Hanson, The Eyebrows are Back!
An interview with the dreamy one, Taylor Hanson
by Monte Holman
The eyebrows are back! Former boy sensations, Hanson, are storming the music industry with the passion of proselytizers for the cause of independent music. A struggle to survive in the pick-of-the-day major label system in which bands are discarded like non-recyclable take-out boxes drove Hanson to drop Geffen and start their own label. They now fervently preach the Good News of independence.
But their Starbuckian jargon sounds awfully suspicious. Discussing the band using terms like entrepreneurship, brands, markets and models seems to transplant the evil concerns of the big labels into a new setting. An increasing familiar setting in which indie bands capitalize off the OC and Target.
Thing is, Hanson are likable kids, er, young adults, who obviously love music but grew up under the thumbs of soul-sucking record execs. It's impossible to stoop to the usual cynicism directed toward commercial bands when these three brothers are trying so earnestly to do something about it. Like really earnestly, man. So their upcoming album, The Best of Hanson, Live and Electric (3CG), may not be your cup of tea. But I'll be damned if you could talk shit about these guys after hearing them out for a few minutes.
We were recently offered the opportunity to speak with Taylor. The dreamy one. How could we refuse? Via phone, Taylor explained the band's philosophy, which when his awkward industry lingo was boiled away, amounted to keeping two things sacred: the music and the fans.
Hanson is Isaac, Taylor and Zac Hanson.
FREEwilliamsburg: The title of the new record is The Best of Hanson, Live and Electric. Why go with a "best of" at this point? What spurred the desire to put out a live album?
Taylor: It's become really trendy to put out a "greatest hits" or "best of" too early. It's spawned by a major label idea to try to put out hits. But for us, it's more about the "live and electric" part. And it's a "best of" because when you play shows and you've been a band for like 13 years and have released multiple albums, you've got a certain amount of songs that are the best of songs, the ones people know and react to live. It's not as much a greatest hits package as a reinterpretation of what we've done for the last decade or so. It's about framing who we've always been.
FREEwilliamsburg: You include a Radiohead cover and a U2 cover. Why those particular bands and why do covers at all on this sort of album?
Taylor: It's a representation of some of our influences. U2 probably more than Radiohead. U2 is such an icon right now. There are so few great bands. They're one of the greats right now-they are dishing it out. They're a real inspiration to us just as a band who's had such an arc in their career. I love that song ["In A Little While," from All That You Can't Leave Behind]. With Radiohead, that song ["Optimistic", from Kid A] is a seismic song. We started off almost every show the last two years on tour for Underneath with it. We wanted to start things off with a sort of brace-yourself, larger-than-life, electric feeling. That song is really dynamic, and it does that for people. It's really unexpected for someone listening to a Hanson album, and also it's really a lot more of an example of who this band is in a sense of its versatility, pushing yourself and always throwing something in there that's in the realm of what seems like what you'd expect to get.
FREEwilliamsburg: As evidenced by the songs on the live album, there seems to be a progression from an R&B influence when you guys first started out to straight up rock and roll in more recent songs. Is that something you've consciously moved toward, or did it come naturally?
Taylor: You have a natural meeting of the minds as you make each record. You're right - with that first record, where we came from, the biggest inspiration was old R&B. Aretha Franklin and Otis Redding, stuff like the Eisley Brothers-great classic R&B. And old rock and roll, you know, Elvis and the Beatles. You see that a lot more on the first record, and on the second record there were more rootsy songs like "This Time Around." And then Underneath becomes more straight-up rock influenced by more alt-country and mellower bands like Travis, like Jayhawks. Those are some of the things that leaked into the writing process on the last album. A natural evolution happened.
But what Live and Electric does is ties all that together and says, "bands change as they should, and they're all one."
I love going to shows, and I don't want to hear the same song like 30 times. I want to go through an experience, I want to go up and down, I want to rock a little bit, I want to pull my lighter up a little bit, and jump around a little bit. That's what we tried to do with this record, to create what you feel at a show.
