Sonic Net Article - May 2000

Hanson, a surprise 11th-hour addition to the lineup, fared much better than show openers Bosson and Eiffel 65 despite the majority of the hugely catchy and well-written songs off their current album, This Time Around, being too mature for the trio's "MMMBop" fan base and not quite cool enough to attract an older crowd. That leaves Hanson, ahem, in the middle of nowhere, and it obviously showed in the crowd's lackadaisical enthusiasm for the band.

"You guys are the laziest bunch of people I have ever seen," yelped drummer Zack Hanson at one point. "Get off your butts!" It wasn't to be, however, as Hanson ripped through selections from This Time Around and Middle of Nowhere, visibly frustrated at the crowd's nonchalant adulation. Highlights included Taylor Hanson's Blues Traveler-esque harmonica solo on new single "If Only" and near-metal rocker "In the City." Still, one could only be left wondering if Hanson will be going through an awkward puberty-like stage before winning back a new legions of fans a few years down the road.

TWEC.com Chat - May 9, 2000

MODERATOR> Twec.com would like to welcome Hanson to the chat, do you want to say anything to your
SPEAKER_Hanson> Thanks for coming out to the chat and listening to us in Real Audio
SPEAKER_Hanson> We were just recently in Argentina. The last couple of days we were in NY. The album released today.
SPEAKER_Hanson> It's very exciting to finally have this record come out and the fans response. Thanks to the internet, our fans have responded well.
SPEAKER_Hanson> We were able to put clips up on the internet for fans to listen to.
SPEAKER_Hanson> We've gotten good response from the fans. This Time Around is the title track and we're going to release a second track called If Only sometime soon.
katey> What songs mean the most to you on this new album?
SPEAKER_Hanson> There have been a lot of responses to all kinds of songs on our album. Save Me has gotten a lot of response.
SPEAKER_Hanson> It's really interesting to see what everyone's favorite songs are.
SPEAKER_Hanson> When you write all of the material, all of the songs have a different meaning to them. One of the songs that stands out to me, in a purely intriguing level, is A Song To Sing which is a bonus track on the record.
SPEAKER_Hanson> It tells the essence of who we are. It strips away all of the band and production elements and strips it down to purely the song and the vocal performance.
lauren1257> What's the difference between how people reacted when mmmbop came out to when This Time Around came out?
SPEAKER_Hanson> Only people buying the CD will hear the song. And lots of people have been buying the CD.
SPEAKER_Hanson> Taylor: the cool thing is that now there's a fan base. We've been all around the world and now there's people waiting to buy the record whereas before people didn't know who we are. People are excited for the release and that's a big difference this time.
rockstar> Your lyrics are really deep. Where did you come up with the ideas?
SPEAKER_Hanson> Isaac: There are fans out there who have been into the band for the last 3 years and it's really cool to hear people say that they've been into us for the last 3 years.
SPEAKER_Hanson> Zac: experience in living life. Just looking out of a window in your hotel. being at home... there's so many things that can inspire you.
Ladyhawke15> WHAT MADE YOU GUYS DECIDE ON CALLING THE ALBUM THIS TIME AROUND
SPEAKER_Hanson> Generally by the end of the song everyone has put in their two cents. There's tons of revisons while you're recording a song or hashing it out. In the end, everyone has a say in the song.
SPEAKER_Hanson> The name is from the first single. We felt like that song represented a lot of where we were going musically. It was different than what we had done before. Represented where we where going. It also comes down to liking the way something sounds and flows.
SPEAKER_Hanson> Isaac: The title was kind of one of those things that we all thought about but then dimissed. It was too obvious.
sweetstock_bound> What's the next single after "If Only?" Is it "Save Me?"
SPEAKER_Hanson> Taylor: in the end, we decided that's where the group was going.
SPEAKER_Hanson>We're excited about seeing more of everyone.
diehardHANFAN>Are you planning to put any non-album cuts (Bridges of Stone, nudge nudge) as B sides on future singles from the album?
SPEAKER_Hanson>That has been a conversation. Internationally, a couple of songs were put on the albums for different reasons. It's always great to have extra songs. We'll definitely keep all of the fans updated.
itz_tia>Any plans on releasing Can't Stop as a single? I love that song so much, and I think it'd be a great single - Tia
SPEAKER_Hanson>We can't say at this point. It's so up in the air. you have to judge it by how people respond to the existing single. right now we're focused on having the record out.
SPEAKER_Hanson>That has been a conversation. Internationally, a couple of songs were put on the albums for different reasons. It's always great to have extra songs. We'll definitely keep all of the fans updated.
marry me Zac> how do you guys decide who has what solo? do you ever fight over solos?
SPEAKER_Hanson> Zac: it usually comes out naturally. It isn't something you think about. It isn't like 1, 2, 3, arm wrestle.
terryfio> How long does one song take to finish recording?
SPEAKER_Hanson> Before you know it, you just go with whatever feels right. Sometimes you go with whatever key it was written in. What it really comes down to is whoever wins the rock, paper, scissors. haha
SPEAKER_Hanson> It's definitely longer than an all day process. You don't really work on one song for however long. On this record, we started with keyboard and then vocal. Then we'd go on to another song. It's all about layering and adding on.
SPEAKER_Hanson> Often times, you start with the basic tracks like drums and tracks. Then you build from there.
SPEAKER_Hanson> I wouldn't say any of our songs are perfect. That's just the process we use.
SPEAKER_Hanson>For instance, the song In The City, that guitar track is the only guitar track on the song. It was the first we laid down and then we realized it was good enough and we said, "why would we redo that?"
MMMBOp> Will you guys sing "old" songs on this tour?
SPEAKER_Hanson> we're doing a US and a world wide tour. Tour dates will be announced soon. Our current plan is to start in July and then we will be all over the US and then to Kentucky.
SPEAKER_Hanson> I think it'll be a mixture of songs from both albums. Maybe some new songs that can't be found anywhere, covers, and just a wide variety. We do a good amount of covers that are just classic rock and roll tunes.
SwedishHansonFanClub> What do ya guys play when you´re jammin "private" besides your own music??
SPEAKER_Hanson> We did the Spencer Davis "Give Me Some Lovin'" song and "Money, That's What I Want." We throw in several covers because it's fun for us and we like to introduce them to people who may not know them.
SPEAKER_Hanson> Hopefully, a bunch of you guys out there have seen us play live. We toured in the summer of 98 and played for a lot of people.
SPEAKER_Hanson> Well, a lot of times it's songs we always used to jam on and have reemerged. The idea of jamming is that it doesn't really matter.
mutedserenity> do any of your songs have a "special, personal" meaning?
SPEAKER_Hanson> Speaking of jams, the first song on the new album, You Never Know was originally conceived during a sound check while on tour. Taylor was goofing around on the piano and came up with the initial piano melody for the song and we said, "Dude, that's really cool." And before you know it, it's the opening track for the new album.
chicken1218>when is it possible to find out the tour schedule?
wheresblu>How do you guys feel about touring this year, more excited since its the second time, or less excited since its not really a new experience?
SPEAKER_Hanson>We're about to put that up,...a few things changed last minute. We'll be doing radio shows all over the country as well.
luna>Do you have a name for the 2000 tour?
SPEAKER_Hanson>It's a lot of fun and an awesome experience. We're very excited about it. Now that we have this second record, there's just more material that people will know. Gives you more options to mix things up.
SPEAKER_Hanson>I will give a shout out to all of my friends out there. They're an incredible bunch of people and we couldn't ask for better fans.
SPEAKER_Hanson>We haven't translated it into english yet. So when it is translated, we'll have it on our webstie.
SPEAKER_Hanson>It's sort of like naming an album. you need something that flows. We don't have anything yet. Something that catches you and ties into the record.
CaraMariee>Are any of these songs written on the album a reference to trials or experiences that have happened to you?
Bethany14> Hey guys do you have any pets?
SPEAKER_Hanson>We do plan on branching into acting, we're doing some design.
SPEAKER_Hanson>Wouldn't it be nice if we had pets.
TaysbabyIke> why and when did you cut your hair?
SPEAKER_Hanson>We just have each other. Zac takes us out and walks us every day! just kidding!
SPEAKER_Hanson>I don't remember exactly when. I think it was the middle of the record.
Rachel says Moderator: can you give me ink to hear this in RA
SPEAKER_Hanson>I had been thinking of cutting it for a long time and the minute I chopped it off I said "yeah! that looks good!"
TerryfioTaylor> when did you learn how to play harmonica?
SPEAKER_Hanson>Officially I haven't learned to play. I just sort of wing it.
AshTayHow> do you guys feel when you are compared to groups like NSYNC
SPEAKER_Hanson>The musical style is the most important thing.
SPEAKER_Hanson>If you listen to our music and think we fit there, then fine, put us there.
SPEAKER_Hanson>We do have a very similar fan base.
taylor has my heart> I LUV U TAYLOR. How important is it to you to make music videos to express your songs?
SPEAKER_Hanson>We always try to make sure the video portrays the song.
taysbabyWhy> are 2 different singles being released in different places?
SPEAKER_Hanson>The video is definitely important to represent a lot of things.
SPEAKER_Hanson>The video for "Weird" is a good example.
SPEAKER_Hanson>Yes it is. We released "If Only" around the world and "This Time Around" in the US and Canada.
Princess> Are any of your younger siblings gonna join the band? Princesa....
SPEAKER_Hanson>We felt each song would be better received in their respected areas.
SPEAKER_Hanson>I don't think there is any place for them in the band at this point. Hanson will stay as it is now.
Nevebaby> How long will you be at Coconuts tomorrow
MODERATOR> Twec.com would like to thank Hanson for joining us tonight, is there anything you'd like to say to your fans online before you go?
SPEAKER_Hanson> We're going to be there for several hours signing autographs and we'll try to sign as many autographs as possible. We're also hosting TRL tomorrow afternoon.
SPEAKER_Hanson> Thanks for listening to the interview tonight. We hope you enjoy the new album and hope to see you tomorrow at Coconuts in NYC. We'll see you soon around the world.

