Middle of Nowhere
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Free Music Notes for Middle of Nowhere
Free Music Review: Score one for the homeschoolers!
Hit: 5 Stars
I have definitely developed a taste for boy singers. Five years ago, the sound of one of those boy choirs was almost an offense to my ears. I was practically president of the Absolutely NO Boy Singers! club. But between then and now, one thing after another happened, and here I am with Middle of Nowhere in my hands. I'm actually grinning at the pictures on the front and back of the album (I used to be co-president of the All Boys Should Have Supershort Hair club, too). I've heard that Hanson is thought of as a bubblegum band, but I do not see why. No bubblegum band ever sounded, or sang songs, like this. And (among other things), I'm a connoisseur of blonde teenybopper bubblegum music, so I should know. Middle of Nowhere starts off with the high-spirited (and high-pitched) Thinkin' Of You.
Something about Hanson is that they make me grin. It is impossible to be sour while listening to Hanson, and this track is especially I-feel-happy, I-sorta-feel-like-dancing. Actually, more like jumping up and down, really enthusiastically. At any rate, that's what Taylor does when they sing this one live. Don't ask me how he can jump and play keyboard at the same time.
Ah yes. The much-loved (and, by some, much-maligned) MMMbop. I don't see what there is to malign. And I am fully qualified to comment on this, as back in '97, I was not a thirteen-year-old with a crush on Taylor. MMMbop was by no means my first Hanson song. Sure, one can decide to dislike it, and make snide comments about the relative high-pitchedness, and slightly juvenile attitude. But whatever slight faults this song may or may not have, they are far outweighed by all the good things about it. This is a great song, it really is. It's one-of-a-kind. I certainly have never heard any songs along similar lines.
Weird-Gotta love the harmonies on this one. Harmonies is one of the things they're best at. `When you live in a cookie-cutter world, being different is a sin/So you don't stand out/and you don't fit in...' Well, what is there to say? I've been there, I know what they mean.
I like `Speechless'. My favourite part of the song is at the end of the first refrain, when Taylor makes this funny little noise. I just discovered this last night, and I grin every time I think of it. Second favourite is the part that goes `I get suspicious when you call me someone else's name'.
`Where's The Love?'-Anything that makes me bounce, with its high level of energy, with a catchy melody and lyrics, and which furthermore has Ike singing in the coolest part of the song, is sure to be ranked high on my list. And it is.
Look At You-I think of this song as `Dancing Queen' from a different perspective.. Another high-energy, enjoyable track. I especially like the bit at the end, when someone who could only be Zac, gets really enthusiastic. He was always good at that.
Another thing about Hanson is that not only is their sound completely unique (who sounds even remotely like Hanson?) they sing songs unlike anything done by anyone else. Case in point: `Yearbook'. This is a very cool and kind of creepy song. `I'm looking through the yearbook, and I find that empty space/There's a name without a picture, but I can't forget his face.....' This song drives me crazy, wondering just where did Johnny go? And the (kind of) school setting makes one forget that the guys in Hanson were homeschooled!
Lucy-Every time I hear this, I go `Awwww!' and it makes me want to pat the lead singer (I think it's Zac in this one) on the head, and tell him it's going to be all right. He sounds all sad and lonely, it is so cute. Maternal instincts, y'know.
Something that sets Hanson apart is that unlike other young singers, they don't shy away from singing songs having to do with love. I like that.
Madeline is a fun track, I only wish it wouldn't skip on my cd player...
A Minute Without You-just leaves me caught up in the infectious melody and high-spirited lyrics. It makes me sort of want to sing along. I usually reserve singing along for female singers, so it's saying a lot, feeling like singing along with them.
I Will Come To You-Lyrics, melody, I love this song. If you listen to this track, and then go back to earlier songs like `MMMbop' or `Thinkin' Of You', you'll notice that Taylor's voice is several notes higher in the beginning of the cd then it is in the later songs, like this one.
With You In Your Dreams-`If I'm gone when you wake up/please don't cry/and if I'm gone when you wake up/it's not goodbye/Don't look back on this time as a time of heartbreak and distress/Remember me/remember me/cause I'm with you in your dreams...' This is a really good track. The backup vocalizations make me think of gospel, or soul.