FREEwilliamsburg: A lot of talk around you guys is the move toward independence. For a band who's had a lot of success and sold a lot of records within the major-label system, why decide to go indie?
Taylor: What you've got to remember is that the old label system, or the major-label system, used to be a lot closer to what the indie-label system is now. When we came out, it was sort of the last breath of the real major record companies. When the record companies still operated much closer to an indie in a sense that you had people that were running labels that had been there a long time, more artist-relations people, more thinking, real investment in brands.
What's happened over the last five to eight years is this dramatic shift of consolidation, corporate turnovers and a lot of labels hiring a lot more accountants than people that know music. It's actually a lot like us saying we want to stay on the same path we started with, which is to work with people that believe in their fans and in long-term and a career and not alter that because we're afraid of leaving a major label and go on a system which has become more about stock prices. The attention span is so short. People don't realize who this band is always been because we're so young, and it's hard to get over that stigma of "wow, they're so young." But we've always been really hands-on, almost too hands-on where people are like "dude, you don't have to be involved in everything.
That level of passion is the way we operated from the beginning. As we began to clash with this system that was changing and becoming more and more corporate and more removed from music and from the music we make, we were like "look, this isn't the way records should be made, and this isn't the way careers should be made."
FREEwilliamsburg: What has the response been from peers, other musicians, to your move toward being independent?
Taylor: It's been really awesome, actually. For me, those relationships are really important. In the pop-rock genre, especially all the whiteys have really missed the idea of communities, have really overlooked the idea of sharing and creating a movement, a wave, and working with one another. In rap and R&B, there's a real connection from one artist to another. Especially since we started the label, the band has become more passionate about the importance of building those relationships with other artists. For instance, on Underneath, Michelle Branch-she's a friend-sings on the record. Sam Farrar, who's the bass player in Phantom Planet, plays on the record. Matthew Sweet, we wrote with Matthew on the record. Greg Alexander from the New Radicals, who used to be in the New Radicals, is on the record.
Those are different artists doing different things, and an extension of that is something I think is really important. It's like if you don't have artists who are looking at one another and realizing they're part of a greater whole, and nitpicking over this insular vibe, then you can't exhibit the sense of a movement or the sense of excitement with your fans. They feed off of that energy, of a passion between other artists.
FREEwilliamsburg: You guys are about to go to a lot of campuses as a part of your upcoming tour to not only play shows, but also to discuss the current state of the music industry with college students and to show a documentary about the band.
Taylor: The documentary-we produced it, but a guy named Ashley Grayson, who's a first-time director but somebody we've known for a long time, directed it, and he really had a passion for trying to capture the story of making the last album [Underneath]. It became a story of the political struggle and eventually of us leaving the label and starting out on our own. It was interesting because it unfolded. We felt rather than taking it to film festivals and doing with it what you'd normally do with a documentary, we wanted to use it as a tool. So in conjunction with playing these shows, we said to ourselves, "look, universities are the places where this is applicable. These are the places where we can bring this to people."
The story is we're one band of many bands who've been in this situation of being caught in this kind of swirling corporate problem. We chose to do one thing. Not every band has chosen to do that. Wilco chose to go to another label within their same chain. People like Taking Back Sunday, Death Cab for Cutie have gone from majors to indies, and some have gone from indies back to majors. To use that as a discussion point, to say to people that are our peers, "hey, we're entrepreneurs, we're musicians, and we're your peers."
We're touring with the Pat McGee Band, and we're setting up contests where local bands in each market submit their music and get voted on through the college radio station and through our website to be the opening act on all these shows. That local band that gets elected, in addition to the Pat McGee band and ourselves, we are all going to be visiting the universities ahead of the screenings and going to the radio stations and to the newspapers and sitting down and talking about music and about the importance of creating a better community between artists and fans and why it's a really crucial time now, where college students and music fans can have a real impact in shaping whether independent music takes hold of a bigger piece of the pie or whether it dies.
FREEwilliamsburg: You've started your own label, 3CG. Are you looking to grow the label and include more bands?