Hanson 3D Chat, May 6, 2000

GUEST-MODERATOR> The chat is now starting!
GUEST-MODERATOR> 1st question: How do you guys like being in Hanson World as avatars for the first time?
GUEST-TAYLOR> It's extremely cool! We go on to worlds all the time- thanks for coming to the first official chat!!!
GUEST-MODERATOR> 2nd question: What is the release date of the new album?
GUEST-isaac> The release date of This Time Around is May 9
GUEST-TAYLOR> We'll be signing copies of the new album at Coconuts in NY on May 10 after TRL. Come see us!
GUEST-isaac> Hi All!
GUEST-MODERATOR> 3rd question: Zac, of all the songs you've written, which means the most to you?
GUEST-Zac> I don't think one song means the most, i think every song means something slightly different to you
GUEST-MODERATOR> 4th Question: Taylor, who is your favorite actor or actress?
GUEST-Zac> wake up berfurd
GUEST-TAYLOR> I really don't have a favorite. But, Sean Connery is the ultimate stud. I admire him.
GUEST-MODERATOR> 5th Question: Lets see the Hanson avatars do flips over the crowd!!!
GUEST-Zac> we go into worlds!!
GUEST-MODERATOR> What do you guys do in your spare time?
GUEST-TAYLOR> Worlds!
GUEST-isaac> WE go onto Worlds and chat
GUEST-isaac> Soon I hope---there's lots of great food and lots of beautiful girls in Italy
GUEST-MODERATOR> Isaac: When are you going to be in Italy?
GUEST-MODERATOR> You guys have spent a lot of time on this album, is it more or less a diary album?
GUEST-TAYLOR> All of the albums are our thoughts and emotions. So, I guess you can say it's our diary- but that sounds strange.
GUEST-TAYLOR> Our musical diary
GUEST-MODERATOR> What inspired you to write 'Dying to be alive?'
GUEST-isaac> What inspires any son? LIFE. The ups and downs--the emotions that you feel from day tio day.
GUEST-Zac> yes definately lyrics
GUEST-MODERATOR> Are there going to be lyrics on the Cd jacket?
GUEST-isaac> Yes there are definitely going to be lyrics
GUEST-Zac> i hope you're enjoying yourself berfurd
GUEST-MODERATOR> What do your grandparents think of all this madness?
GUEST-Zac> the one that's left, loves it
GUEST-Zac> our grandma loves to rock
GUEST-Zac> =)
GUEST-Zac> i'm sorry taylor's computer just crashed
GUEST-Zac> just kidding
GUEST-MODERATOR> Taylor is back! His laptop had a slight malfunction...
GUEST-isaac> This is like a real concert... OK!!!
GUEST-MODERATOR> Are MOE members going to get special priviledges this summer on tour?
GUEST-Zac> there will be tickets set a side for moe members and hanson.net members
GUEST-MODERATOR> Which music artist influenced you all the most?
GUEST-isaac> Here comes some crowdsurfing
GUEST-Zac> all the music you listen to influence you in some way just because you like listening to it
GUEST-MODERATOR> Where do you all buy your clothes?
GUEST-isaac> All around the world--at thrift stores
GUEST-Zac> they were stunt men
GUEST-MODERATOR> Were you riding the dirt bikes in the 'If only' video, or were they stunt people?
GUEST-Zac> we rode a lot during the shooting of the video but the people you see are stunt men
GUEST-MODERATOR> Would you recommend becoming famous to everyone else?
GUEST-TAYLOR> Just go to getfamous.com- hehehehehe
GUEST-MODERATOR> What excites you all the most about the release of 'This Time Around'?
GUEST-MODERATOR> What was your favorite video to make?
"GUEST-Zac> i think just getting the music out for all the fans to hear and tell us what they think
GUEST-MODERATOR> When you guys go online, what web sites do you visit?
GUEST-isaac> I like ebay and Worlds. I like ebay because I am a very big Lego connosouer since I was three.
GUEST-Zac> the secret room that no one else knows about
GUEST-isaac> The space platform
GUEST-TAYLOR> I like the MOE room
GUEST-MODERATOR> What foods do you all prefer on the road?
GUEST-Zac> anything made by Dr. Food
GUEST-TAYLOR> Nothing still breathing.
GUEST-MODERATOR> Everyone needs to be in the audience to participate in the chat, please!
GUEST-MODERATOR> Do you prefer webcast or TV events?
GUEST-Zac> web cast you get to sit around in your pajamas and no one can see you
GUEST-Zac> and you get feedback immediately
GUEST-MODERATOR> What was your favorite venue to play?
GUEST-TAYLOR> Redrocks
GUEST-isaac> Red Rocks!!!
GUEST-MODERATOR> Zac: Who is Shamoo?
GUEST-Zac> you don't know who shamu is?? haven't you ever been to sea world?
GUEST-MODERATOR> Was Zac chatting in Hanson House today?
GUEST-Zac> no
GUEST-isaac> The only place we eveer do unannounced chats is on Hanson.net, Hansonline.com message board or Worlds.com
GUEST-MODERATOR> What do guys think about the whole MP3 issue?
GUEST-Zac> mp3's can be good as long as you buy the albun also\11
GUEST-Zac> also!
GUEST-MODERATOR> When do you guys start touring in the USA?
GUEST-isaac> Tour dates will be on the web site very soon, check it out soon--in July
GUEST-MODERATOR> What was the most memorable thing that a fan has ever done for you guys?
GUEST-isaac> Tour starts in July
GUEST-isaac> This Rocks
GUEST-TAYLOR> We get a ton of really cool gifts and letters. There couldn't possibly be just one thing. Probably one of the coolest things is to know that you helped someone.
GUEST-isaac> Watch us!!!!
GUEST-MODERATOR> LETS EVERYONE TRY TO DO THE MACARENA!!!
GUEST-TAYLOR> This is the only place you'll see us dance...Anyone know how to do the macarena????
GUEST-isaac> This is why we don't dance
GUEST-TAYLOR> hehehe
