Ric Ocasec: guy from one of the few bands that actually made good music in the 80's. Currently the hero of the moment because he wanted Hanson to play on their album, which is a good thing. He was producing Hanson's new album. Now he's not.

Mr. Brittney Spears Man: A gentleman at Island/DefJam records who apparently doesn't want Hanson to play on their album, and wants them to be a silly nonsense act akin to the Backstreet Boys. He's the bad guy of the moment. This gentleman earned this title because he happens to be the astute individual who thought Brittney Spears had enough talent to cut an album. He also made Ric Ocasec go away, which is bad. Do we want him on the Hanson project kiddies? No. No we do not.

Christopher Sabec: Hanson's manager/PR guy/legal representation. He said that Ocasec was only contracted to produce three songs on the Hanson album, and that Ocasec left on friendly terms and that everything is just peachy keen on the Hanson project. We have learned from other sources that this is probably false. Know what? For a young guy who works with Hanson, Mr. Sabec can be pretty cranky and militant sometimes.

Hanson: Ok. Now are we the only ones who are getting these images of Zac crying himself to sleep at night, and Ike moping around in silence. And Tay. Goodness, I bet Tay is just a total wreck because of this whole situation. Hanson darlings, if you're out there… don't fret. We love you and we'll all buy the album, even if it's crappy.

Steven Lironi: What? Why is his name kicking around again? If he produces this album and makes it another Middle Of Nowhere, we'll all be disappointed. Come on guys, there's something to be said for artistic growth. And besides, we all saw the Albertane tour. We know Hanson doesn't sound like that anymore.

Well, it's never a good sign when Rolling Stone needs to do an expose on the cruddy in-studio happenings during the recording of what is the most anticipated album of my life. It just reeks of too much general discord. I mean, come on guys, it's Hanson for goodness sakes. The total absence of this sort of garbage is what makes us like them in the first place.

Hanson, meet the Moffatts. They too have a record company that wants to turn them into a fluffy brainless kids band. They're kind of like… you… with a lobotomy.

Play out the existing contract and then run. Run far far away from Island/DefJam. As far as you can go. Dreamworks* would be good. They literally let Rufus Wainwright record a gazillion songs. However he wanted. Or how about Sony? They'd probably be happy to have you. Heck, if they let Ben Folds Five record an album as uncommercial as Renhold Messner without any argument, they'd be happy as a pig in slop to have Hanson. They'd probably make them go to Japan a lot, but that's ok. Forget Capitol though. They've filled the Young Brother Band with Long Hair niche with the Moffatts. Although looking at how the media is run nowadays, it's entirely possible that all of these companies are owned by the same person. Media conglomeration… evil evil!

Guess what boys? The Admiral Twin album is in chaos too! Aren't you in good company? What's up with all of these renegade Tulsa musicians who are being so bold as to want to make good albums instead of ones that will sell and get a tons of mainstream radio airplay? Sheesh. Kids these days.

Things that Give us Hope: