middle of nowhere: acoustic
10th anniversary recording
december 2007

we have the facts and we're voting yes
"There's something wrong with the CD you gave me, it won't play in my stereo." Our school's music teacher graciously agreed to check out Middle of Nowhere: Acoustic--I had opted for the dvd instead of the cd so she could actually watch the band play their instruments.

Obviously I had neglected to indicate this fact. So feeling bad, I directed her to the dvd player on our computers.

This is a lady who speaks her mind--certainly not one to dish out the superlatives. I got to thinking and quickly included the caveat, "This recording is pretty much for the fans, so there are some silly parts." Back in my classroom, I paused and winced--the reference to the "dirty joke," and Man from Milwaukee. hmmmm . . .

When she returned it, she smiled, "You'll be wanting this back." Then, pointing to Zac's drum kit, she explained, "This is why they're good. Those are not too big. Some bands use the big drums and it drowns everything else out." She continued, "And a real piano? That's nice. Of course, their harmonies are real."

Then I started thinking about Lucy and the a cappella. And oh, the harmonies. Yes, these were the reasons Hanson are worthy of an elementary music teacher's scrutiny and more. Not simply because Hanson originated as a band of kids, but without this rich history--this foundation--they truly wouldn't be who they were, to their soul. Ms. VO more than anybody else I knew would sift through it all--appreciate the music for what it was. Beyond the hyperbole, the fan culture of black tank tops and restrained lip syncing and the band's goofiness. The genesis of the music. It's all there.

"I didn't listen to it all, but what I heard was good." I wanted to ask what appealed to her most. I wanted to pepper her with more questions. But I had to remember I wasn't speaking with a fellow fan. This woman had other topics that were more pressing.

After 10 years, I'm still seeking validation of the draw Hanson's music has had on my life. In this conflict, I'm always attempting to contain my admiration. So little things still bring out the cynic--I feel the need to tease the band and list my irritations to both validate my appreciation and temper it. The truth is, I love this dvd. I love the cd.

What makes me snicker:

  • "It's" = it is, a contraction
    "Its" = a possessive pronoun
  • "We have enjoyed every moment." (A claim included in the case lining.) Really? Every minute? Or is this the ubiquitous wandering intro to "A Minute Without You." I want to say, "C'mon, we're the fans. We've seen Strong Enough to Break. You don't have to pretend any more. Let's be real."
  • Things I miss A LOT:
    -Thinking of You How many times have I begged to hear this in concert?
    -Speechless This update could have been so amazing low-key and acoustic!
    -With You in Your Dreams Too personal?
  • I realize this was not a xeroxed re-make, but still:
    -In every version since the original Where's the Love, the band has switched out "separated, consciousness is fading" for the "segregated / consciences" line. Even in nostalgia, it does not reappear.
    -Speaking of WTL, awesome in a cappella, so I hate to nitpick, but it doesn't feel complete without the final word. Baby. Maybe this word no longer has the same meaning for the band members.
    -Oh my gosh, if Zac had reproduced the improvisation at the end of Look at Me (You know it and love it too, "Turn me loose, like a one-eyed goose"), I can't tell you what that would have meant!!
    -Unavailable at time of recording, "Could I, could I have done something?" from Yearbook.
    -I actually missed the hasped line from I Will Come to You as a possible result of mouth gear or a retainer worn in the original recording, "So if you feel that your sun is dying . . ."
  • I really missed Thinking of You!

The fact that I missed so much, is a testament to a deep love, reaching depths of devotion that can only be paralleled by Isaac's description of the band's early love of that once revered Time cassette of 50s and 60s rock and roll.

Things I loved or reasons both the album and the dvd feed my resurrected love for the original while blending it with an appreciation for how far we've all come together:

  • All the songs are handled with care. Tempos slackened a bit, as if to completely relish every note. The right balance of reverence and irreverence.
  • The self-conscious self-directed teasing about MMMBop, yet validation of its lived mission in the lives of the band and their most loyal fans.
  • A cappella version of Where's the Love reminded me of that scene in Tulsa, Tokyo and the Middle of Nowhere.
  • The intro to Madeline as one of the earliest songs they performed live, made me think of Hanson performing this song in South Korea. I'm returning to this country of my birth this coming June.
  • Lucy The way it's slowed down and cherished, like an old Linus blanket, but not so precious, given a fresh sound.
  • The return of Yearbook, especially the new harmony behind the line " . . . I can't forget his face." Wow.
  • As testimony either to the ability to cite lyrics in a coma referring to both fans and the band members, at this point, or to the band's evolution, I believe their enunciation is much, much clearer on this album than the original.
  • The endearing quality of a shared love of the same things that you hold dear. It's just so, so amazing to hear Hanson treat with care this collection of songs that have offered comfort, exuberance and wonder to all their most devoted fans.

Thank you Hanson!! I confessed to a friend today that I would have been at this recording had it not been for my nephew's baptism scheduled on the same day. I rest in the assurance that this explanation rings true for the band . . . continuing to chime far into the future.

Thank God!

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