GUEST-MODERATOR> Are you guys ever going to come to Delaware? Cause that's where I'm from and we really want you to come and see all the bueatiful corn fields!!!
GUEST-TAYLOR> Check the tour schedule. It is possible.
GUEST-MODERATOR> Do you have any hints for aspiring musicians?
GUEST-isaac> Practice makes perfect--and I'm not there yet. Play wherever you can and you gotta love it--you gotta love the music.
GUEST-TAYLOR> EVERYONE...we are going to do a listening party across the country tomorrow night. We will be putting it up on our website so you'll get a sneak peak before tuesday. Hope you tune in. it will be
GUEST-TAYLOR> really cool. We'll be hosting it from Z100 in NYC.
GUEST-MODERATOR> If you guys could sit down with any 3 people alive or deceased, who would it be and why?
GUEST-TAYLOR> Chris Farley, John Candy, and John Belushi.
GUEST-isaac> Don't forget John Lennon.
GUEST-Zac> chris farley because he's my idol
GUEST-MODERATOR> You 3 are such wonderful influences. Zac, I heard a rumor that your were going to cut your hair -- is this true?
GUEST-Zac> it's possible but for the moment, my hair is as long as ever!
GUEST-isaac> Zac's gotta have long hair because he's the drummer--headbanging and all
GUEST-MODERATOR> Do u guys ever visit Hanson sites made by fans and sign their guestbooks or e-mail them?
GUEST-Zac> yes in moe we pick up a website in every issue
GUEST-TAYLOR> We go to fan websites all the time. You guys are extremely creative!
GUEST-MODERATOR> When are you guys going to get your buts 'down under?'
GUEST-TAYLOR> Our butts were just down under and our butts will be back later on this year on tour.
GUEST-MODERATOR> Would you guys please come to my birthday party?
GUEST-Zac> even when we were performing locally, we would not do birthday parites but in this case, if you have it on worlds, we'll see if we can come
GUEST-isaac> Happy Birthday!!!--- This Is your b-day party
GUEST-MODERATOR> Will you guys do another chat in here?
GUEST-Zac> of course that's why we did this place
GUEST-Zac> i can do this with only lifting a finger
GUEST-TAYLOR> t
GUEST-TAYLOR> t'
GUEST-MODERATOR> Right now Hanson is going to mingle with the crowd. Stay online and watch them work!
GUEST-Zac> i hope you had a nice nap and enjoyed the chat
GUEST-Zac> angel, growing four extra arms must have hurt
GUEST-Zac> cynical, you look pretty pale, i hope you get better soon
GUEST-Zac> zac4shorty, how long do you hibernate usually?

Teen Magazine, June 2000 - Hanson Is Hot

The Original Boy Band- Hanson

Before Backstreet Boys , NSYNC or 98 Degrees, Hanson were selling millions of CDs from their smash hit "MMMbop." Now the blond trio is back with their new CD This Time Around, to see if they can repeat their phenomenal debut success. The famous, funny brothers-- who are notably one of the few boy bands to actually play instruments-- are a little older, a lot taller, and can you believe that Taylor is even cuter? Teen spent an afternoon with the Hanson boys and talked about their music, dating girls and how lunatic fans steal basketballs for their front yard.

What's up with the new album?
Taylor: The songs are about life.
Isaac: Everything from, you know, broken relationships to fighting for what you believe in.
Taylor: It's about feelings. About being happy and being depressed. But it's also about just rocking out.


Do you need sadness and angst, or do you need joy and happiness to write a hit album?
Taylor: You need both.
Zac: When you're listening to the songs and thinking about what they actually say, it's not what they necessarily should like that's the important thing.
Taylor: There's a song called "Wish That I Was There," which is basically talking about how every time you're gone, I wish that was with you. So that's really a happy song. But a lot of times a song we write feels upbeat or it rocks, even if the lyrics are down.

Do you write the lyrics first or the tune first?
Taylor: It depends on the song.
Zac: I would usually say music first, just because...
Taylor: Music drives the lyrics.

Do you guys bring different talents to the songwriting table?
Zac: He brought the radio and he brought the batteries.

Funny, Zac. Just answer the question before you get smacked

Taylor: That's a good one, actually. What we bring to the table is the fact that everyone of us is different. What makes it work is each of us has our own deal. I can't tell you what it is, though. The fact that we are constantly switching roles makes that impossible to answer. One guy's being goofy one day, and one guy's being the guy who gets work done the next.
Zac: My official title is "Father."
Taylor: Yes, we call him Father. If we're put with friends or whatever, Zac's like "OK, we've got to be home in 20 minutes."

Why is Zac so responsible?
Taylor: He has some kind of psychotic weird thing where he wants to be goofy when he's not supposed to be and he wants to be strict when he's supposed to have fun.

What's different now, other than the fact that Zac is a foot taller?
Isaac: We've matured a little bit musically. We've gotten better at our craft. Better at songwriting.
Taylor: I think that tour helped to strengthen our playing and our musicianship and everything.

Would you call yourselves rock stars?
Isaac: I don't feel like a rock star.

Don't you ever think to yourselves, "hey, I could have this or I could have that if I wanted," like riding around in a limo or getting tickets to see a show?
Isaac: I don't like limos, personally. They're way too self-indulgent.

