 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Underneath
Common Sense Media says
They're still nice boys.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that a few years and a lot of time to practice under the influence of real pros has made a difference -- this album boasts technical excellence from beginning to end, and the Hanson brothers keep it clean.
What's the story?
UNDERNEATH, by Hanson, is one of those albums you want to either love or hate. A six-year-hiatus has given the boys (now more mature and singing beautifully in lower keys) some undeniable musical and vocal chops, as well as the chance to write some pretty good songs. The Hanson brothers, best known for mega-hits recorded when they were barely teenagers, have been practicing.
Is it any good?
What's to love? Excellent singing and playing, darn good songs, sentiment expressed without reliance on explicit sex, misogynist posturing, or profanity. This is a carefully and beautifully produced pop album. What's to hate? They may have gained musical sophistication, but they seem to have lost the infectious perkiness that made them so irresistibly cute as a younger band. There's no obvious hit single here, a lot of professionalism but little sense of fun. The end result is a pretty good CD that veers a little too close to sappy and soulless to be truly wonderful.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about if they think Hanson can be commercially successful at a time when edgy hip hop and rap dominate. Can pop singers be cool without relying on sex, violence and profanity?
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