w/Bonus DVD]

5 star:		(236)
4 star:		(40)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Though I wouldn't call myself a Hanson fan per se, I must admit I was pretty blown away by these brothers' talent. After my girlfriend dragged me off to a local radio station where Hanson would be, we were able to come inside for some type of private concert type show. During this, I was able to catch their range and depth as musicians. No longer can they be referred to as mmmbop boys. They really have grown up? Yeah, it's weird I know.

Getting to expierence the youngest one's solo song, Broken Angel, actually moved me. I'm not much of an emotion displayer, but this song rips at your heart. If Hanson ever did happen to stop being a band, this one, Zac, definitely has a career as a solo artist. Amazing.

Anyway, I'm no longer afraid to admit I like Hanson. They've given me reason not to be ashamed. Yeah, I'm not really a fan, but I like their music. They have talent. They have staying power. If you listened to a few of their songs, you'd understand why they're critically acclaimed with a huge following fanbase.

I'm not here to make you become a Hanson fan. I'm just telling you that you'd be immature and naive to believe they're still, well, mmmbop boys.

For the record, I'm a 37 year old adult, not a teeny-bopper groupie. (Nothing against groupies. If I could remember back far enough, I would probably be able to identify myself as some sort of groupie when I was a teen. :-] )

Anyway. This CD is a revelation. I bought it because of the favorable reviews that I read online and in reputable music magazines, and was happy to find all of the positive comments to be absolutely correct. These young men (who wrote the songs featured on this CD in 2001 and 2000, according to the copyrights) demonstrate an intuition of music, harmony, lyrics, and production quality well beyond their years.

Listening to the entire CD reminded me of both young and maturing Beatles. Specific standouts were: "Deeper", which has an innovative depth I haven't been able to analogize yet but is powerfully moving; "Get Up and Go", who said there isn't another "Mmmmbop" on this CD?; "Crazy Beautiful", a stunning blend of pop and rock; "Hey", wonderfully funk - Hanson funky? believe it!; and "Believe", with the song's own 70ish ballad, and then the hidden music and hidden song "Lula Belle" in its twelve+ minute track. This is simply the very best and innovative pop music I've heard in years.

Critics have said their best years are ahead of them. If the amazing maturation they've shown is any indication, who could disagree? I look forward to those years.

I am a radio DJ and received a sampler of this record. After listening to it, I am very surprised. I must admit that as a part of the public I only knew these boys for "Mmmbop" and how wrong I was to assume they were still those kids. The infectuous rock that shines through in this record will stop nothing short of breaktaking. Though as brothers they are still able to blend well together and harmonize, their days of high-pitched voices coming together are long gone. Now that 7 years has passed since "Mmmbop" we get to forget about that.

My favorite track from the sampler would be "Penny & Me" which is pretty much a song about being young and in love, but with a Hanson touch. The creative phrases like "We're making it by in the pink moonlight" give the song a great feel. This is also the song that will be released as the first single next month, I hear. We'll be playing it at our radio station!

My advice as a radio DJ who has seen a lot in the world of music is to give this record a shot.

I'll admit right off the bat. I am a Hanson fan. I am biased when it comes to these guys. But I was a bit skeptical when I heard a snippet of a song off of the internet a while back. But I'm not anymore.

Though to any other person, Hanson is just another band that is overlooked by many. But this album is going to set them in stone with the best of them.

Writing, producing, engineering, running their own record label and touring to give back to their fans, Hanson proves that they aren't your every day 'boy band' or the old 'Mmmbop boys' - they are years beyond that now, and they are actually real, mature, and TALENTED men. They don't need to hide behind back-up dancers or back-up singers to show their pipes and talents - they can play, sing, and entertain all in one.

THAT is a band.