No special celebrity privileges at all?
Isaac: We met George Lucas [Star Wars' director]. His daughter introduced us. She goes, "Dad this is Hanson," and he goes, "I know who they are," and we just sat there.
Zac: It's cool when you walk up and you're like, "Hi, what do you mean you already know I'm Zac from Hanson?"

Does the fame thing ever bug you?
Isaac: There are some fans who are really weird, but then there are other fans who are cool.

Describe what makes for a weird fan versus a cool fan.
Taylor: We have amazing fans. Our fans are really great, but...
Isaac: ...there are some scary ones. Sometimes we can't go in our backyard.
Taylor: What would you do if you looked in your backyard and there's your old treehouse and there's somebody just swinging on your treehouse.

You could put up a fence.
Isaac: That would look dumb.

So, you'd rather just keep it open and the fanatics are going to just keep hanging in your treehouse waiting for you to come be their best friend?
Zac: They're not always in our backyard.
Taylor: We have this security. It's actually funny because we have these little things in the trees that have an alarm and if you walk by they say, "Don't enter the yard."

But you still find people in your yard anyway?
Isaac: We've had whole tour buses in front of our house. we've had 30 people on our front lawn- one of them with a guitar singing songs.
Zac: They steal our basketball. Some lady comes back and she's like, "My daughter stole this, I'm sorry."

Was she returning the basketball?
Isaac: No, she was proud of the fact that her daughter took our basketball. And I was like, "And you're telling me this because why?" She still has it. That girl still has it in her room. Actually the mothers of the girls who are fans are the worst.
Zac: Sometimes the dads are really bad because they just insist. You know, they're like, "I'm 'The Dad', and this is my daughter and she likes you guys."

That's definitely over the top. But some guys would love to have all those girls after them.
Taylor: Can we not talk about girls?

You guys must date once in a while. Isaac?
Isaac: Not very often, actually.
Zac: if it's not recreational time, we don't spend it...
Isaac: ...dating
Zac: I don't have anyone to date right now.

Zac, you are making so many girls so happy! Are you all single?
Isaac: I was dating a girl off and on for a while recently. But that didn't work out, so...
Taylor: I haven't really dated a lot of people. I mean, I probably wouldn't talk about it anyway.

You're a little touchy on the girl subject, Taylor.
Taylor: Well, you know, people are always asking "Who's your girlfriend?" or "Do you have one?" and I'm like "Well, you know what? If I did have one, I wouldn't tell you who she was."

C'mon. Who is she?
Zac: [joking] Here's her address.
Isaac: That's the hard part, because if I take a girl somewhere, then all of a sudden people start stalking her.

So when you finally take a girl out, where do you go to not get noticed?
Isaac: Nowhere.
Zac: We sit in the backyard and say, "This is great!"

You guys are really into that treehouse.
Isaac: We just expect to get noticed. But I guess I take girls to the movies. To dinner. I don't know. Wherever she likes to go.
Zac: Or bowling.
Isaac: Oh, I almost always bring a girl flowers, like almost every time I take a girl out on a date.
Zac: I'd give a girl tapes of the Weather Channel.

And you wonder why you don't have girlfriends?
Taylor: Isn't there anything better to talk about than dating?

Isaac, is Taylor the nightmare little brother when it comes to your love life?
Isaac: [laughs] Yeah, exactly.

You must have a dating horror story.
Isaac: Yeah, the little brother.
Taylor: No, I mean, classically, it's the little brother who shoes up in the movie, and like, you know, the big brother is about to go in for the kiss and then it's like "Hey guys, how's it goin'"?

You did that?
Taylor: No, I mean that's the classic.
Isaac: But if I'm really going on a date...
Zac: You would check the back seats to make sure that no one is there. No family stowaways.

Ok, now we can ditch the dating talk and get to the really important stuff, like, your hair.
Isaac: When I first cut my hair, I flew back home for a weekend and I couldn't believe people still recognized me.

Was it tough to cut it all off?
Isaac: I just wanted to. I thought about cutting it when we did the first record.
Zac: I believe they wanted us all to cut our hair.
Taylor: Yeah, everybody's like "You gotta cut your hair," and we're like, "We love our hair."

Boys are lucky because they can just go and shave their heads.
Taylor: [joking] Zac's going to shave his head.
Zac: I don't know. See, the good thing about this is girls like to play with my hair since I have so much.

What girls, Zac? You don't have girls around remember?
Taylor: No, he said he didn't have a girlfriend. He's a player. [laughs]

That'll break a lot of hearts. Do you guys have anything you can't live without, say, health food?
Isaac: We're into beef.
Zac: We're from the Midwest, so we're "meatatarians."
Taylor: We love meat.
Zac: I prefer frozen beef jerky on a popsicle stick and you just lick it! It's great.
Taylor: You realize we're joking.
Zac: Dr. Pepper.

What about it?
Taylor: That's another Midwest thing. Everybody drinks Dr. Pepper.

What do your rooms look like?
Zac: We share a room. It smells gooooood.

One room? With like, one hamper? All those dirty socks and underwear in one hamper?
Isaac: Yep. Lots of underwear, man. Lots of underwear.

How often do you change your underwear?
Taylor: That is where we're going to have to draw the line!

Settle! Just kidding!
Zac: I have one of those race car beds. It's great.

And a wagon wheel lamp?
Isaac: Actually, we had cool beds made that are log-cabin looking. Very rural. But our room is boring. There is not a single poster on our walls.
Taylor: We have a little living room area outside of our room and we spend time there.

Doing what?
Isaac: We don't watch very much TV. We don't have time.
Zac: The Simpsons is great.
Taylor: Actually, I love the Discovery Channel. It's awesome.
Zac: There's a crodle hunter, and he's insane. [in a accent]
'...I have here a snake in the wild...four inches from my face...I will surely die...'
Isaac: "That's why I'm going to poke it with this short stick!"

Well, at least it's educational TV. Speaking of, how's school?
Zac: We're homeschooled.
Taylor: It's like our parents are our personal teachers.

What are your favorite subjects?
Zac: Recess.
Taylor: Yes, recess.
Zac: And creative spelling.

Got it! Last question: What CDs are you listening to right now?
Isaac: Sheryl Crow abd Lauryn Hill.
Zac: Beck, all the Crows: Sheryl Crow, Black Crowes
Taylor: Lenny Kravitz and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Seventeen Magazine, June 2000 - Cruising With Hanson
The "MMMBop" boys get down and dirty.  by Dina Sansing

Hanson sure knows how to make a splash! It's drizzling on Catalina Island when the three down-to-earth Oklahoma brothers--Isaac (Ike), 19, Taylor (Tay), 17, and Zac, 14--hop into a rented golf cart for a mini tour (with this somewhat nervous seventeen reporter). Zac hangs off the back of the cart, and Tay, who's driving, doesn't miss a single puddle.

I ask how they've managed to spend so much time together writing, recording, and producing their second album, This Time Around, and still have fun. "There are times that we don't get along," says Tay. "But if one person is being annoying, you just say, 'Hey, chill out!.'"

