Tag: Hanson

Album Review: Anthem…

Posted on by anele25

Hanson_Anthem

When I first started hearing that Hanson was coming back with yet another album, I was pretty stoked because there last album had pretty much amazed me with how versatile there style had become. The first samples I heard from the album had me thinking that they made this album for the fans that had followed them throughout the years. The first evidence is seen in the fact that instead of using a more pop based musical style, they went back and added more guitar riffs and more piano melodies as well. The fact that they also said in many interviews that they made the album with the fans in mind got me thinking they topped themselves and that they did. Every Hanson album has had a different message and with this one they set out to bring out songs that you can sing the lyrics and relate to them a bit. With this one in mind, they send the listener the message that life brings about challenges, dreams, messes in love and life, and also our willingness to be strong in life. So, without further ado here is my take on each song and some interpretation of each song.

1. Fired Up

Starting off the album is Fired Up, which for some odd reason, had me thinking of the motivational speaker Sam Crowley and his podcast “Every Day is Saturday”. This song does the same but in a different way. It starts off with a rock and roll tone and it keeps going off until it really pumps you up. The whole message of the song is that it acts as a tool to get people and maybe the individual to get themselves in gear and literally get fired up. It could be that we have to do something important and we are doubting ourselves a bit but this song fires up us up a bit. On the other hand, maybe we are already fired up and this gets us thinking in an even more positive tone. It gets you thinking that nothing will stop you and only you can really stop you from turning around in life. This song has also become my tool for waking up in the morning as I set out to accomplish something new everyday, no matter how small or big the task may be. Overall a perfect song to set the tone of the day.

2. I’ve Got Soul

A great song that kind of reminds me of some Michael Jackson songs from back in his early days. The basic idea and theme behind the song is that you see a girl and you’re not afraid to go out and ask her for a dance. It shows us that showing a little charisma and not being afraid can propel the person to show a little soul. I know when they are talking about putting petty feelings aside makes me think that going up to girls and not being shy is something I should take head on. The keyboard and the drums on the song make this a great song to drive on the road as it keeps you awake and alert as it keeps you pumped up. Great song in my opinion.

3. You Can’t Stop Us

Fuck, I love this song only because it reminds me of the times that I’ve been told I couldn’t do something I wanted to do. I remember when I first heard the sample of the song and thinking this is what has happened in some instances in my life. The song is split into three parts, with each brother taking a verse, and my favorite line of the song is “Your fancy words try to cut me down to size/ Hey Mr Mr /You’re in in for a big surprise/”. Words and actions from other people can only take you so far that it is up to the individual to take action in their life. When I think of the song, I hear the words “You don’t know crap and you don’t know anything” and I tell myself You can’t stop us. I believe that is what their message was in this song as people may try to tell you that this is a bad idea but only you can tell yourself that you can’t do it. For example, one person told me two years ago that I couldn’t advance beyond a certain class just because I had read a few books. However, that served as motivation for me to get to that class and eventually I finished it with that thought in the back of my head. Favorite song off the album because of the message it sends.

4. Get the Girl Back

The lead single off the album and even though it may not be my favorite song off the album, it is so damn catchy. Have you ever been in a situation where you’ve pissed off a girl and you just wanted to get her back? Well this song kind of describes that situation as the story behind the song is that the girl is walking away and you have to tell her how wonderful and beautiful she is. If that doesn’t happen then some guy may sneak in and grab her before you even have the chance. I like the song more so for the lyrics because they describe some situations I have seen some of my friends in life go through as they have to show rather than tell how they are going to get the girl back. Saying things right from the heart can also mean a whole lot more when it comes about in a situation where a crisis is abound. Overall, not my favorite. but it struck me as a decent song to kick off there campaign for the album.

5. Juliet

I always wondered why tragic plays such as Othello and Romeo and Juliet were made. In this case, this may be why as it is a story about a guy pouring his heart out for a girl he loves. In the play Romeo and Juliet it is almost like it is about chasing the girl for her love and here it is no different. He doesn’t know how to express his feelings so he decides to do it with a song as he describes how fine and pretty she is. In life, we all have a Juliet that we wish to sing about and here it is done with emotion. Relationships have ups and downs as described in the song as when girls and guys have been around each other for so long it is hard to tell when love is blooming or failing. But, in the end every guy knows that when they are in love they need that love because without that other person they feel just a little incomplete. Probably one of my favorite Hanson love songs.

