Ah, to be young and famous...
By now, the story of Hanson - three songs of oil financier Walker Hanson who have catapulted to fame, fortune, and countless television exposure - has been heard by music fans throughout the globe. The deeper question is: what does their major label debut album, Middle of Nowhere, offer?
The first single, "Mmmbop", has already hit the top of the charts. The irresistible hook of this song will immediately send you referencing towards those Jackson 5 songs, whether towards their cover of "Rockin' Robin" or "I Want You Back". However, while Motown guided the careers of Michael and his brothers - and the Jacksons could only sing - these three siblings form a harmonizing group who not only write their own songs, but also play their own instruments. So, 11 year old Zac is sitting back, playing the drums - not at the level of a Vinnie Colaiuta, but competently enough. And with the Dust Brothers contributing production efforts, even with a nonsensical refrain, this will be one of the top singles of the year.
Hanson is no one-hit wonder. Assisting in the writing of their songs are some of the most prominent names in the business - Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, as well as Desmond Child - to put the finishing touches on this threesome's work. "Where's The Love" is an obvious followup single likely to duplicate the top-of-the-charts success of "Mmmbop", but it's not all a one trick pony. The bonus track "Man From Milwaukee" is a tale of a homeless man set to a pop backing, "Speechless" owes an awful lot to the Beatles' "Come Together" and "Madeline" steals some ideas from the Jackson 5's "ABC". The ballads such as "Weird", "Lucy" and "I Will Come To You" don't do anything for me, but are guaranteed to make the pre-pubescent girls swoon. "Yearbook" could be a hidden smash as well, of a schoolmate who is no longer with them.
Where will Hanson go from here? Possibly down the road of power pop; the track "A Minute Without You" foregoes the usual lead vocals of Taylor Hanson for the older, more mature voice of brother Isaac. The switch is quite effective and is the song most likely to click with folks who don't want to engage in flashbacks to Motown and bubblegum pop, although it doesn't depart much from the path which Hanson are walking.
Michael Jackson was once a child prodigy, turned into the self proclaimed King of Pop, and many would now say that the letter "o" should be added to that title. The gloved one would do fine to take a listen to Middle of Nowhere to hear what pop really sounds like. Guaranteed to be on the top of the charts for a long time in 1997.
