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When you think of the band Hanson, what do you see? The chipper, precocious squeaky-clean blonde pre-teens of 1997? The “Mmmbop kids”? Do you ever wonder “where are they now”?

Wonder no more. Hanson has been pretty busy lately; they are all married with children of their own, have their own record label, and are gearing up for the first leg of U.S. tour for their new album “Shout It Out”. After struggling and eventually breaking ties with their former record label Island/Def Jam for four years; an event which spawned their critically acclaimed documentary “Strong Enough to Break”, Hanson has been steadily honing their craft and becoming better with each successive album release. They are not the “Mmmbop kids” any more.

“Shout It Out” was released on June 8th, 2010. Unlike previous albums which had more melancholy lyrics and a more diverse mix of rhythm and blues alongside rock, “Shout It Out” is proud to boast a more rhythm and blues feel. The almost the entire album is upbeat and happy, with the noticeable exceptions being “Me, Myself, and I” and “Use Me Up”. As Hanson themselves write in the Thank You section of the album notes “it is music that remembers its roots, and picks up a fresh blast of color for the next pages”. That, it seems, is the perfect way to sum up the new album.

“Thinking ‘Bout Somethin‘” is their first single and with its infectious beat, you will be toe-tapping in no time. There’s also an official choreography that seems destined to become the “Thriller” amongst loyal Hanson fans. The music video for the song is a homage to the Ray Charles scene in the movie “Blues Brothers” and is meant to show that everyone, of any shape, size, and ethnicity can feel the music and just dance for the sheer fun of it.
Even on the slower songs, the lyrics are not those of simple, generic pop songs. They speak of maturity, of struggle and loss, and of eventually coming out stronger and better than ever. Their words show the doubters that yes, Hanson are adults now and have struggled. They’ve fought with blood, sweat, and tears and have grown as individuals and as a band. Now they’re exactly where they need to be, and their sheer enthusiasm for good music is an intrinsic part of “Shout it Out”.

As Zac says “don’t be afraid to smile and love music that makes you feel good”. The album does exactly that; it is the perfect summer album to be blasted at high volumes at the beach, at a BBQ, while driving down the highway with the windows rolled down, or on a rainy day when you need a bit of a “pick me up”.

If you still need convincing, or you’re just curious to want to see this supposed maturity for yourself, their new album is up on Myspace. Also, you can check out their official website, Hanson.net for more information and merchandise.

Hanson is back, folks. The music lives, and it’s better than ever.

Buy Hanson – Shout It Out on Amazon.com

Download Hanson -Shout It Out [Deluxe Edition] [+video] [+digital booklet] from the Amazon music store.