Taylor: We would love to be able to release other artists. I'd be lying if I said that wasn't one of our goals. But we don't want to take on other bands just because it's cool that we suddenly have a label. We don't want to just take people on without being able to do what we'd want to be able to do for other bands. Coming from the artist's perspective, you don't want to take on things you can't really promote like you should. We're taking it slow. We're wondering, "how can we figure out whatever the new model is?" or things that we can do better as a label, or look at the way technology is becoming a part of music, things that we've learned in the first couple years of having the record company, figuring out how we can supply a service that's gonna help promote all the things that we care about, not just get overzealous about signing a bunch of people. That sucks for artists and for labels.
FREEwilliamsburg: How do you find the time for all this? Are you in school? What's your scheduling like?
Taylor: (laughs) I'm 22, I could be in school. In a perfect world, things like studying other aspects would be totally awesome, but yeah, there is no time. (laughs) We're pretty crazed, trying to do these things-these are very real things, trying to set up this contest to enable opening bands, the documentary getting made, and a tour that is not just a tour, but something that involves a lot of legwork. It's valuable to us. We don't really care that there's work. We'd much rather work hard and crazy for something we thought was a great idea.
FREEwilliamsburg: So it's the School of Hard Knocks?
Taylor: School of Hard Knox? Yeah, sure. (laughs) I guess that's just the way we like it. That's why we've gone out there and have done the things we've done.
FREEwilliamsburg: Do you record at home?
We've used a ton of studios, but we have our own studio. I remember talking with Will.i.am from the Black Eyed Peas-on our last album we got to know him a little bit out at his studio-he was joking that he doesn't buy cars and bling. He buys studio gear. (laughs) We're kind of like that because from the very beginning we were like "wow, we've had success, let's go get a console, let's go get some old keyboards." You can just use those things forever.
FREEwilliamsburg: You're veterans of the music scene now. You've played a billion shows. What was the first concert you ever went to?
Taylor: It was probably live gospel music or some local music from where we grew up, friends in bands at that time, people that were dramatically older than we were at that time, people that we had developed friendships because we were starting to play music. Couple different local bands from Tulsa, Oklahoma.
FREEwilliamsburg: Do you guys still get a lot of flack for being a kid band?
Taylor: It's always hard when you make a strong impression, any kind of impression, a good one you're proud of or one that has been misconstrued, only because whatever that impression is, good or bad, it's clear. We've never focused on trying to dispel or make anything known on the defense. We've always played offense. We've always said "sure, ok, you think we're this, or you think we're this-well THIS is what we are." I'm really proud of what we've done, and I feel like you should never be satisfied that you've done it, that you've achieved the goal of making sure everybody knows what you are. I think you're always, quote-unquote, re-imaging yourself because you're never the same. If we're a kid band or teen band or twenties band or thirties band, there'll always be the question of "what are you now?" We're continuing to say "this is what we are now."
FREEwilliamsburg: After this tour, what's next?
Taylor: We're excited about going to schools and showing the documentary, so there's talk of doing another leg of touring this spring, but our focus is completely on writing and recording for the next studio record. The next full-length studio record is going to come out early to mid next year.
We wrote a ton of songs that weren't even on Underneath. So much writing has gone on over the last five years. But we're really pumped about what we're going to do on the next studio record. In a way, I guess Live and Electric is setting the stage for it. It's taking everything we've done touring for Underneath and the music we've done before that and bringing it to a head, showcasing what the band's been up to. It's going to be a matter of "will we have time to get back to finishing another record?" It won't be long. We won't be strangers.
The Best of Hanson: Live and Electric hits the shelves October 11. Check out the tour dates at www.hanson.net.