Heartfelt, upbeat, deep, and unlike anything they have ever done before, 'Underneath' is something MEANT to be picked up. Stand out tracks, like:

'Strong Enough To Break', a song penned during the breaking away of their record label (also about how they were treated in a way 'struggle is the price you pay, you get just enough just to give it away')

'Deeper', a beautiful track backed by Michelle Branch and led by Isaac - fun lyrics, but also beautiful melody and harmonies (Every simple notion is poetry in motion; can't you see it's pushing me over the edge? This wrecking ball you're holding could crush the heart you've stolen; I'd give you my devotion all over again)

And a very tragic, dark, and and mellow song penned mostly by the youngest of the group, Zac, 'Broken Angel' is a beautiful song from beginning to end. With stand out lines like, 'Even Angels Die', 'Break my dream, that's what they'll do; well, I'm gonna mend and learn to fly, too', and a line that struck me and gave my heart a rather large tug, 'i pulled my way up through this fog to find your body crushed to the ground. It's so obvious, why couldn't you see? That you can't go high-flying without a pair of high-flying wings'. To be honest, I favor this song - of all three Hansons, I never thought that Zac, the one known to be wacky and incredibly hyper, would just pen this song, and sing it as no one could.

The title track of this cd, 'Underneath' has so much credibility for these brothers, that if I heard this song, I'd buy the album just because of THAT song. But fortunately, EVERY song on this album is WORTH the money to buy the album. If Middle Of Nowhere and This Time Around didn't gain them different kinds of fans, 'Underneath' will.

that so many Hanson listeners have to justify themselves before admitting to the fact that they like their music. It's a shame that our modern pop culture is littered with disposable artists and talentless numbskulls. It's a shame that a band who actually has pure, unabided talent has to live under the stigma of being the creators of "MMMBop" and the youngest (arguably the first) boy band. And it's a shame that these boys will never be as popular as the lip-synching divas and the gyrating hips of cooler-than-thou metrosexuals.

But what can you do? Well, I would recommend stripping all those layers of crap away and listening to some real music. Hanson have proved with each CD that they have all the potential in the world of becoming one of the great rock bands of our time. Their musical ability is on the level of some veteran rockers and their lyrics are poignant, intelligent, and somehow pure at the same time. They may not be the be-all-end-all of rock music---yet---but I would challenge you to find a few other mainstream bands/artists with half as much talent as Hanson has.

Hanson and 'Underneath' have actually managed to bring back what rock & roll really is or what it should be. Loud, fun, and rousing like "Lost Without Eachother" and "Get Up and Go", yet quiet, beautiful, and melancholic like "Believe", "Broken Angel", and "Misery". And yet there is another element to Hanson's repertoire---soul. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, Hanson's got some SOUL. Of course, they've always had it---especially with Taylor's raspy, strained, and slightly slurred delivery---but 'Underneath' is suffused with piano-jazzy, bluesy hints. One of the best songs on the album, "Crazy Beautiful", is the best example of this.

So pick this album up right now and don't feel the need to defend it to ignorant bystanders. This album defends itself just fine.

I will review the CD song-by-song as they play.

01.Strong Enough to Break - musically fairly simple. It won't be your favourite track, but it won't be your least favourite either (if nothing more, than just because of the brilliant lyrics).

02.Dancin' in the Wind - Guitar driven. Great drumming. Rockier than most Hanson tracks. A lot of fun. Really liking this. If you've ever liked any upbeat rock song, you'll like this.

03.Penny & Me - I find it a little tired... I've heard it many times before, so that probably adds a lot to the issue. It's hooky, it's fun, it's a love song (sort of). I say sort of because the music video implies that it's about a girl (Penny) and music she loves (Hanson ie. "me"), not a guy.

04.Underneath - I prefer the acoustic version with the harmonica... Since it's more polished in the studio, that only seems to take away. However, both the studio and acoustic version are amazing. Had I never heard the acoustic version, I'd have nothing but praise here for the song. A true beaut.

05.Misery - I like tracks like this. It's nice, short, kind of upbeat, but the lyrics are very... cynical. Hearing the music, you expect it to be about something positive, yet the main lyric of the song says "as long as we're together we can always only be misery". Lovin' that.

06.Lost Without Each Other - if this track doesn't have you dancing, jumping or just moving in general, you must be a human plant. I cannot sit still listening to this. Before going to write my exams in the morning, I'd give this one a listen and just jump around and I'd feel a whole lot better. Love the beat. I have lots of fun playing the drums to this song. Out of all the fun, "moving" songs, this one definitely takes the cake.

07.When You're Gone - Beautiful guitar and vocals playing the main role here; drums, bass and organ join in a little later... very beautiful. There's just something about the way the guitar mingles with the drumbeat/bass and the vocals that just grabs me and twists my insides around. I really love this one.

