Underneath (by Hanson, Pop)

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.

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.

Released on: April 20, 2004
Label: 3CG
Genre: Pop