Hanson
The Walk
2.7/5

Who It's For: Lovers of adult contemporary with touches of folk and country.
Sounds Like: Think Michelle Branch and Maroon 5 in a trio of brothers.

When you think Hanson, you think the Mmm-bopping, long haired, high-pitched brothers of '97, but the band's newest disc, released on their independent 3CG Records, strays far from their now decade-old sound. In fact, The Walk sees the Oklahoma brothers showcasing a decent blend of pop-rock tracks, with touches of country and heavy-handed piano. But in the end, they fail to leave us with much to mull over.

With the exception of the world music influences on “Ngi Ne Themba (I Have Hope),” Hanson succeeds most when they try to expand their sound. The funk vibe of “Running Man” sounds straight off of a Maroon 5 album and adds some danceability to a record the brothers themselves describe as 'heavy.’ Lead singer Taylor even steps down from vocals on tracks like “Watch Over Me” (yes, his voice still sounds like a pre-teen girl’s) and takes over with some impressive keys on almost all of the songs. But soon the lack of inventiveness begins to take its toll, and the eye-rolls begin on tracks like “Georgia,” which predictably, starts off with a whopping Georgia/You know that you've been on my mind. Impressive…

While instrumentally solid throughout, the lack of creativity on this record fails to capture a whole lot of attention. Basically, this has been done before. But that's okay- I don't really expect the Hanson boys to create a wave of change in the music industry. They are good for what they're here for; accessible, easy music and their diving suits (MmmBop video, anyone?).

Track Listing:

1. Ngi Ne Themba (I Find Hope)
2. Great
3. Been There Before
4. Georgia
5. Watch Over Me
6. Running Man
7. Go
8. Fire on the Mountain
9. One More
10. Blue Sky
11. Tearing It Down
12. Something Going Round
13. Your Illusion
14. The Walk

- Alicia Conda Posted Aug. 25/07