08.Broken Angel - Is it just me or do Zac songs sound like they're solo songs? They seem very private. I love the simplistic piano playing. And let's not even get into the magnificent voice this man has, especially when he just belts it out. And the lyrics... pay attention to the music, vocals, and read the lyrics along, and you'll be weeping. Love it.

09.Deeper - the only Isaac lead on the album. Michelle Branch offers back-up vocals here, and except for the harmonies sounding slightly higher than usual, her contribution isn't apparent. A little repetitious. If you want to see Isaac shine vocally, see Hanson live. He doesn't cut it nearly as well in the studio. My least favourite track, but still listenable.

10.Get Up and Go (U.S. only) - First verse sounds too country, but after having heard it a few times, I just let go and enjoy this one. I love the intro w/ the tambourine/drums/bass, and the chorus is very fun, danceable. Great song. Quality-wise, it would lay around the mid-point.

11.Crazy Beautiful - Talk about brilliance. The drums, the build-up of the instruments, the horn-section, Taylor's vocals... all amazing. I loved this song live, but it was completely different. Much more mellow. Here it's so rich, full...alive. This song is nothing short of perfect. Really.

12.Hey - Lyrics- weak. Music- okay. This version's better than the acoustic: it's meant to be played plugged in and not stripped down. The song shines when it gets really hectic towards the end. This one goes in the "Deeper" department - listenable.

13.Believe - This could very easily be my favourite track. I love Taylor's vocals and piano work here. I love the way the words blend together. This one and Broken Angel have the strongest lyrics. Like on their last album, we (technically) end with a beautiful piano-ballad. The interesting part is how much better this ballad is from last album's masterpiece. They just keep getting better.

14.Lulla Belle - again, we get a private Zac show. Lovely. Similar to Broken Angel in that respect, but Broken Angel is clearly the stronger of the two. Vocally, both are great but Broken Angel wins. Lyrically, Broken Angel definitely wins. Musically, they're so different... Broken Angel is more emotion-stirring. Lulla Belle is lovely. It's a lullaby. It has an interesting, carnival-like feel to it. The piano oddly reminds me of a song by Michael Jackson called Little Susie, which features piano that is meant to sound like a little music-box (with the spinning ballerina). Beautiful.

15.Dream Girl - on first listen, I found the music overly repetitious on this track. After a few listens, I rate this one "okay". The chorus is nice, upbeat, fun... and the only flaw is the repetitious guitar.

16.I Almost Care - a bit of a disappointment. It's a great song, but by the high standards Hanson has set for themselves on this album, this one misses the mark. Maybe that's why it (and Dream Girl) aren't on the U.S. release. Overall: okay. You won't be skipping any tracks on this CD, and this one is no exception.

17.With You In Your Dreams - there are so many versions of this song out there. Each has its merits. This one is the most mature-sounding.

I have rarely bought a CD that has left me feeling this satisfied with my purchase. If you're deciding between the U.S. version or the import, go with the U.S. - cheaper, you can get it w/ a cool limited edition DVD, and in my opinion, out of Get Up and Go (U.S. only), Dream Girl (import only), and I Almost Care (import only), Get Up and Go is the best. You decide. It's a great buy either way.

Okay, folks...

Just for the record, I am not, I repeat NOT, a fan of the happy-sappy, bubble-gum pop group Hanson. From the moment I heard "MMMBop," I vowed to never ever like them because their girley looks, long hair, and voices just made me sick. Absolutely sick.

When "This Time Around" came out, I bashed them even more for TRYING to be rock, because I thought the album sucked, and I knew that they would always be the same teeny boppers from the MMMBop days. So now Hanson has made another 'comeback.' Yippee. I couldn't wait to get my hands on it and break it into a thousand pieces in front of all their pathetic fans.

One day, I was watching TRL and the VJ said that Hanson was going to be on the show. I was about to change the channel when...

Hold up. Who is that? That can't be Hanson; Hanson are three girls, disguised as brothers, with high-pitched voices and squeaky-clean images. These guys are NOT Hanson. And then they play sound clips from their new CD, and wait, wait, how could this be Hanson? This sounds nothing like them.

I bought the CD. I listened to it. I loved it.

