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Back in 1997, when the squeaky-clean teen Hanson brothers first took radio waves by storm with their oh-so-cheery pop tunes, I was already a bit too old (and perhaps too jaded) to jump on the Hanson bandwagon. But even my cynical, post-grunge self couldn’t deny the infectiousness of their mega-hit “MMMBop.” No matter how hard I tried (and, believe me—I tried), I couldn’t help but smile (and maybe even sing along, if no one else was in the room) when the song came on the radio.
Since the days of Hanson super-stardom, others have come and gone, filling their pop-star shoes (hello, Jonas Brothers). Meanwhile, the Hansons have grown up and started squeaky-clean little families of their own. But while they may be all grown up, their latest album, Shout It Out, shows that, family men or not, they still know how to have fun. And they still know how to play the happy-go-lucky pop tunes that are sure to put a smile on your face.
Shout It Out has the same catchy melodies, the same big, soulful harmonies, the same pounding piano and drums that made the brothers superstars in the ‘90s. And by the time those oh-so-peppy horns come bounding into the first single, “Thinking ‘Bout Somethin’,” you’ll be hooked. You’ll be grinning like an idiot while singing along and shimmying in your seat—even if you’ve never shimmied before in your life. Don’t even try to fight it. Resistance is futile.
If you haven’t heard Hanson in a while, though, you might be surprised to find that Shout It Out isn’t just catchy pop tunes. In fact, parts of the second half of the album are surprisingly grown-up. The Hansons explore a more mature sound (and sentiment) with tracks like “And I Waited” and the thoughtful ballad, “Use Me Up,” as well as the heartbreaking closer, “Me Myself and I.” There are some beautiful songs on this album, yet I’ll freely admit that I just keep coming back to the album’s more fun-loving tracks (like “Thinking ‘Bout Somethin’”—which, so far, is my Song of the Summer).
Fortunately for me, then, the Hanson brothers acknowledge and embrace their past. Sure, they’ve grown up quite a bit since their big break in the ‘90s—and their experiences have only helped their music grow with them. But they still like their music easy-going. They like to harmonize. They like their videos silly (and with Weird Al backing them up on tambourine, if he’s available). And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that—because that’s when they’re at their best.
Give Shout It Out a try, and you might just be surprised to find that it’s thoughtful and heartfelt, but—best of all—it also brightens those gloomy, cloudy days.
