Back to the Sound-Off Room
Billboard Review
of "This Time Around" single
HANSON This Time Around (3:55)
Producers: Stephen Lironi, Hanson
Writers: I. Hanson, T. Hanson, Z. Hanson
Publisher: Jam'N'Bread Music, ASCAP
Island 15034 (CD promo)
Perhaps you thought you wouldn't be hearing this name again, but Hanson
is not only back, it has wisely redefined itself. While the hooks are
still firmly in place, the overall sound now is much more rock-oriented,
and it's damn credible. You may recall that these guys already wrote
their songs and played most of the instruments on their 1997 major-label
debut, "Middle Of Nowhere." You may also remember that middle child
Taylor showed incredible promise with a voice that simply cooked in a
live setting. Wisely, this mature concoction cuts a clear path to an
older audience, giving it a solid chance at adult top 40 in addition to
its base at mainstream pop. The song, which the guys wrote and
co-produced, opens as a ballad, with a piano intro that resembles
"Desperado," then gradually picks up steam until it bursts into a
rousing midtempo chorus that will simply make your mouth drop open.
Taylor's vocals are magnificent, at once soulful and full of depth,
while the instrumentation is meaty, creative and fulfilling. It's time
to disregard any preconceived notions about this act and accept the fact
that Hanson has the enduring talent and confidence to reach its greatest
heights yet with this enlightening single.
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