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21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
"Caught in a trap, and they can't back out...", November 5, 2005
Any way you cut it, these guys have got a tough row to hoe. They had the immensely bad luck of becoming huge before their voices broke, making them the darlings of pre-teen girls worldwide. Since then, they have grown into talented and respectable musicians, but the net result is that the corporate (read ignorant) world of pop music has no idea how to perceive them, and has abandoned them. Left to their own devices on an independent label, the three Hanson brothers must earn credibility all by themselves, and it is going to be one heck of an uphill battle. This live CD compiles some of their better tunes, and displays the legitimate musicianship and songwriting of the band, but I wonder if anyone over twenty is willing to listen.
For starters, you should understand that these guys are for real. They are credible musicians, who want respect as much as they want commercial success. They do not want to lose the fan base that made them famous in the first place, but they need to attract adult fans if they want a lasting, lucrative career. Leading off this live disk with a version of Radiohead's "Optimistic" is a reasonably logical way to do this. Fact is, they do the song justice, too, although I doubt that anyone would choose this version over the original. Their own songs, like "Where's the Love" and "Strong Enough to Break" have great hooks and are sung incredibly well, but I'm not convinced that they are gritty enough to attract 20-35 year-old males, either. Quasi-inspirational lighter ballads like "I Will Come to You" and "Underneath" only make matters worse, especially when programmed back to back. A cover of U2's "In a Little While" will, like the Radiohead song, spark recognition, and perhaps a nod of respect, but they need more if they want to cross over.
There are moments that work beautifully, though. "Penny and Me" is nearly impossible to deny, and "Hand in Hand" supplies the necessary muscle, while giving oldest brother Isaac a chance to stretch out on guitar and vocals. Funnily enough, "MMM-Bop" still sounds great, too, and "This Time Around" also gets close to the groove that they need. "Rock and Roll Razorblade" is an obvious attempt in the right direction, too, but ultimately sounds more like a Bryan Adams outtake. Surprisingly, the most credible moments occur on the bonus DVD disk that accompanies the live CD. The video clips are all excellent, and the live bits should surprise naysayers who insist that Hanson is akin to Milli Vanilli, or some such ignorance. I for one liked Hanson in the "MMM-Bop" days, and I am willing to give them the benefit of the doubt now. Besides, I love rooting for the underdog, especially when they're a bunch a nice guys. B Tom Ryan
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Hanson Jams, October 13, 2005
Hanson has been around for almost a decade and while they are no longer a huge act on the charts, they have matured nicely from a teenybopper band into a tight live act as evidenced by this album. The songs have a definite live feel; they aren't merely carbon copies of their studio versions. The brothers open the songs up and jam while retaining the catchy melodies that made them famous. This a very good live album that won't disappoint hardcore fans and may even convert some Hanson doubters.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent range of songs, if only the recording was a bit better, October 19, 2005
This cd is an excellent range of songs and can really show anyone what Hanson is capable of. Many songs off their first album are included, even Mmmbop, and having a recording of these songs from 2005 shows how the band has grown and matured, while also proving what excellent song writers they were as children. Almost all of the songs hold up as wonderful pop gems alongside the band's stellar new material.
The inclusion of one of the band's best songs, Every Word I Say, as well as the fun, energetic new concert standard, Rock N Roll Razorblade, are especially worthwhile for the more casual fans who may never have heard these tunes. The Radiohead cover, Optimistic, is terrific and lets the band really flex their rock sensibilities. But for my money, the song that would sell the album on its own is the amazing cover of U2's In A Little While. This is when you understand how truly talents these young men are. Only the most talented musicians could do a U2 cover that would hold its own against the original song.
The main reason this cd doesn't get more than three stars is the recording quality. Sometimes an echo from the speakers is noticeable, and I have never felt that the screams of the crowd add anything to my listening enjoyment of a live cd. Neither of these distractions was seriously enough to detract from my overall pleasure of the cd though. This is an excellent recording for fans old and new, and a great introduction for though who think of Hanson as nothing more than "Mmmbop".
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