`It started at a bus stop, in the middle of nowhere/Sitting beside me was a man with no hair/From the look on his face, to the size of his toes/he comes from a place that nobody knows...' Well, what is there to say? Man From Milwaukee is definitely the craziest track on this album. `He says where he's from is called Albertane/There they use more than ten percent of the brain/But you couldn't tell it from the way they behave/They run around in underwear, and they never shave.....' This is just the sort of thing I would expect Zac to come up with. He's a crazy one, is Zac.
Picking favourites was never something I was good at, but if I had to choose one favourite song from this album, Man From Milwaukee would probably be it.
Free Music Review: Middle Of Nowhere rocks 5 Stars
#1.Thinking of You. This song is really nice, its about someone thinking about the person they care about anywhere they are and whatever their doing. Example, "No matter how high no matter how low i'll be thinking of you, no matter what I do no matter where I go i'll be thinking of you the whole time" #2.MMMBop. Awesome song!!! Love it to death! This song has lots of meaning! This song is about haveing holding onto the people that mean the world to you and no matter what happens they will be the only ones there in the end. Some people who listen to this song say "MMMBop, what kind of song is that!?" You just need to LISTEN to the words and not judge it by the voices. #3.Weird. One of the best and most obvious song on there album. Weird should be reconized by everyone in this world. It makes so much sence, and should to everyone, beacuse the words in this song has to do with are every day lives. Example,"Isn't it hard. Standing in the rain. You'r on the verge of going crazy and you heart's in pain. No one can hear though you're screaming so loud. You feel all alone in a faceless crowd". What else can I say? Just listen to the song. #4.Speechless. Love the song!! It also has meaning to it. This song is about a relationship, and one of the two are going behind the others back, but the other one knows about it and the relationship it not doing so well. #5.Where's the Love. Fantastic song!!! This song seems so up beat and happy, but if you listen to the words or read them you will come to know that its about a relationship not doing so well. Example,"Something's been going on and I don't know what it is, you don't mind the taking girl, but you don't know how to give. You drove me carzy but I don't know baby. You're thinking that it's me you're fooling. Where's the right in, all of aor fighting? Look at what you're doing. Where's the love its not enough it makes the world go 'round and 'round and 'round". #6.Yearbook. Terrific song!!!! Hanson really did it this ti! me! Yearbook is great, its is about someone trying to figure out what happend to this boy named Johnny, beacuse they were looking in the yearbook and there was a name without a picture. So to this person its a mystery. One of my favs. #7.Look at You. Great dance song!! This song is upbeat and happy, its about having fun and not being shy about anything, just have fun!!! #8.Lucy. Love this song sooo much so mellow. Zac sings this song and he sounds so good! This song is about a relationship, and the one of the two leaves. Not even a day went bye and he regrets that he left her. He didn't realize that he loved her until the day he left. #9.I will come to you. Very emotional song!!!! Every time I listen to it I get tears in my eye. Its one thing when you cry over a sad song, but when its not even sad and kids wrote and sang the song its another thing. I mean I never thouth that a child's song could move me in a way that this song does. Its so awesome!! I can't explain how moveing and tuching this song is. Please just listen to the words it will make you think. #10.A minute without you. Great song!!!!!! Ok, someone different, Isaac sing this song, well most of it. This song is about not being able to live a minute without the perosn you love. Example, "I can't keep myself from thinking about you. It's beacuse I love you, and I know thats true. I'll call it desperation, can't you see it in my eyes? That I want to be with you until the sun falls from the sky". See what I mean? #11Madeline. This is a really nice song!!! This song is about a relationship that fell apart and then started to heal and grow again. But then the relationship its heading the same way again and the one of the two realizes it and trys to stop it bye talking about it. This song is more understandable if you read it you self. But I tryed hope you understand. #12.With you in you dreams. Ok, now this song was written in the memory of Hanson's grandmother. It is VERY VERY moveing!!!!!!! Hanson put soooooo much emotion into this song! it hurts!!! I cry every single time I listen to this song. I can't explain the meaning cause it would not fit. There is so much emotion in it, its unbelieveable!!!!! I just can't explain it. I bet even anti-Hanson fans would like this song, cause even if its not your grandmother theres someone you know that has past away. And if you listen to the song it will move you in a way you will never understand. #13Man from Milwaukee. Cool song. Zac wrote this song as most of you know. Very cool, its about a alien from Albertane. And there is someone sitting beside the alien that is talking to it. Its just really cool. Oh, at the end of the song it ends up to be the person that was sitting beside the alien. Cool!!!!Here are my rateings on all of the song that I have reviewd. #1. Thinking of you. 10
#2. MMMBop. 10.