Am I in the Twilight Zone or something? When did these guys get so good, and so good-looking, in such a short period of time? I have to say that I have been wrong, so wrong, about Hanson in terms of how much they suck. The Hanson brothers, and this time they actually LOOK like guys, are very talented as individuals and as a whole.

I apologize to all the Hanson fans whom I have made fun of, although I can't believe I'm actually admitting that I love Hanson myself...the current Hanson, that is. I still can't stand MMMBop.

"Underneath" is yet another chapter in the continuing evolution of Hanson. If you listen to their first commercial release in 1997 and compare it to "Underneath", it is obvious that each brother has honed both their instrumental and songwriting talents. "Underneath" marks a level of maturity and talent that many may be surprised to hear. Hanson is best known for the hit single "MmmBop", which some listeners may say was so infectious, it drove them to insanity. The lead single from Underneath is titled "Penny and Me". It exhibits a divergence from sugary sweet hooks to strong lyrics and a fuller musical sound.

The song "When You're Gone" exhibits the signature Hanson sound. They were even quoted as saying, "...if you don't get that song, then you don't get the band." It's hard to explain exactly what it is; perhaps it is the vulnerability in their vocals, or the relaxed tone of the arrangement, but it is the band. It is as if they are saying "this is who we are, this is what we live for". In "Misery", there is a sharp contrast in the feel of the music versus the expression of lyrics. Instrumentally, "Misery", with its catchy guitar melody and moderately fast drum rhythm, should be a very uplifting song. Yet the lyrics sung are, "I can never promise that you'll never be lonely/But as long as we're together, we can always only be/Misery." It challenges the listener to become more alert to the context of instrumental arrangements in comparison to their lyrics.

Gone are the days of "Where's the Love" with its lyrics of "Where's the right in all of our fighting". The light material that was once a staple for the band has developed into an expression of their innermost thoughts. "When You're Gone" is a giant leap from any material on the first album. Taylor Hanson wails, "Well I just can't seem to pity/Cause my heart's too numb to feel/And the smile does all the talking/Though the pain is all that's real/With the way that you keep screaming/I can hardly hear to think/And I feel the bridges burning/underneath my feet".

What draws me to this band is the fact that they produce real music. They care about their craft rather than making money, and you can feel it in the tone of their material. They have always played their own instruments, and written their own songs. This band has real talent and a passion for music. They want to create music for the fans to connect to. The song "Believe" has to be one of the most powerful I have ever heard. It is about reaching your absolute low and the search to find an escape. Haunting vocals set the tone of angst, yet at the end of the song, you know they have found an escape; the song ends on a note of promise.

The artist that is most similar in sound would probably be independent artist StephenSpeaks. They have talent and a knack for combining meaningful lyrics with catchy melodies. I also enjoy The Wreckers. But back to Hanson, I am eagerly awaiting their next release Hanson: Live and Electric, which is sure to replace Underneath Acoustic as my second favorite album by the band. The only thing better than a Hanson CD is a Hanson concert. I'm hoping this live album will capture their energy and let me relive my most recent Hanson concert experience.

I am a fairly new Hanson fan, having just been "added" to their fanbase this past fall. I only mention that because if I were not a fan, I'd probably have a tough time swallowing another review filled with the standard "This album is the BEST yet! They did such an awesome job! I'm so proud! It's been worth the 4 years!" from a long-time fan of 7 years, only for the reason that one never knows if the reviewer is an over-zealous teenybopper, or a fan who actually happens to know a thing or two about good music. That being said, let me tell you that I have absolutely NOTHING against long-time Hanson fans, as I've found some of them to be the nicest and most credible people that I've ever met.

Now THAT being said, I'll talk about the album. :)
Underneath is an album that absolutely cannot be pushed aside. The three men that poured their souls into making this music deserve so much more credit than they get from the overwhelming number of rotted-out teenagers who listen to today's popular "music". The brothers in Hanson have taken the time to actually learn to play instruments and refine their skills to play quite well. This is a rare quality to find in artists on popular radio stations or TV channels such as MTV.

