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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"Underneath the Surface", October 5, 2005
"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.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
hanson is truly a band to be respected, May 10, 2004
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".
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hanson = Genre of their own, June 13, 2004
Having been introduced to hanson's new stuff within the past few months I have already become quite the fan. They write their own music, own their own recording/production studio, all play piano, all play guitar, all have dedicated their lives completely to music and still have a passion for it. This all amounts to an original sound that is all their own and the ability to produce it without any degradation from their art. Underneath is my favorite album of theirs yet. I have never skipped to the next song. I enjoy them all. Some are really up-beat and fun to listen to and yet others are absolutely beautiful sleep-to music all with excellent harmonies and a blend only 3 brothers could produce. My favorite track is the cover track 'Underneath' which has a brilliant half-voice (high register) harmony during the chorus. I played it over probably 5 or 6 times my first time listening to it. I could go on and on about each track, they're amazing. But this shouldn't even be a "maybe". If you like music, you'll like this CD. And for anyone who's stuck on the whole "I will never listen to hanson" attitude, get off it. They're mature talented musicians with heart into every song and a passion to continue. I garuntee you will enjoy this whole album start to finish.
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