6. Already Home

We all know what Home is but here the story is about someone who is lost and can’t seem to find where home is. The thing that made me listen to this song a few times over is that I really didn’t get the message of the song at first. At first, maybe it was about a guy that was telling a girl that she belongs with him but after looking at the lyrics it makes a little bit more sense. After reaing it, it seems to me like a song about a person that keeps trying to find the right fit for where they want to be but they can always go back home. Their identity is that of one that is always looking to keep moving but they don’t know how they keep ending up in the same place. The person keeps asking for help from a friend or a loved one but it may be a sticky situation where that person keeps standing there ground. It is almost a song that reminds me of when someone leaves their home where they were raised there whole life and they keep bouncing from town to town. However, they never seem to settle down and they somehow end up asking where home may be. Overall, an amazing song that just keeps going till the climax where the lyrics grab you and enthrall you till the end.

7. For your love

When I get married, I think I may use this song because it is so damn romantic. Your basic love song about a guy that is looking to defend his love’s honor and he just may even fight for it as well. I think the message of the song is that in a way love has to be unselfish on both sides because we are looking to satisfy both sides. What I enjoyed about the song is that it almost acts as a power ballad that stops and keeps going in the chorus. I believe I’ll keep this in mind as I journey forward in life.

8. Lost Without You

I said earlier that Track Number 3 “You Can’t Stop Us” was my favorite off the album but this is a close second because of how awesome the melodies sound off the song. I believe the song may be about a guy that has found that love and he doesn’t want to let her go after he has found her. I like the song for the slow keyboards that are brought in the middle of the song which make it seem like a slow build for the listener. Sometimes, it seems to me that love is difficult to find and this instance that may be what is happening here. The guy is willing to do anything for that girl and that is the message he conveys here. He essentially is lost without her because he wouldn’t know where else to go after he has found her in his journey. This song is perfect for going to sleep to as well because it is slow and almost dream like in the setting that they build it up as. Hanson outdoes themselves here due to the premise and the way the instruments connect well with the harmonies. A great song for all longing for love!

9. Cut Right through me

I like this song because it describes a situation where the guy gives into the girl’s temptation and beauty. Guys sometimes think they have all the answers but in essence the girl that is in our life can just make us go crazy. It is like the other day when I was hearing a podcast where they pointed out that a guy was talking smack about his girl but later he was talking about missing her already. Girls have this mystery to them that makes us guys give into them and I admit it is almost impossible not to journey into the unknown. But, we are always looking to go with what is familiar in life and routine is sometimes essential in life. I truly believe this song is just about how girls (and guys) can manipulate a situation into their favor and we really just do not know how they do it. It may be with their words, facial expressions, and/or just little subtle comments directed towards the individual. Such a great song and one that is great to sing along to as well.

10. Scream and Be Free

Wow, what a song and it is about what the title says scream and be free. The song is about living out our dreams and making them happen. It is also about the journey and story that we go through. The little steps that we take towards bettering ourselves in the long run scream out in the song. I enjoyed the song due due to the simple guitar riff and the fact that it is once again about not letting anything stand in your way of living out your dreams. Living life from day to day is much more important than thinking about doing something tomorrow. Raising your voice and making yourself be heard is something that is brought about in this song. I love the fact that this song encourages growth and development without being overly preachy. Overall, a great song that serves as motivation as I march forward in life. For what it says a wonderful melody and a great way to bring the final three tracks.

11. Tragic Symphony

As opposed to track 9 Cut Right Through Me, this song imposes that the guy is not that dumb and he sets out to expose the girl as being a manipulative person. It may be that the relationship is not healthy for the guy and he is starting to see the consequences whether it is through lies, deception, tragedy, or manipulation. The guy is pouring himself out there because he is giving it one last whirl in order for the girl to hear him out. The curtain has been raised and in this instance he sees right through what she is doing to him. Sometimes relationships act like that because we want to seem that everything is going well but in fact there may be some petty things which we aren’t aware of. I must say that the song surprised me at first because the title was misleading as I thought it would be slow and not as fast as I thought it would be. But, overall a decent song and one that brings together everything about some relationships.