#3. Weird. 10.
#4. Speechless. 10
#5. Where's the Love? 10
#6. Yearbook. 10
#7. Look at you. 10
#8. Lucy. 10
#9. I will come to you. 10
#10. A minute without you. 10
#11. Madeline. 10
#12. With you in your dreams. 10
#13. Man from Milwaukee. 10
Free Music Review: One of the best pop records of all time...
Hit: 5 Stars
Before Hanson grew up and had children, before they left the corporate record indursty and went indies, and before they hit puberty, they recorded "Middle of Nowhere", one of the most relentlessly catchy pop records ever produces.
1997 was a year that was the comback for pop. 1997 brought us the Spice Girls, The Backstreet Boys, and of course Hanson! For some, the mention of Hanson will conjure up images of pre-pubescent boys that looked and sounded like girls and will probably induce the desire to slit ones wrist. For others, 1997, the year of Hanson, will always be the best year of their lives. Why such extreme reactions? It is simply because when a band gets so huge like Hanson was, and what makes them endearing is also annoying to many, you are bound to have such extreme reactions.
What made Hanson special and worthy of such love or hatred? It was their unique ability to write pop songs that you would never get out of your head. If somebody else had sung them, would they have been so famous? Probably not. The very thing that made "Mmmbop" one of the best pop songs ever written was the fact that it was a song about holding onto what really mattered, sung by an thirteen year old, and was written two years prior making it quite unusual and somewhat profound for what it was.
Was Hanson just a one trick pony? Or did they have other good songs on their record besides "Mmmbop"? The answer is yes. The entire album is full of songs that are so sweet and innocent, and relentlessly catchy that you will never be able to forget "Middle of Nowhere". Songs such as "Weird", "Where's the Love", "With you in Your Dreams", "Yearbook", and "Thinking of You" transcends far above the age of who they were written by. Other songs like "Lucy", "The Man from Milwakee", "A Minute Without You", "Madeline", and "Look at You" are more on the teeny bopper side of things. Part of the endearing quality of the record is the innocence of it. There is no sex, and nothing dirty. A number of the songs are written about love and infatuation, but they are so well-done that they are not as obnoxious as some other pre-pubescent stars in the past.
These are songs that as yoiu listen to them, you can tell that they are uniquely Hanson, no one else could have ever produced them but Hanson. If you have any doubt to the lasting quality of these songs, listen to this record and then listen to the 10th Anniversary accoustic renditions of these songs.
Since recording this album, Hanson has recorded three other official records "This Time Around", "Underneath", and "The Walk". Although none of those records are bad, in fact they are leaps and bounds ahead of most of the music you will find on the market today, none of them come close to touching "Middle of Nowhere" in its timelessness and catchiness. Hanson produces such extreme reactions in people because they are who they are. You will never mistake another band for Hanson, there is no one else who sounds like them, and no one who ever will.
If you hated Hanson back in 1997, chances are you will still hate this record, but it shouldn't hurt too much to give it a second chance, or at least give Hanson a second chance.
God Bless ~Amy
Free Music Review: "For The Love Of Pete", This Is Good!!!
Hit: 5 Stars
Remember the Hanson explosion?!When the explosion happened I was at Intermediate School (which I think is called Junior High in America). At that stage I loved modern music. '97, '98 & '99 had such great music, but in 2000 and so on until now (2003), modern music took a plumit into emotionless wivel wavel - every song almost has the same beat and another of same old voices screaching out another mindless wail. Older bands that continue to record (bands like Hanson) are the only thing worth following.
