Forget that these guys once sang that teenybopper hit "Mmmbop" -- this new CD is very good. The Hanson brothers have really matured as singers, musicians, and songwriters.

This new album is produced by Danny Kortchmar (Billy Joel, Don Henley, Jon Bon Jovi, Neil Young, etc.) and features some great music. "Watch Over Me", "Running Man", "Blue Sky", "Tearing It Down", "In A Way", and "I Am" are all standout tracks.

Surprisingly (for me at least) is the fact that the songs sung by Zach and Isaac are the best of the bunch -- keyboard player Taylor sang all their hits -- but the other two brothers really shine on lead vocals.

Seriously -- Hanson is no longer "just your little sister's band".



See domestic USA release of this album further down the thread ... ~ Linda

MySpace has May 22 as a release date for USA, Canada, and Mexico...

I've been watching Hanson's podcast documentary "Strong Enough To Break" over the last few weeks. It started as a simple Making-Of for their last album, "Underneath" but it turned into the story of how they were screwed over by the label consolidation that took place after the Polygram/Universal merger, and how they fought to be dropped from their label so they could go independent.

They've been going to music schools as guest lecturers, showing the film and talking about their experiences with the music business

Regardless of how you feel about their music (I like it - they didn't get good as they got older, they always were - they're just easier to take seriously now) it's a really interesting picture of what the music business has become.

Go to the podcasts page of iTunes, and search for Hanson. They also have another making-of for this album, called Taking the Walk.

This album is finally being released in the States on July 24th:



>> It's hard to hear The Walk from end to end without wishing the brothers Hanson could go back in time and undo the career-stunting megahit that was "MmmBop." If it wasn't for that 1997 song, catchy and guilty-pleasurable as it was, the boys would be well on their way to winning over the kind of committed audience a disc as focused and fine-tuned as this one deserves. There's nothing particularly high-minded here (excepting the single "Great Divide," a downloadable track whose sales will benefit an African orphanage), but each song radiates a level of pop-rock accomplishment that surpasses most anything you'll hear on top 40 radio. Hanson, in fact, has more in common with acts like Fountain of Wayne and Amos Lee these days than anybody you'll see strutting across a TV screen in skin-tight pants. Highlights on a disc without a single dud include "Georgia," contemplatively sung by Taylor, and "Running Man," an addictive Squeeze-meets-Beatles rock ditty co-written by Zac. In its 15-year history, Hanson has won the right to talk the talk about the hardships and satisfactions of maturing musically; The Walk backs that talk up beautifully. <<

1. Intro (Ngi Ne Themba)
2. Great Divide
3. Been There Before
4. Georgia
5. Watch Over Me
6. Running Man
7. Go
8. Fire On The Mountain
9. One More
10. Blue Sky
11. Tearing It Down
12. Something Going Round
13. Your Illusion
14. Walk, The
15. Got A Hold On Me - (Live Acoustic Track/US Release Only)
16. I've Been Down - (Live Acoustic Track/US Release Only)
17. Something Going Round - (Live Acoustic Track/US Release Only)

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000RGSOIM/?tag=imwan-20