Songs such as "Lost Without Each Other", "Get up and Go", and "Crazy Beautiful" are loosely called Hanson's stereotypical 'hooky' songs. This may be a harsh sounding accusation to many fans, but in reality the songs are something of just that: they grab you right in, and give you the sense that Hanson actually knows what they're doing with music. Also, "Dancing in the Wind" is evidence that Hanson can tell you what rock and roll is about.

Other songs such as "Strong Enough to Break" and "Underneath" show a more painful side of the band, which many figured was probably not even there beneath the brothers' smiling faces. After the arduous split from their record label, Island Def Jam, you can absolutely feel the passion emanating from these songs which speak of the hard times.

Overall, this album is proof that Hanson has really matured, both mentally and in their musical ability. It is one that you can listen straight through without getting bored or having to skip songs. I challenge anyone out there who still does not believe that Hanson can do it to listen to this album. Still, like with any new material, it is not going to please absolutely EVERYONE. But I can guarantee that if more people gave this band a try, the fan base would be a whole lot closer to including "everyone".

Brace yourself. This is Hanson's big comeback, and what a comeback it is. This album is absolutely amazing, leaving many top 40 artists in the dust. Track-by-track, it just flows. Lush harmonies and expert instrumentals abound, and between several tracks, there are bits of talking that just add to the flow of the album.

Track-by-track:

"Strong Enough To Break": Great, great song. Significantly better than the acoustic version, which annoyed me to no end. It's a perfect opener to the album.

"Dancin' In The Wind": It has a classic-rock feel that's reminiscent of the old-school hits that the brothers were brought up on. But the guitars tend to overpower the vocals, which is pretty distracting.

"Penny and Me": The first single, although not the strongest song on the album. It's a bittersweet, but catchy nonetheless, love song that's radio friendly, with a great music video to go with it.

"Underneath": By far, one of the most powerful songs on the album. The instrumentals are minimal for most of the song, leaving the spotlight on Taylor's voice, and he packs a vocal punch that makes the song all the better. Absolutely amazing.

"Misery": Truth be told, this song is pretty bland. Zac doesn't put much emotion into it, and the lyrics are almost painfully generic. It's not a bad song, necessarily, but compared to other songs on the album, it just doesn't fit. Should have been replaced with "Every Word I Say" from the "Penny and Me" single.

"Lost Without Each Other": One of the more pop-ish songs. Catchy and fun, this song will have you out of your seat and dancing in no time. Great song, whether you're already in a good mood or just need a pick-me-up.

"When You're Gone": Lacks some of the raw emotion from the acoustic verson. Near the end, the vocals are overpowered by instrumentals. But all in all, this song is lyrically very strong, and despite some of its shortcomings, it's an excellent ballad.

"Broken Angel": This is where Zac shows how talented he really is. This song takes a lot of flak from the critics, but most people love it. It brought me to tears several times: the lyrics are poignant and pull at your heart, and Zac's haunting voice fits the song perfectly.

"Deeper": Isaac's solo, backed by Michelle Branch, is a radio-friendly potential single. The problem? The vocals lack emotion, and it's very generic, lacking the Hanson 'zing'. But it's not bad, especially lyric-wise.

"Get Up and Go": Very catchy and fun. Brings back memories of "Middle of Nowhere". You can't help but move your body and sing along to this song. Great, upbeat song.

"Crazy Beautiful": Without a doubt, the best song on the album. It's Hanson at their prime. The song itself is unique and catchy, and the lyrics are beautiful. What else can I say? Amazing, amazing, amazing.

"Hey": Pure fun. It has the slightest bit of country flavor that makes it all the more catchy. Listen towards the end for Taylor's little scat-type ad-lib - it's priceless.

"Believe": The "A Song To Sing" of "Underneath". Taylor delivers his best vocal performance of the entire album here. This song is just beautiful.

Bonus tracks are at the end of "Believe" ... there's a little "Crazy Beautiful" remix that's adorable, and then there's another Zac solo, "Lulla Belle". It's a quirky, slightly weird song, but it works. You'll either love it or hate it.

Conclusion: This is a GREAT album, perfect for loyal Hanson fans or ones who need an introduction to the new Hanson. If this is the direction the guys are taking their music, I'm with it all the way. And to be honest, if they don't recieve some sort of recognition for this album, I will be VERY surprised. Because, yes, it's THAT good.

Hanson's back, and they're better than ever.