Before long, the conversation turns to amore-asubject on which Ike is well versed. "I met this really cool girl (the other day) at the video shoot. She's a very sweet person. I talked to her on the phone yesterday." He stops for a moment, then continues. "I've been really bad in the past about not calling people back. You get so busy."
"Or you don't get the numbers," Tay interjects. "Yeah," Ike agrees. "You get involved with something else and you feel weird, like maybe you shouldn't call. You feel awkward." Then Tay concludes, "Ike's a hopeless romantic." So do they leave the love songs to him? Nope. According to Tay, writing is a collaborative effort. "Sometimes one of us may start a song about a certain person, but any of us can finish it," he says.

The unromantic and decidedly bubblegum tune "MMMBop" may have turned the brothers Hanson into megastars three years ago, but that was before the invasion of Britney Spears, the Backstreet Boys and other hip popsters. With the release of This Time Around, the brothers will enter a much more crowded arena. But they don't seem nervous at all. "There's nothing we can do about the competition," says Tay. "It'll be fun to see what happens."

Despite their laid-back attitude, these three guys pride themselves on taking risks. Perhaps that's why their new album sounds nothing like you'd expect. With notable guest artists like Jonny Lang and Blues Traveler's John Popper, Hanson's latest creation has clear roots in blues and rock 'n' roll. "For us, it's been a natural progression," Tay says of the group's departure from upbeat pop tunes. Their sound may be more sophisticated, but the boys prove that they're still boys as Tay puts the pedal to the metal and gets us back to the ferry dock in record time.

Even covered with mud, Hanson's still a female magnet. As we wait for the ferry back to Los Angeles, the brothers are approached by three local girls, who are thrilled to see the stars in their midst. The guys chat with the fans and wave goodbye after signing autographs, leaving them with a great story for their friends. 

React Magazine, May 1-7 2000 - Hangin' Around with Hanson
The brotherly band has come a long way from the Middle of Nowhere.

The Tulsa trio of Zac (drums), 14, Taylor (keyboards and percussion), 17, and Isaac (guitar), 19, has a new CD. It's called This Time Around. It rocks. It pops. It also makes you think.
by Nina Malkin

This Time Around has a different sound.

Taylor: It's a little more raw, more rock 'n' roll. You try different chords, continue to experiment. It's good to push yourself to the limit.

Zac: When you're writing songs, you don't go, "Well that worked last time -- let's do the exact same thing."

Lyrically, the album's full of deep thoughts.

Taylor: Some are just about rockin' out, but a lot are deep. When you write a song, you're working something through in your head.

Isaac: On (first single) "This Time Around," the lyrics are introspective, but not depressing. It's actually very triumphant.

Tell us about some other songs.

Taylor: "Runaway Run" is about being in love with someone and knowing it's not going to happen. "In the City" is about someone cheating on you and you feel completely lost.

Zac: "If Only" is about the dorky guy who doesn't know what to say to the girl -- like, 'How will I ask her out?'"

But you guys really seem to have the life -- you do what you love and get fame, fortune, and countless screaming girls for it. Where does the sad stuff come in?

Taylor: You can feel depressed even if you rule the world. We're just reflecting thoughts that everyone has, everyone connects with.

John Popper of Blues Traveler and Jonny Lang are special guests on the album. How did that happen -- and what was it like working with them?

Taylor: We met them both on tour, and it was just like, "Hey, would you ever want to play?" You listen to either of them and you're like, "Whoa!"

Isaac: John Popper is hilarious, and Jonny Lang is not so much funny as a very cool person, and fun to hang out with -- we bonded with him.

Zac: (puts on a goofy drawl) He's just so together and happening, how could you not bond with the boy?

You all have different haircuts now. Any other personal transformations?

Isaac: I'm still hoping for a couple more inches. I don't care if Tay's taller than me, I just always wanted to be 6 feet tall. That's my goal.

Taylor: I have a pierced ear. I like it, but I would not recommend cartilage piercing. It did not hurt at all when I got it done, but it gets swollen, and you get a bump on your ear no matter what -- it's a hassle.

How did you guys ring in the millennium?

Taylor: We did what we always do -- We were at home, just had friends over. We were with the same people we were with for the last couple of New Years, the ones we try to spend time with when we have time.

You still have the same "before they were rock stars" friends?

Zac: All our friends are famous!

Isaac: (shoots Zac an eye-roll) I have a best friend. He has known me literally all my life. We have a group of friends who are our close buds.

People in your position could have anything. How do you keep from going hog-wild?

Taylor: Life has a lot of temptations, and things do open up to you. People think, "Oh, there are girls throwing themselves at you, and you're making money." But we got into this because we love music.

Isaac: Besides, it would wind up just this big hole you get yourself into. Nothing against the girls, that's a nice added bonus, but the truth is you can only meet so many people.

So what do you indulge in?

Zac: Dirt bikes.

Isaac: Guitars.

Taylor: My only guilty pleasure is coffee.

TV Hits Australia, May 2000 - WE WILL ROCK YOU!

Hanson have grown up and rock harder than ever, but they still send fans home weak at the knees! Ike, Tay and Zac 'fess up on all things Hanson - Including girls!

TV Hits: What's the weirdest thing about having such fanatical fans?

Tay: People drive across the country for 10 hours to sit in front of our house and camp out! Usually there's four of five cars there. It's good having fans like that - they'll camp out to see your concerts!

TV Hits: Do you still get loads of fan mail?

Tay: It's phenomenal! The things people send you in the mail...fans from South America send scrolls saying "I love you" over and over across the page. They're about six inches thick, and at the end it says how many "I love you's" are written on it! It blows me away that people devote so much time to make something like that for you.

TV Hits: It must be hard to resist all those screaming girls throwing themselves at you.

Tay: I don't resist - I jump in the middle of them! It scares them more. There's no secret, the fans aren't out to hurt you or kill you, they're just excited. We get so many fans following us around!

TV Hits: Do you honestly think your success is due to your looks or your songs?

Tay: I think our popularity is due more to our songs than our looks. We're totally amazed by our success!

TV Hits: What's the one question you hate answering?

Ike: "Are your younger brother and sisters going to join the band?" But the most stupid question we've been asked is, "How did you guys meet?" All you can say is, "It was in the house. I came down the stairs one morning and Zac was there. We're brothers, moron!"

TV Hits: Have you had time to find a girlfriend since we last spoke?

Tay: What for? I'm always somewhere else. There's a girl that I've liked for a while. I don't think I'll ever dare tell her how I feel.

Zac: Girls would have to be really butch if they wanted to hang out with us! I don't think that many girls would want to go out with us!

TV Hits: Do you still have a massive crush on Jennifer Aniston?

Tay: She's not my number one any more. The girl I've got my eye on is Claire Grogan. She used to sing in the group Altered Images in the '80s. She's the wife of one of our producers.

TV Hits: What's the greatest experience being pop stars has given you?

Tay: We've been all around the world - it's pretty incredible. We value so much the support the fans have given us.

Zac: We know how lucky we are to be able to travel so much. Some of our friends have never left their home town.

TV Hits: Do your brothers and sisters miss you when you're away?

