Sunday, May 18, 1997

Pint-sized grungers release incessant pop

Lately, most teenaged pop stars have either been: (a) pint-sized versions of their miserable grunge idols (see: Silverchair) or (b) blatantly manufactured and totally faceless sensations (see: Tiffany). This makes Hanson (brothers Isaac, 16, Zac, 11, and Taylor, 13) of Tulsa, Okla., a real rarity -- their major-label debut is packed with personality, pizzazz and genuine joyfulness.

Enthusiastic and impressively emotive, Taylor sings like a young Michael Jackson; his range allows Hanson to pull off melancholy-laced songs of teenage heartache with as much conviction as feel-good confections like their breakthrough hit, MMMBop, which isn't even the best song here. (My vote goes to Where's The Love, a Jackson 5-ish number as winsome as I Want You Back.)

Hanson blends Motown, soft-rock balladry and hip-hop beats indiscriminantly but effectively. Middle of Nowhere is not a good "teenybopper" album.

It's a good album. Period.

Track Listing 1. MMMBop 2. Thinking of you 3. Weird 4. Speechless 5. Where's the love 6. Yearbook song 7. Look at you 8. Lucy 9. I will come to you 10. A minute without you 11. Madeline 12. With you in your dreams