Music review: Hanson — ‘Anthem’
It鈥檚 been 16 years since Hanson released their debut album with the infectious, sugar-coated hit single 鈥淢MMBop.鈥�
鈥淢iddle of Nowhere鈥� launched the energetic Oklahoma brothers to teen-pop stardom.
I鈥檒l admit that I was one of the critics thinking that this was just a fleeting fad.
No way could these lads be in it for the long haul.
Six studio albums later, I find myself eating my words as the trio releases the soaring 鈥淎nthem鈥� on their own independent label 3CG Records.
Building off of 2010鈥檚 鈥淪hout It Out,鈥� 鈥淎nthem鈥� sizzles with a combination of soul and rock, smothered around pure power-pop melodies.
鈥淔ired Up鈥� sets the pace quickly with grinding guitar riffs, sprinkled with a funk flavoring and Taylor鈥檚 muscular vocals.
With lyrics like 鈥淐ome with us if you want to live鈥� for the album opener and 鈥淥ur time has come and you鈥檙e standing in the way鈥� from 鈥淵ou Can鈥檛 Stop Us,鈥� the Hansons have matured from boys to men, and aim to prove it.
On many of the new tracks, it鈥檚 obvious that Taylor remembered his brief time as a member of Tinted Windows.
Taylor joined the supergroup comprised of Bun E. Carlos of Cheap Trick, Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne and James Iha of the Smashing Pumpkins and released the 2009 self-titled album filled with well-constructed power pop, offering precision rock licks and catchy pop melodies. Joined by Michael Fitzpatrick and Joe Karnes of Fitz and the Tantrums, 鈥淕et the Girl Back鈥� offers a satisfying, soulful sound with a booming horn section, hand claps, cowbell and bouncy chorus.
鈥淚鈥檝e Got Soul鈥� pounds out a James Brownesque opening as the brothers deliver a pulsating Motown-influenced number that is sure to vibrate the dance floor.
The quirky love ballad 鈥淛uliet鈥� is fueled by Zac on vocals (sounding a little like Adam Levine of Maroon 5) and a funky horn accompaniment, adding a charmingly innocent vibe to the overall sound.
鈥淪ave Me from Myself鈥� tenderly closes the album with Zac鈥檚 strongest vocal effort, featuring Gogol Bordello鈥檚 Yuri Lemeshev on accordion. As further proof of the band鈥檚 musical maturation and skills, all the songs on 鈥淎nthem鈥� are written and produced solely by the brothers.
Hanson is scheduled to make a Pittsburgh appearance in early November.