12. Tonight

Technically, the last song on the album (not counting the encore) and I think of my life when I hear this song. This song is just fun and it gets you geared up for any situation where the day is ending and you got something going on. You may feel down and/or doubting yourself for that day is almost over. I personally feel the song is about taking a chance for that one night at an event or what have you. You may be too shy to ask for that dance from that pretty girl across the hall and you are scared shitless to ask her for that dance. In situations like that you may not be waiting for tomorrow but rather Tonight.  Or you may be with a group of friends and you are just shooting the shit but there is that one person in the group that wants to start something that night. In essence, the song sends the message that we just have to be ourselves when we are out and if we wait till tomorrow to say something or do something then we may just be regretting it for a long time. I believe Hanson made this song with the intention of sending out the positive message of being in the moment and giving it all we got when we are in a win or lose situation. The song really speaks truths and it gives the group a perfect fit because the lyrics and the buildup of the end of the song really do it justice. Great song to end the album.

Encore: Save me from myself

Kind of a downer of a song since I believe the singer is trying to commit suicide because of the love that has left him. The singer speaks about being trapped in the deepest of his trenches because he has nowhere else to go and he needs help. He just doesn’t know where to find it in this instance. The weirdest part of the song is that there is no chorus and it speaks as a letter or a poem to the listener. I feel this song is kind of the sad ending that are fit for albums and overall that is what it does here. Overall, Anthem was worth the wait and I recommend giving it a listen even for those that think Hanson is not relevant anymore.

Overall

9/10

Some samples from the album:

Album Review: Hanson Shout it Out

Posted on by anele25

There is always something interesting about looking up artists who you thought, quite frankly, were dead or had just broken up. There are a few you forget about (Coolio, Kid-N-Play, New kids on the block, and who can forget when Lindsay Lohan made music?) but one day I was searching Hanson and I came across this great song they made called This Time Around. Now, being in my 20’s now, the song had a lot of meaning for me because the theme of the song is that you can’t wait for tomorrow but rather you have to take it now. I bought that album but once I came across this it had a much more mature sound. Frankly, when you think of Hanson you probably think ‘the guys that made that Mmmbop song’ and that’s what I thought too. But once I started listening to samples of this album I believed that it is always important to expand your musical choices. It has become a goal of mine to explore other sounds of music. I really don’t care how bad it is perceived or how well it may be perceived. Once I started listening to this, it was clear that Hanson was past that teeny bopper stage and they had now grown as artists and as musicians. I’ll go through each song as describing the vibe and theme of each song as I made my own burned copy and included the excluded bonus track so here goes:

1. Make it out alive

A great beginning to the album, it describes the relationship as being on shaky grounds but in the end you still love that other person. To me, it is told from the perspective of someone who knows they have to not do everything just for themselves and they have to compromise. But, that person telling that story also has to keep telling themselves that I can’t believe she is doing this to me’. Typically, you want to make sure you’re not hurting the other person’s feelings and having a sheer relationship where you’re always fighting must be difficut. So, in the end this song is about hanging on with that love till the end.

2. And I waited

A song for the ages! Probably one of the best on the album. This for me describes two stages and that is one being the person of seduction and the other being seduced. The first part of the song is about the first person tempting the other person or partner into doing things or believing in something (love, money, what have you) and they are trying to get the other to buy into it. However, the second part is about the second person having enough and they have decided to do something about it. A lot of good solid themes in the song about love and temptations.

3. Carry you there

A decent song but not my favorite song. Pretty self explanatory with the title of the song. It is about a girl that refuses help (or love) but the guy keeps insisting that he will always be the perfect match for her. He wants her to look forward to better and bigger things but she keeps looking back at the risks that have been left behind. From my point of view, it sounds like the guy wants to help this girl but she keeps pushing him away because he has something that she doesn’t.

4. Waiting for this

I really don’t get this song from a meaning standpoint but it is one of the best on the album. From one perspective, it could be about a girl falling for a guy and she is afraid to do so because he keeps pressuring her for them to be together. But, on the other hand it could also be about the need for the guy to tell the girl that he knows the girl is cheating on him so why doesn’t she say it already? A song that in my opinion represents what might go through a person’s head when they are getting ready to make a decision regarding love.