Ike: It's true that it isn't always easy for them. Usually just our dad goes travels with us, but sometimes the whole family come along. That's a lot of Hansons in one hotel!

TV Hits: Zac, do you and Ike get jealous of all the attention Tay gets?

Zac: With seven kids in a family you can't have a competitive spirit between you. We've all on the same level - no favoritism. When it comes to Nintendo champion of the band, that's another story!

Tay: I don't see myself as the heart-throb or the leader, I'm just the main singer. As people, none of us think we're better than the others.

Request Magazine, May 2000 - Brothers Gonna Work it Out

The Hansons are back. Older, wiser, and- yes -cuter. Can these geezers rule to pop world they helped launch three years ago with "MMMBop"?

Its Valentines Day, that cruelest of secular holidays and a bevy of girls who've logged on for a live Yahoo chat with the brother's Hanson are dying to know: "Are there any lucky ladies in your lives?"

Somewhere out there in the real world, teen siblings Isaac, Taylor and Zac Hanson sit at the ready amiably fielding this and other decidedly non-musical question with the aid of the cyber-moderator. "How many Valentines did you get?" "Why did you cut your hair?" "What was the last movie you saw?" "What kinds of snacks do you guys like?" Not exactly a probing inquiry into a platinum-selling band's creative process. But compared to the scores of rogue postings from various chat-room miscreants ("This is dumb," "Ike's a perv," "Taylor pierced his d*ck"), the boy's loving praise of grandma's homemade Chex mix comes as a welcome bit of trivia.

Days later the threesome touches down in Dallas for a rapid round of radio spots, photo shoots and a live chat of the in person variety with Request. Its been nearly three years since MMMBop lifted the bands auspicious debut Middle of Nowhere into the international pop stratosphere, and in that time the brothers have become visibly at ease with the business of self-promotion. Not the least bit fazed by their wee-hour wake-up call, the red-eyed commute from their native Tulsa Oklahoma, the doting stylists, or the repeated chick of camera, the kick back comfortably into stuffed chair at an upscale Dallas hotel aptly called The Mansion.

Digital Age tactics such as Webcasts and live Internet chats certainly help to further their cause, but notoriety in the wired world also has its price. Rough demo versions of the songs on Hanson's new This Time Around (Island) were circulated on the Internet as early as last summer, presumably leaked by some feverish fan with a mole in the industry. "It makes it really hard to just keep things low-key" eldest brother Isaac says on the online Hanson hysteria. "We knew it was bad when we got a dog" fresh-faced Taylor adds. "Like, no one had seen it-I can't imagine how anybody found out - and it was instantly on the Internet. The name and everything. It was crazy."

Yep crazy. Crazy like the summer of 1997, when the MMMBop outbreak placed a trio of well-mannered, long-haired, home-schooled Okies at the top of The Village Voice's annual "Pazz and Jop" critics poll for Single of the Year, beating out the formable likes of Puff Daddy, the Spice Girls, Chumbawamba, and Oasis. Half the fun of the song's phenomenal success was in watching the grown-up critical establishment scramble to make sense of the mania. The Voice's Robert Christgau was moved to declare that "not since vintage Madonna has trifling pop so perfervidly demanded high-powered exegesis." Err.yep, crazy.

Of course for the younger fans - those invested in stuff like favorite snacks and family dogs - nothing on Middle of Nowhere needed translation. Written and performed primarily by the boys themselves, the album was an instantly chewable, chart-worthy set or organic pop delights, as DIY-minded as some of punk rock's finest, but with cloying R&B harmonies and pubescent blue-eyed soul instead of bad eye-makeup and middle fingers. Hitting the Top 40 consciously well ahead of N'Sync and the like, it was a purer strain of teen pop that nipped cynicism in the bud and quite likely sent thousands of adolescents straight to guitar lessons and school band sign-ups. No question, the Hansons still have mad love for their underage fan base. But on the long awaited This Time Around (its original fall 1999 release date pushed back after early sessions with Ric Ocasek were scrapped for still vague reasons) the MMMBoys re-enter the pop universe with a taller taste in rock, a more refined sense of song, and a readiness to push their way well inside adult alternative territory. Collaborating with Middle producer Stephan Lironi, the trio enlisted the blues-rooted Johnny Lang and John Popper to help bolder their R&B instincts. That the title track - a piano driven slice of Southern harmony that would sound at home in the middle of a Black Crowes album - was selected as the first U.S. single should be proof enough that these kids aren't interested in being confined to the candy rack.

"I feel really good about this time that's gone by [since the last album]," says Taylor whose voice has already aged a notch closer to the brawny Motown singers he was reared on. "In a way, I think the fact that we've grown up I bit makes it easier for some people to accept us. Sometimes it scared people that it could be three really young guys who were seemingly that squeaky-clean making good, real music. Having grown up a little bit maybe helps some people accept it."

"Wait" youngest member Zac interjects with a smirk. "So our selling point is 'We're older - You can Accept it'?!" Laughs all around. A cuddly 11-year-old back with the group first broke, drummer Zac would now trounce his bandmates in a Most Affected by Puberty Since Our Last Tour contest. On the tail end of a major growth spurt and a voice change more drastic than Taylor's, he's still the spastic cut-up of the bunch, prodding the conversation every few minutes with goofy impressions, toothy gags, and the occasional belch-on-command.

"Maybe this time it'll be, 'Oh they're too hard'" Zac jokes, imagining what kind of pointed criticism awaits his bands natural evolution. "'They're not bubble gummy enough! They cut their hair and they went RAWK!'" The less boisterous but more talkative Taylor sees the slings and arrows coming too, but doesn't seem the least bit threatened. "If somebody wants to put you down, they'll find a reason to do it," he says matter-of-factly. "Whether you're Britney Spears or the Black Crows." "Whether they're saying you got fake boobs or that you're too old" Isaac agrees. "There's plenty of ammunition for people to get at us, too. Like we're trying too hard to be cool or something." He shrugs, then cracks a contented smile. At 19, Isaac doesn't pull fraternal rank of his younger sibs, but rather balances their caffeinated chatter with a stoic sense of simple truth. He wears this newly confident reserve well, even on the album. "Love Song" and "Hand in Hand" both showcase his versatile pipes and melodic moxie, the latter spiced with a Santana-flavored solo by Lang.

"Dying to Be Alive" another mid-tempo standout, benefits greatly for the presence of a full gospel choir led by Rose Stone first-rate vocal arranger and veteran of Sly & the Family Stone. "You don't have soul when you meet Rose Stone," Isaac recalls with reverse. "We felt transparent after meeting them," Taylor says. "Like, 'We're beyond white boys. We're clear.'"

So here's the question: Will the millions of young listeners (and a good many of their guardians) who bopped aboard the early Hanson bandwagon be as exited to ride along with this more seasoned set? Is there room in the Top 40 for a crew of infinitely gracious Christian teens who sound something like Matchbox 20 and nothing like Christina Aguilara? Does the average Yahoo chat cat know her Rose Stone from her Stone Roses?