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Posted by: louis vuitton | March 5, 2010 12:09 AM
Hanson is my magical happiness elixir. I feel sorry for all the people who just don't get it. I mean the extent of love and passion these guys for what they do is just so incredible, it's really rare actually. To all the naysayers, I challenge you to find something to do with your life that you care about anywhere close to half as much as these guys care about their music and music in general, let alone be as talented and successful at it. And you know it may be true that the fans go seemingly over the top in their Hanson worship, but when the music industry is busy producing so much "trend driven one-hit generic crap" that's here today and gone tommorow it's really no small wonder that the fans tend to glorify a band with some staying power and the ability to consistently deliver a quality product. Whether Hanson floats your boat or not anyone who really understands what it is that makes music great should at least have respect for a band that has continually contributed something positive, even pretty great to the world of music. For the record it was never Hanson's intention to become the subjects of teen idol mania, they've always just wanted to make good music, and the "so-called fans" who were ONLY fixated on what beautiful children they were have lo-and-behold in the years since all but dissapated; because that's not what it's really about, yeah it's all nice and fine that they're gorgeous, I'm sure as hell not gonna deny it, but they do what they do because it's who they are not because they wanted to be the teeny craze of '97-'98. Anyhow, I'm off to take a "happy pill" (aka listen to Hanson, duh=)!!!!
P.S. Ha! I hope that one guy DOES buy 100 cds; does he have any idea what great support that is regardless of what he does with them?!! Oh and the one who called Taylor a hipster, that was funny, true enough though! ^_^
Posted by: Anonymous | March 10, 2006 08:59 PM
hanson: overrated by their fans, underrated by everyone else.
Posted by: Anonymous | February 16, 2006 05:33 AM
Hi all right?
i`m eddy and i am a fan of yours
i love you hanson,and i like of all musics of you
ok! bye-bye one big kiss from brasil and our my
jesus i love you and i too.
Posted by: ednete | December 14, 2005 11:45 AM
Hanson ROCK !!
LOVE their Music and their Live Performance ~
Posted by: Victoriangle | October 9, 2005 05:21 AM
Rockets and Cars is nominated to open for these guys in NYC. Thats pretty damn cool
Posted by: Mike | October 7, 2005 02:32 PM
the eyebrows are back? didn't realise there was an issue with their eyebrows... confusing them with 3T maybe?
Posted by: Liz | October 1, 2005 10:44 AM
all you people who constantly make fun of hanson for being 'a lil boy pop group' you obviously dont know much bout the music world. they are talented musicians and love what they are doing. i really admire them for everything they do and they are gonna be around forever!
HANSON ROCK!!!!!
Posted by: hayley | October 1, 2005 08:05 AM
Talented don't mean shit if you don't deliver. You might want to talk more about the quality of their work. I say this as someone who thinks their work is actually pretty good. I'll pay for quality, not talent. just fyi.
-salmonella
Good call salmonella. If you don't deliver, it ain't worth buying! Must be why indie is rising to power!
Posted by: LM | September 30, 2005 12:59 AM
Wow, these comments are a who's who of Hanson.net
Posted by: typecast_modulator | September 29, 2005 09:09 PM
I finally got the "underneath" album and I LOVE it! My boyfriend hates it when I listen to the old stuff like 3 car garage and middle of nowhere, which are not as great as the new stuff, but it reminds me of the passion I feel when I listen to Taylor's voice, before and after... well ... puberty. :) Well, anyway, I put the underneath album in the cd player at work and my boyfriend came to pick me up and said "hey what is that you're playing? I like it!" and he couldn't believe it when I told him it was the same group who sang MmmBop. I was playing Misery on my guitar the other day and singing it and now he has me play it almost every time I pick up my guitar. I love you guys, you're inspirational.
Taylor, are you really married? tell us about your wife sometime.
Posted by: Angela | September 29, 2005 04:02 AM
What makes any musician great is their passion. Not alot of musicians have real passion for their music, I think if they did they would all go INDIE just like hanson did. if more musicians followed their hearts and did what they wanted instead of what their record companies wanted them to do, there would be alot better music in this world.
Posted by: Anonymous | September 28, 2005 09:29 PM
Hanson is one of the most impressive bands around. To begin with, they wrote one of history's best pop songs when they were children, and I'm not talking about 1997. MMMBop was around years before then, and anyone who has "3 Car Garage" knows that thay did not need some hot-shot producer to make it into the hit it was. It was all their own work. But Hanson are no longer defined by their MMMBop success - they have gone back to their independent roots, produced the masterpiece that is "Underneath" themselves and continue to be alive and kicking. For those of you who are cynical about Hanson, open your ears to plain GOOD MUSIC that ROCKS. In 40 years time, when Hanson are still playing music and talking on documentaries about the impression that they left in the music industry, you will realise "oh, they really did stick around, they must have had something going for them". For us fans, we get the better end of the deal - experiencing just what Hanson do have going for them: good music, passion and the will to survive.