5. Voice in the chorus

Great piano and great melodies accompany the song. From the meaning, it is about a girl that is there when the good times are rolling and when the bad times come she vanishes. On this song, it is clear that Hanson got very creative incorporating horns and trumpets, keyboards, the guitar, and drums. Pretty much, this is what life is sometimes because we have all these people in our lives when good times come but when it goes down then they leave.

6. Make it through today

One of the more depressing songs on the album but was actually excluded from the US version of the album. A very sad melody about a guy that has realized his life is nothing and his regrets have come back to him as his life is loneliness. They also realize that they have dreams which keep them away from being so sad and hateful all the time. They also contemplate whether they are leading a good life beyond what has hit them already and they also want to end it as soon as possible. very telling song and shows the diversity of the group.

7. Thinking ’bout something

Awesome song that goes along with a great theme and that is two can play that game. The basic story of the girl cheating on the guy and the guy decides ‘you know what’ why not chase after some girls if she has guys going after her. Ultimately, he also realizes that the girl wasn’t for him because he knew he was a good companion for her. Also, the song includes a great guitar solo and some great handclapping. Just an overall, fun and enjoyable song that anyone can move their head to.

8. Use me up

One of the more intrapersonal songs on the album that is just about nothing. It is about pain and not feeling it when it fact you should be. One of the lines said on the song ‘I’ve carried it all too long, the fear of the pain it brings’ is just about being alone and feeling numb due to some unfortunate circumstances that may happen. Human emotion is meant to happen in our lives and the singer is conveying to us that sometimes we want to feel but it is difficult due to us not being able to feel anything. A very emotional and raw song about being stuck between pain and emptiness.

9. Kiss me when you come home

At first, I hated this song but then I thought what a positive song. Just like the title says, the guy wants the girl to enjoy herself but he also wants some love too. He needs to understand the girl and realizes his own faults with the lyric ‘you know that when I get mad I don’t mean a word that I say’. The song is also about reasoning and coming to logical conclusions and not basing our understandings on assumptions. Such a powerful and a necessary song that talks about love.

10. Give a little

What can I say about this song? Just a bass pedal, a guitar, and some horns and you got yourself a good song about guys trying to get some love from the ladies. Basically, guy approaches girl and girl has to be interested in the guy so you have yourself an instrument for success. In the process, the girl has to tease the guy a bit in order for the guy to come back. Also, a great dancing number for anybody.

11. Musical Ride

Probably the song that has the most meaning for me. As the title says, the guy wants to invite the girl along this musical ride where he wants to change the girl’s life. The girl, in a way is very conservative , and she is hesitant with the guy. The guy, however, understands this but he wants the girl to enjoy herself in her own life. It is a long journey for the both the guy and the girl as he wants to convince her to go on this journey with him. He’ll let the girl, as the song says ‘pick the destination and he’ll pick the road’.

12. These walls

Kind of a breakup song that emphasizes that both partners do not want to be in the relationship that they are in. It could also be about speaking their minds being passive agressive throughout the whole relationship. The guy doesn’t want to see the girl realize she made a mistake and just end it right there. The guy realizes that it is too hard to handle and he would rather not just be there but is he stuck there? An interesting song.

13. Me, Myself and I

What a conclusion to the album! Being alone and breaking up with a girl is something I haven’t experienced so this song is something that is sad and has an optimistic outlook. The guy understands that the relationship has ran it’s course and he had his life out there with this girl. He also sees that sometimes things happen for a reason as he is left with himself in the end. he has himself to talk to and the relationship he had been in has had a bitter end. The guy sees that once he has been left alone that he’ll be able to understand that everything has collapsed and now he has to look forward to the future. Something about this song makes me think that relationships can devastate people and they can also bring hope to people as well.

Well, as you can see I do enjoy this album and it will be in my playlist for a while. So, if you get a few minutes check out Hanson and be open minded with music! (A sample video below)

Day #46 7/24/11: Hanson and a strange leader is amongst us…

Posted on by anele25

Quick recap of the day:

Finally got this awesome Hanson CD and it was pretty good even after several listens, almost every track is good except for “Can’t Stop”. Melodies and songs about life and love.

Watched Impact wrestling with the brother and my niece.

Had a good close with my good pal Silva as we had a grand old time. We also had some candid comments about a new shift leader that has joined the machine as she has some strange tendencies.

And of course what’s a night without the gym!