"Its kinda funny," Zac chuckles, "because we've always grown up knowing old music. I remember one time a friend of ours came over while we were listening to the Jackson Five. He's like 'Who is that band?' and I'm like 'The Jackson Five' and he's like 'Who are they?' and I'm like 'Are you an idiot?!'"

Mind you, the Hanson boys don't take their affection for the classic soul, pop and R&B entirely for granted. They still share a bedroom - and consequently, a stereo - but they're not so insulated they think the whole world can immediately latch onto the old-time influences that permeate their music. They're willing to help listeners get it.

Even with state-of-the-art production and some wholly modern flourishes, there's no guarantee that pop-loving minors will get into This Time Around. After all, there's plenty of over-the-counter bubblegum out there for those who'd just as soon stay put in the musical middle school. But nature has a funny way of taking the wheel whether you're a major-label-recording artist or an average teen with an appetite for diversion. Or both.

"If it's either crack or video games, I think I'll go with the video games." Zac is referring to his Sony PlayStation habit, which may or may not be spiraling out of control. If VH-1 is desperate to produce a Behind the Music on Hanson, maybe this bit of not-so-dirty laundry will satisfy the "heard-rending battle with addiction" prerequisite.

Indeed for Zac, the most alluring aspect of the band's upcoming Japanese tour is a chance to test drive the new PlayStation 2, six months before it hits the States. He's still bantering with his brothers about the technical specs of the system when their publicist steps into the room and points at her watch. There's a plane chartered back to Tulsa. And, Lord and Billboard willing, lot of other planes chartered to lots of other places. Again.

Jump Magazine, April 2000 - HANSON ON WHAT IS HIP, HOT, AND HAPPENING
by Alexa Joy Sherman

With a rockin' new record, This Time Around, Hanson is proving to be even hipper than the last time around. So who better to give us their views on all things cool than Isaac, Taylor, and Zac? They insist they're just a bunch of "dorks," but to us, that just makes them even cooler.

Do you have any idea why thousands of screaming girls think you guys are so cool?
Taylor: I don't think it has anything to do with how cool we are as people. Fans appreciate the band and the music we make. When it comes to screaming girls saying "I love you, I want to marry you," they could be saying that to anybody.
Isaac: It's just a rock 'n' roll thing. It comes and goes.
Taylor: You can't take it personally or let it go to your head. It's just because we're in the public eye. When you're onstage, it creates excitement and girls start screaming.
Zac: Oh yeah, women love me! [Laughs]
Taylor: You can't let yourself think that girls want to be near you because you're so cool. Honestly, I don't think we're cool at all.

So you don't stare into the mirror and tell yourselves how cool you are?
Isaac: No, no, no! We look in the mirror and think, Wow, what are they thinking? Honestly, the day that I say "Wow, I'm cool," I hope somebody slaps me.
Taylor: Oh, we will!

But what do you think of these girls who go crazy and pass out because of you?
Taylor: We invoke seizures. [Laughs] It's just what happens. It's just the way fans are.
Isaac: It's very cool to have people who are into the band and what we do, but it all comes down to the music. They might not necessarily be into us as people, except for the fact that we're musicians.
Taylor: We haven't really figured out the girl thing yet. And no one will ever figure out the screaming thing.
Isaac: I don't think anybody's figured it out. Guys just can't figure girls. I think girls have the guys whipped the whole time.

What are some of the best compliments you've received from fans?
Taylor: It's inspiring when we get letters from people saying, "You've changed our lives." Or "I was gonna commit suicide and now I'm not because of one of your songs."
Isaac: Those are cool! But even the littlest compliments, like somebody walking up and saying "I just wanted to say I really like your music and I think you guys are cool," encourages us to keep doing it -- not only because we love doing it, but because people identify with our music and actually get something out of it.

People you grew up with must think it's cool to be friends with Hanson.
Isaac: One of my best friends isn't even a fan of the band.
Zac: Yeah, we have a lot of friends who don't dig the music. They're just like, "Guys, I'm sorry, but I think your music is crappy. But, uh, you guys are cool."
Taylor: Yeah, exactly, and that's fine with us. That's what's so cool about music; you can hate some of it and love some of it.

Do you feel cooler, or less cool, when people call you a boy band?
Taylor: Every band gets put in a box -- whether it's the Black Crowes being too hard and retro or the Backstreet Boys being called teenyboppers. In the beginning, we were young and blond and we seemed like a cheesy pop band. When you think of Hanson, you think of "MMMBop," right? There were some deeper things going on, but people tended to focus on the young, pop side of things.
Isaac: We definitely had people patting us on the head, saying, "Oh, you're so cute."
Taylor: But we've always been a pop-rock band. Now that we've grown up a little bit, hopefully it will be easier for people to accept us and get into our music.

How have other bands and artists treated you?
Isaac: We've had people like Lenny Kravitz walk up to us and say, "Hey, I really love your record." And we're thinking, Whoa, Lenny Kravitz knows who we are and he likes our music. That was really cool. Actually, we've been embraced by many of our musical peers.

Which female artists are you into?
Taylor: Sheryl Crow, Lauryn Hill, and, without a doubt, Aretha Franklin.
Isaac: We want to meet her so badly. She's the queen of soul!
Taylor: She's the ultimate diva.
Isaac: Yeah, when VH1 did that divas concert with Celine Dion and Shania Twain, we were sitting there going, "Come on! Give us a break!" Then Aretha Franklin came out and just wiped them off the planet. No offense to them, but it would be like putting any rock band up against Aerosmith or the Stones.

Have you ever felt like losers?
Taylor: Yeah--when we were recording the new album and Rose Stone [former Sly and the Family Stone singers] was there with a choir. When they sang with us, we felt like we couldn't sing at all.
Isaac: That little bit of soul we thought we had going on-- nuh-uh! [Laughs]
Taylor: [Laughs] We felt transparent. Our ability to sing with soul didn't exist.

What qualities make a girl cool?
Zac: She needs to be absolutely perfect. [Laughs]
Isaac: No, I don't think there's any one quality that makes a girl cool. You know, you find yourself meeting all kinds of different people, but until you finally find that girl and go, Whoa, she's it, I don't think you can really pinpoint it. You never know until you meet the girl. Hopefully, it's more than just being physically attracted to her. It's not like I'm instantly into someone because she looks like Cindy Crawford.
Taylor: Looks may be the initial reason you're attracted to someone, but after that, it becomes more about the kind of person she is.

What would you do on a date to make it really cool?
Zac: Go skydiving!
Isaac: It could be any of a bazillion things.
Zac: The thing is, you could plan the ultimate date, and something could still go wrong and screw it all up.
Taylor: You can have the best time just going to a movie or a romantic dinner. If you want to do crazy stuff, then you can take her skydiving. It depends on the girl.
Isaac: Hopefully, she's the kind of person who doesn't mind if it's not perfectly romantic -- she has a good time because she enjoys my company, and vice versa. That's actually what makes any relationship good at the end of the day.

Who's the coolest person in your family?
Taylor: There are four other kids, besides the three of us. Our baby sister is the most pampered, so she's probably considered the coolest.
Zac: And she has eight people to hold her, so what do you expect?
Isaac: None of us gets that much attention.