Posted by: Lauren | September 28, 2005 01:06 AM
i am a loyal hanson's fan and always be forever...their passion towards music inspired me since i was 13 and almost 8 years now...i still cant get enough of their music...i love them so much and always supporting them in what they do..
Posted by: rinie | September 27, 2005 04:02 AM
A very good interview indeed. I thought the questions were really good and it seems like Taylor Hanson really got the message out what he and his brothers are trying to create with their music.
Posted by: Lee | September 26, 2005 07:57 PM
Hanson is going to be around for a very long time. They're for real.
Posted by: Katie | September 26, 2005 11:58 AM
I think the first guy who commented has no clue what he is talking about. He probably is too busy lookin' at himself in the mirror or recording himself talk. More his style.
Hanson rocks.
Posted by: Ape | September 25, 2005 09:10 PM
I Love them and i always will. They changed my life back in 97' and i will never ever grow sick of them. I don't care what people who aren't blessed with their music think of them. They are fantastic muscians and nothing can ever change that.
Posted by: Alex Funnell | September 25, 2005 08:11 AM
Hanson are an amazing group of guys who don't just know what they want in life, but they get off their butts and do it. Even if their music doesn't appeal to you, you should be able to respect their attitude and take a few lessons from them- especially if you're using your time to write negative stuff about other people. To those people: "You only live once, and never look back again" so find your own passion and use the time you have!
Posted by: Annie | September 23, 2005 04:07 AM
HANSON will never die, like every legend before them...they will thrive in even the hardest times.i have no doubt that my children will still be listening to their music when i'm old, i know i will.
Posted by: nicole | September 22, 2005 10:55 PM
If all the assholes posting negative comments about this article could please head south to the gulf of Mexico. There's a storm waiting for you. It's absolutely ridiculous how people STILL make fun of Hanson - like they have something to make fun of. Give me a break. Take a listen before you open your obviously stupid mouth. Hanson kicks ass - your loss.
Posted by: captain | September 22, 2005 03:50 PM
Hi everyone, I don't know Hanson that well, but I have 4 albums of them. I have 3 Car Garage, Snowed In, Middle Of Nowhere and now Underneath. I like the last 3 ones the best. Lately I started to listen to Middle Of Nowhere again and I, ofcource, I still liked very much. And I totally love Underneath. I't's totally different than Middle Of Nowhere. It's so more rock, so mature, so wow and so more sexier. And I so love the way that Taylor sings. With his breaths and stuff. To make it a bit shorter, I love Hanson and I soooo love Taylor. He's so f...... cute and sexy. Love from Barbara.
Posted by: Barbara van Heel | September 22, 2005 03:30 PM
I have been a fan of hanson since the beginning and that will never change. Their music has been an ispiration in my life and I am proud of that. It is sad that their are so many close minded people out there about music today and don't give Hanson the credit that they deserve or even listen to their music because they are scared that they might actually like it. Props to Hanson for staying true to who they are and for giving us fans nine years of great music and for the years to come of awesome music. Hanson will always be at the top of my list of faves.
Posted by: Megan | September 22, 2005 02:56 PM
LIVE THE PASSION
ROCKIN' UNDERNEATH
Posted by: mel | September 22, 2005 09:02 AM
You know, I think that it is pretty damn impressive that Hanson is still kickin' it. A lot of bands just fizzle out once their five minutes in the limelight end. There is a certain level of musical integrity that they have stayed true to, and who can hate that? Aren't you tired of the same old music scene?? And Hanson fans HAVE grown up, we ARE in our 20's now, but shit - we're STILL fans, that has to count for something! We all did the obsessing, and overindulging 8 and 9 years ago but groups of great looking guys come and go - it's the music that keeps us around!!