Anyone who says anything bad about Hanson is a fool.
At the time of the Hanson explosion I loved so much music, but I didn't really buy any - I mainly listened to the radio, and that was enough. I did buy the Spice Girls albums, I am ashamed to admit. I Was so rapped up in them that I took all the other great music for granted, by not buying it.
One day I was at a record store and I saw this album. I picked it up & there were so many songs me & my friends used to play at school (during our lunch break of course). It was like the soundtrack of my life.
I had to have it! I got it home, played it once, and every song was a favorite from years back. My mom just couldn't see why I loved it, I told her she was nuts and played it again. And again. And again. And again. And again...
The songs:
Thinking of You; wow, so fun and upbeat yet kind of smooth.
MmmBop; needless to say a classic of modern times; lyrics are fantastic - "Plant a seed, plant a flower, plant a rose".
Their lyrics are great, often though it's they way the flow out of the guys' mouths that makes them so magical. Hence the first line of this track(you have so many relationships in this life). A fun hit that'll never die.
Weird; an autobiography to most young people.
Where's the Love; call me crazy, but I love the kind of rock feel to this - I could imagine Tina Turner doing it well!, but of course not as well as Taylor.
I Will Come To You; isn't this an old hit for someone else? - if so, throw that version away, this is the classic reading.
A Minute without You; Isaac singing this time - wow! So fun. Love the chorus ("When the minutes seem like hours and the hours seem like weeks...").
Madeline; a great song, slightly calmer verses then moving into fun/upbeat chorus.
With You In Your Dreams; beautiful. Again, a kind of Tina T. feel, but also uniquely their own.
Man from Miwaukee; any song about a bald, barely dressed alien from Milwaukee has gotta be good - but this is classic.
In all this album is brilliant - one of my favorite studio albums of all time. It has the rare quality of every track being a favorite. And another plus is that Taylors voice is awesome too, and so are Isaac & Zacs on A minute without you & Lucy.
Should be ten stars! Buy it, it's awesome.
Free Music Review: This really is good.
Hit: 5 Stars
I don't care about the looks, I'm just a fan of the music... And I'm not 12 years old, mind you, and neither are many of the other people who found "Middle of Nowhere" likable -- many adults like Hanson, too. I don't care how many CDs you have, and I don't care about your life story, either. You've got to relize something about Hanson and "Middle of Nowhere". This was written/co-written and co-produced by the band Hanson themselves, when Ike was 16, Tay was 14, and when Zac was 11. You have got to be crazy not to think that these boys (yes, they are boys) are talented. You have to admit it, even if you don't like their music. What's more, they play their own instruments. Why don't you go bother BSB or *N SYNC or something because, unlike the hard working Hanson bros., they don't write their music, they don't write their lyrics, they don't play instruments for their music, and their music isn't good anyway. But take "M.O.N.": It's not my favorite, but I really like it a lot. The songs were written from the band's personal expriences ("With You In Your Dreams" and "MMMBop"- you just have to listen to the words) and what teens really feel and think ("Weird", "Thinking of You", ect., ect.). All *N SYNC ever sings about is breaking up with some girl, still loving that girl, and wanting her back. One theme. On one of Hanson's very mature songs, "Weird" (which happens to be my favorite Hanson song), they sing about feeling left out and wishing someone was there who understood them. I don't care how old you are, everyone has felt that why or will feel that way or do feel that way. "Thinking of You" is about a boy with a crush on some girl, but can't be with her (I guess because he can't tell her how he feels about her). Everyone feels like that. "With You In Your Dreams" was written by Hanson alone for their dieing grandmother. I don't care what you say, these boys DO have talent, even if you think this CD is bad or good!My favorits: "Weird" (my most fave), "MMMBop", "Madeline", "Yearbook", and "Look at You, Baby".
I really don't like "Thinking of You" and "Lucy", but they're okay.
The rest of the songs are really good, too.
They don't really sound like the Jackson 5, but some of Hanson's songs have a 60's and 70's sound to them. Also, "Weird", "Yearbook", "I Will Come To You", and "With You In Your Dreams" are very mature and are NOT (I repeat; NOT) "teeny-bopper"!