But of the three of you, who's the coolest?
Taylor: What makes someone cool is just being yourself and not trying to be something you aren't. So we're all equally cool.
Isaac: No, we're all dorks.
Zac: Yeah -- I'm not that conceited. Please let me be the dork!
Taylor: No, Zac's the coolest.
Zac: No, I want to be the dork.
Taylor: Honestly, none of us is the coolest, because we're all dorks.

The Press, April 29, 2000 - New Zealand, GETTING A HANDLE ON HANSON
Being obnoxious comes naturally to the youngest member of Hanson. Babera Ellan talks to the band as their new album hits the shelves.

It is 12:35pm. I'm sitting in a plush Kensington hotel room with Hanson's publicist, waiting to meet Oklahoma's blond child prodigy trio to arrive.
"Do you like Hanson?" asks the publicist. Well, I don't dislike them, I say. Who could forget MMMBop, the most infectious single of 1997?
The door opens, and Hanson arrive. It's been three years and they've grown a bit. Isaac (friendly, courteous, Dave Grohl crossed with Stewart Copeland) is 19. Taylor (pretty, poetic, Mark Owen fused with Kurt Cobain) is 16. Zac (bratty, noisy, Meatloaf meets Angelica from Rugrats) is 14. Far from being raised as unreconstructed hippie brats, Hanson come from an upstanding Christian background.
They don't care to discuss this in pop interviews, so we chat a bit about their new album, This Time Around.
It's rockier than their multi-million-selling, Brit-and-Grammy-nominated debut, Middle Of Nowhere. The box-fresh melodies are still in place, but there are some distinctly Sheryl Crow and Lenny Kravitz touches, and a lot more self-assurance and swagger.
Clearly, their musical style has evolved as the boys have matured. Does Hanson feel like a different band now? Isaac and Taylor open their mouths to comment, but Zac gets there first. "Well, hurrr, noooooo!" he sneers. "As you can see, it's still the same three guys who've always performed together."
And with that, Zac bunches up his chubby lips until the almost touch the tip of his piggy nose, and lolls back in his chair, smirking. Isn't he delightful?
1:06pm: "The way the band works," Taylor is explaining, "is that there's three of us, and everyone has a different strength, and plays off each other."
But are some members of Hanson more equal than others? There's usually at least one control freak in a band, I say, glaring pointedly at Zac. "We-ell," says Isaac. "Sometimes Taylor can be a toal perfectionist, and I can be anal about some things too, but I guess Zac does like to steer the band sometimes. Zac cuts straight to the chase."
I glance over at Zac, who is almost purring by now. "That's correct," he says grandly. "I don't think there's any point in beating around the bush."
Watching him, the oddest feeling washes over me. What is it? I wonder.
1:11pm: As Taylor politely explains how different experiences have contributed to changing Hanson, it hits me that I hate Zac. This is bad.
You can't just go around hating 14-year-old Christian boy drummers, however obnoxious they might be.
1:15pm: Zac makes fun of my accent. He also claims not to be able to hear my question about whether Hanson were irritated at being categorized as a boy band.
"What was that you said?", says Zac, cupping his ear theatrically. "I didn't quite understand the first part." This guy is wasted on pop. Why isn't Hollywood clamoring?
1:16pm: Isaac answers my question: "The reason Hanson is put in certain boxes is our fan base is primarily young girls. We don't have anything against that, but we do feel that, even more now, our music is nothing like the category we're put into." Thank you Isaac.

Bravo Magazine, April 2, 2000 - "We still share a room!"

They are back! After almost a two year break, Hanson returns with the single "If only" and the album "This time around". In the Bravo interview they tell us about how what has changed in them and what is their opinion about girls.

The Hanson brothers have changed a lot over the past two years: Zac, who used to be a wild kid, now seems to be calm and concentrated. Taylor has turned into the spokesman of the band and Isaac has got ridden of his braces and glows with cool self assurance.

Bravo: It's been a long time since you've been last in Germany. Why did you take such a long break?

Taylor: We didn't rest. On the contrary - there was hardly a day when we didn't work. In 1998 we were still on tour in the USA, then we had some promotion in Asia. We put together a tour video and wrote songs. In two years we wrote up to 30 tracks, and we selected 18 - all the songs were made 100 percent by us, we composed everything ourselves this time.

Bravo: Your new album " This time around " sounds more mature and more rock'n roll than your breakthrough album " Middle of Nowhere ". Have your musical tastes changed ?

Zac: No. We always liked rock bands like the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Creed. But we also like to listen to softer music like Lauryn Hill or Sheryl Crow.

Isaac: We are very open musically and we also wanted to show that in our album. But of course, we are first of all a rock band, that plays live. And our fans should hear that.

Bravo: You started the recording already 18 months ago, but the release date kept being pushed back. What happened, did you have arguments?

Isaac: No. We do fight occasionally like it usually happens between brothers. But it's always for a very short moment. We actually are very tight.

Taylor: The reason why the recording process lasted so long is that we changed producers. We rearranged the songs then recorded them again. It was a lot of work but it was worth it.

Bravo: Did you record the album at home in Tulsa/Oklahoma?

Taylor: Most of it was produced in Los Angeles. During this time we even moved with the whole family in a house on the west coast. It was very important for us. Without the support of our family, the whole thing wouldn't work.

Bravo: Meanwhile you have four siblings, your youngest sister Zoe is only 2 years old. Is there going to be an eighth Hanson sibling sometime soon?

Zac (laughing): No, not that I know of. But mom has surprised us more than once. Then we should rent a bus for our tour.

Bravo: Are you actually always as a big family on the road?

Taylor: No. Our mother Diana and our four younger siblings only come with us when we are away for a longer period of time. When it's just a short trip, only our father Walker is with us. Everything else would be too much stress for the little ones.

Bravo: Have you ever dedicated a song to your family?

Isaac: No not directly. But the title song " This time around " talks about what our father always told us: -you can succeed in everything and overcome every obstacle. If you want to, you can achieve a lot in your life.

Taylor: Basically, all the songs are about our life. Even if we didn't always write about personal experiences, each song expresses our thoughts and feelings.

Bravo: A lot of your lyrics talk about love, for instance "Love song ". Do you have girlfriends now?

Isaac: No we're still single.

Bravo: Not even a single love affair in the past two years?

Taylor: Even if it sounds weird. But we have hardly any time. We do receive entire baskets of love letters, but they are all fans who like us because we're Hanson. And it would be hard to start a relationship with these girls. On top of that, we're pretty isolated from the outside world when we're on the road, because otherwise the fans would crush us.

Zac: Because of that it's really difficult for us to meet a girl who loves us as a human being and not because we happen to play in Hanson.

Bravo: Do you still live in your parent's house in Tulsa?

Taylor: Yes, and we don't want to go away because we're very attached to our home.

Zac: Although we still have to share a room! (laughing)

Bravo: Are there a lot of fans who go on pilgrimage to visit you at home?

Isaac: Oh yes. It can be pretty stressful sometimes. There are girls who actually travel from Spain or South America only to stand in front of our house and call our names.

Zac