Posted by: Kaily | September 21, 2005 11:30 PM
The first mistake most people make in regards to Hanson is to underestimate them. BIG mistake! These guys are in it for the long-haul. They are very serious about their music. I wonder how many people realize that these guys write and produce their music themselves, and have all along? I'm 34, so it's not about which brother is the best-looking for me...simply put their music moves me.
Secondly, Hanson aren't 'whiners', they're 'doers' who aren't afraid of hard work, I've seen the documentary-it's incredible!! They went indie so they could make their music on their terms and still respect themselves. I respect them for following their own paths. I for one want to see them succeed with 3CG, and will be behind them all the way. Don't tear them down for believing in themselves, and having the strength to carry on!!
Posted by: Christy | September 20, 2005 11:01 PM
Hanson are the most talented, entertaining, and energetic people i have ever seen live. The mood at a Hanson concert is undescribable with words. The only way you can imagine the zelous music is to expirience it yourself. The closest thing you can get to it is "The Best Of Hanson: Live And Electric" or "Underneath Acoustic Live", theyre latest live DVD. Those of you who think Hanson is still a pre-pubescent bubblegum pop band made up of three long haired, careless children your more wrong than youve probably ever been. Your underestimating theyre phenominal musical talent, songwriting skills, and love for music.
Posted by: Abby | September 20, 2005 08:31 PM
Hanson are the best forever and ever!!!
Thanks guys for all the great music and the amazing shows!!! You guys rock!!!
Posted by: Evelyne | September 20, 2005 04:37 PM
matt...
SUCK MY DICK
Posted by: Brittney | September 20, 2005 10:13 AM
hey! this girl is a hanson fan since i was eight and still going strong.. everyone that thinks hanson sucks can eat me..because whether or not you know it.. hanson ACTUALLY makes their own music and ACTUALLY writes their own songs... if i wasnt mistake i'd think thats called REAL music unlike 9% of the artists out there now.. k, thanks.
suck it.
Posted by: Brittney | September 20, 2005 10:12 AM
I've always liked Hanson. It's time for music to once again come from the heart and move you..move you to tears, to laughter, to love. I love the harmonies because they vibrate my heart to its core. Bring it on!
Posted by: Alayna | September 20, 2005 09:07 AM
salmonella, you make a good point about speaking to their quality, but I don't get why you think talent does not equal quality. That is, it takes talent to produce quality, so if you claim a band has talent, it generally follows that you think they make a quality product.
At any rate I wanted to speak to your "Hi kids!" comment. Hanson are twenty-somethings now and so are most their fans - the "kids" are long gone. I'm 46 myself and find that much of Hanson's music (before the last album Underneath) has a '70's vibe to it that is really appealing to me. When I listen to music I need to be able to sink my teeth into it or I get bored - Hanson has never bored me because their music has substance and depth.
But hey all of you, you don't have to pay us any attention at all - If what Taylor had to say was interesting to you, then consider checking out the band, because you might find it interesting too. Hanson.net has plenty of music samples, links to online articles and general band info. so it's a good place to start. If Taylor didn't interest you, then fine, we're done here . . .
Posted by: Valerie | September 20, 2005 02:46 AM
Hey matt.. wanna buy a 100 copies? Go for it. Don't deny you will be listening. Hanson are real musicians. They mean something. It's up to you to accept it and listen.. or deny it and listen to something that will not matter in 10 years. Hanson came out almost 9 years ago.. We are still talking about them til this day. They are still creating music.. That says a lot. So some of you get off that stick and get over Mmmbop and maybe listen to what they are about. One song really doesn't tell you much about 3 guys who are 9 years older...
Posted by: Tash | September 20, 2005 12:02 AM
Wow, i think that is pretty damn good that there are people (hanson) taht are actually going around to and letting others know that there is more than the generic mainstream crap. Discussing that there is REAL music and a variety of music to check out.. Woot woot for Hanson *and this is coming from a fan of Heavy metal*
Posted by: Alicia | September 19, 2005 11:59 PM
I like the article and I like the fact that Hanson is not taking on new artists as of yet. Unfortunately the music business is teetering on nothing and depending on which way it goes, it may continue the downward spiral or something new and innovative may come along to somehow pull it back out. He is right when he says there really is no time spent on artist development, it's kinda like wow these guys are hot we'll push, push, push until we've gotten all the money we can out of em and than shoo them away. So to the lovers and the haters of Hanson, or any artist I'll put a question to you that my teacher put to me when taking a Music Industry course...name me one band/group/artist that is out on the radio right now, who's new, who you think will stand the test of music time? It's a hard one to answer...
Posted by: Shauna | September 19, 2005 11:28 PM
Wow. I might just check out that new record.
Posted by: Dane | September 19, 2005 11:23 PM
I can't believe he said "WHITEYS" hahaha.
Posted by: Shannon | September 19, 2005 10:34 PM
Hanson are freaking awesome! They will definately be around for ages and you can tell that they genuinely love what they are doing. I believe these guys can really make a difference in the music industry.
Posted by: Jacqui | September 19, 2005 08:28 PM
I just wanted to tell the interviewer that he asked great questions. Sometimes it is hard for journalists to look past the "Mmmbop" and really see this band for the talented musicians that they are, who produce quality music, time and time again.
Again, thanks to Monte Holman for giving a good interview with a much underrated and stereotyped band!
Posted by: Stef | September 19, 2005 07:28 PM
Hello Everyone,
I just wanted to say that it is so great to see REAL music again, people actually taking music seriously and making music that is just plain great! I wanted to thank Hanson for creating a whole new level of what music is. I look at artists in a whole new light now. I can see real talent and real music. I am so excited to see Hanson in Novembre of 2005 and can't wait to see this amazing band live. LONG LIVE THE BOP!
Posted by: Clara Ruiz | September 19, 2005 06:57 PM
"Eyebrows?" "The dreamy one?" How can you expect people (hi Matt) to consider taking a band seriously when your article begins like an issue of TigerBeat?? Hanson are a real, credible band, and no one should judge until they've heard them live recently. HOWEVER, please, I beg of all you critics and novelists... drop the 'bop.' It's been 9 years.
Posted by: Anonymous | September 19, 2005 05:36 PM
Join my hanson forums today!
Posted by: Ryan Schwartz | September 19, 2005 04:30 PM
hanson has defintely never gotten the true respect they deserve, but as Zac has said once they don't give a shit. They're doing their own thing and not following the crowd, that's what makes them so awesome! =)
"hanson makes trends, they dont follow 'em"
Posted by: Kayla | September 19, 2005 03:45 PM
Whether people making comments on this interview are Hanson fans or not is irrelevant. If you can comprehend what Taylor is saying, it is very simple to realize that this band has substance. They put forth QUALITY music time after time. One record may be favored over another, but there is no denying that each and every time they provide new music it will be good. They may have natural TALENT, but it also takes a lot of effort and persistence to keep a band alive for thirteen years. Perhaps those of you who disagree can tell me what exactly you've done in your field lately with as much enthusiasm and credibility as Hanson.
Posted by: Sheila | September 19, 2005 11:40 AM
Looks like someone posted this link on their fan club. hi kids! You know, going off about how "talented" these guys are and saying how much they changed your life is all sweet and touching, but it's not exactly going to win fans. Talented don't mean shit if you don't deliver. You might want to talk more about the quality of their work. I say this as someone who thinks their work is actually pretty good. I'll pay for quality, not talent. just fyi.
Posted by: salmonella | September 19, 2005 10:46 AM
Hanson have so much passion and enthusiasm for what they do , I admire them very much for that.I believe what they are doing in taking their story and that of the whole music industries situation, to speak about it at colleges is a great thing.
Posted by: Anita | September 19, 2005 06:55 AM
Hanson kicks ASSSSSSSSSS
Posted by: freak | September 19, 2005 04:27 AM
Hanson do not often get the credit they deserve in the music industry...fortunately, they don't seem to care about that. i wish them all the best cos they really deserve more & are destined for even bigger things.
Posted by: Marina | September 19, 2005 04:26 AM
Hey, don't knock 'em until you try 'em. True talent can't be denied.
Posted by: Amanda | September 19, 2005 03:18 AM
Who ever says Hanson suck, your the ones who suck!! Stuff you man...Hanson Rock!!
Posted by: Holly | September 19, 2005 02:09 AM
Where else can you find so much passion in artists? What Taylor says is true. Too many bands/groups are getting screwed over by the industry. Or what's worse is if they follow the money and ignore the roots of music. I was at Hanson's first university visit (USC) and their q&a showed the utmost care and passion for music and their fans. They're awesome and I can't think of any reason why cynics shouldn't give them a shot.
Posted by: Lien | September 19, 2005 01:34 AM
Hanson is the one band who's music has actually changed my life. People give them a bad wrap without even listening to their music. Their different then other bands, the passion is there and you can tell. I am so happy to be a hanson fan and lucky too. Their talent is undeniable and their message is a strong one!
Posted by: Aly | September 18, 2005 07:44 PM
These guys have got talent and anyone with half a brain can see that. Like the music or don't like the music, but the message they are sending out about music is great. They've changed music once and they'll do it again too.
Posted by: Sean | September 18, 2005 07:33 PM
Hanson is such an incredible band and I cannot even begin to express my appreciation and respect for them. Isaac, Taylor, and Zac have such passion for their music and such a strong sense of who they are as independent artists and they inspire me every single day with their music. And I love them for that.
Posted by: Michey | September 18, 2005 07:14 PM
OMg i luv hanson and luv there music each song actually means something you cant go to there shows or listen to there cds and deny they have talent
Posted by: catalina | September 18, 2005 06:24 PM
It's a shame these guys still have to deal with idiots who are insecure in the sexuality. I am not too cool to admit it. I love their music. I think a lot of people would like it if they gave it a chance.
Posted by: agentscully | September 18, 2005 12:52 PM
hanson are gonna change the nusic industry thats for sure
Posted by: alice | September 18, 2005 07:02 AM
It's so refreshing to see a band work hard on their music and for something they believe in. Hanson give an amazing live performance, electric or acoustic. If you want to hear good music done acoustically with terrific harmonies, get the DVD Underneath Acoustic Live. Taylor's performance of Crazy Beautiful is breathtaking!
Posted by: chris | September 18, 2005 03:11 AM
You go Taylor. I love your passion. You guys are here for a long long haul. Boy - are we the fans lucky. :c)
Posted by: Marica | September 18, 2005 02:12 AM
a great effort by a great band. keep it up guys...and your fans do appreciate all the 'legwork' that you do to bring us all this fantastic stuff!!
Posted by: Marissa | September 17, 2005 11:33 PM
People will think what they want about this band but Hanson has always done what every band should try to do in their music career and that is to stay true to themsleves and what they feel is best for them and their fans. I have been a fan for many years and they have never let me down with any of the music they have made. And they do it with alot more Passion then most artists that are being played today. Anyone that doesn't want to take the time to listen to their music because of who they think they are from the past or are not willing to check them out for whatever odd reason now are the ones that are missing out on some great music and something extremely special.
Posted by: Shari | September 17, 2005 11:21 PM
i love hanson
Posted by: mary | September 17, 2005 10:46 PM
Give it up for Hanson, those guys are freaking geniuses when it comes to the music business. They make everyone elses hard work look like goofing off.
Posted by: sweeeeet | September 17, 2005 10:37 PM
taylor, stop talking so much and take off your pants....yum.
Posted by: ash | September 15, 2005 11:18 PM
I have the sudden urge to become emo. Is that what FreeWilliamsburg is coming to?
Posted by: Jamie | September 15, 2005 12:08 AM
ahhh taylor hanson is a hipster WHO FUCKING KNEW?
Posted by: wtf????? | September 14, 2005 11:31 PM
This is probably one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard of. In the end, I think I will buy 100 copies to pass out at work to all the people I hate.
Posted by: matt | September 14, 2005 12:24 PM