Live learn life love die dust gone

So my current love, which keeps cropping up in my life, just when I think I've grown up and out of it, is Hanson.

Yes, Hanson.

I just purchased their new CD "The Walk" to keep me company on my driving up and down I-81 here in Western VA. It's beautiful, I-81, by the way. God how I've missed the autumn. It's alive and well in Louisville, but beautiful Lord, how much more gorgeous is it along the Appalachian, in the Blue Ridge. The afternoon I got here I walked down to the bank and fully realized, for the first time this season, the crunch of autumn leaves. I smelled that long, lost, but familiar smell of the beautiful cycle of the seasons. I was heavenly. And isn't that strange? It's such a beautiful thing, but it's death. The smell of death, the colors of death. Can that be heavenly? Where there is no more death. I guess I should rethink that. It's not death, it's rebirth. Shedding of the old to make room for the new. How gorgeous is life?

Wow, I got lost there for a second.

Anyways. Hanson. I've basically fallen in love with this new album. I admit that listening to old albums, and increasingly as you go back in time, they sound somewhat juvenile. Sometimes my listening to them is due mostly to the sense of nostalgia for my teeny bopper days (committed entirely to Hanson and JTT). However, the great thing about Hanson that you really don't get with many other bands, is this sense of growing up with their music, growing up with them, and listening to them learn who they are through it. Sure, other bands evolve. I mean, the Beatles are certainly a testament to that, surviving the ages and always bringing something fresh and innovative. That's an extreme example, but what I'm trying to do is make a point. With Hanson you really can sense a growing, a learning, a transformation. There are still moments in their songs on this album that have little hints and remembrances of older songs that make me smile, both for my nostalgia and to remind me that they're not evolving their style and throwing out the old (mom, I don't do that anymore, I did that when I was 14, now I'm 15) and for the realization that, yes, they do have a style (and please don't just say "pop") which they've stayed true to (it's not just someone else writing for them, it's them).

This album really is grown up. I want to say they've finally got it, but I think they'll take it even further. I can't wait to see what they'll come out with next time.

It's funny to think they've made it this far at all. I mean, I think they could have a wider audience if they weren't always plagued by their MmmBop days (which I admit, I love and is my ring tone). I always love playing songs from their previous album for people and not telling my listeners what's playing until they've admitting it's catchy and they really like it (please go listen to Underneath's Don't Go, Crazy Beautiful, and especially Penny and Me). But anyways, all anyone will ever tell you or has told you from day one is that they're one hit wonders (wrong) and won't make it past [the current album]. But hey, they're still around and making great music.

I won't say their style is anything unique. It does have some current pop trends in it (there's actually an intro on one song that reminds me, regretfully, of Maroon 5, but they do redeem themselves seconds later). There are moments of Ben Folds piano riffs, a little hint of the 60s, some R&B, and even a little soul. As much as I hate country, there is a song that sounds to me like it could top the country charts, but let's face it, even Ryan has been classified country before, and I still love him.

Anyways, what gets me the most about this album is that there's a edge in about 50% of the songs of social activism. One of the things that's irritated me to no end in the current radio craze is this John Mayer generation anthem of "Waiting on the World to Change". Where's our parent's generation's cry of activism? Are we the apathetic (pathetic?) era? The ones who watch "An Inconvenient Truth" and write off not doing anything because rather than talk being cheap, it's everything, and action means very little ("I watched AIC and it was so amazing, it irritates me, it makes me want to do something, love and respect me for that"). I know tons of people who debate politics with you based off what John Stewart is saying, but don't really know what's going on in politics and honestly don't really care (save for seeming like an activist).

I was at a Hanson concert about a month ago and at the end Taylor (oh my love) gave a brief statement, not a speech, he wasn't on a soapbox, of saying (to use my words) forget the Paris Hilton's of our generation, we need to get out and be active, do things, see the world for what it is and what it could be. God I wish I could remember his exact words.

But listen to this album and you'll see that they make some great points. Their first song (after the intro of 20 south African zulu children chanting "ngi ne themba" in isiZulu...which means "I find hope") is called "Great Divide". Maybe I'm making it out to be more than it is, but the words really do say something. They talk about the huge space between us and other worlds around us. This "great divide" also speaks to the amount of work we have to do, the challenges of what we have to overcome and how hard it will be and is to overcome. But it gives a great anthem of finding hope in the little things and finding strength instead of apathy. How the little moments, the small acts do more to conquer the "great divide" than the big things because they give hope. I appreciate that. It energizes me. And as, um, slightly embarrassing in some ways (because of my fear of your feelings on Hanson) as it is, it's moved me...(there's a link to the video at the bottom of this post, and yes, that especially has moved me near tears, not sure why, I think it's the music)

Here's a great quote from Taylor Hanson. It's not huge or original, but it's refreshing: "We want to inspire others to look for simple, tangible ways to make a difference. It is easy to be halted by the great hurdles of poverty and AIDS, but making an impact can begin [simply]."

Hanson also works with Toms Shoes on their current "The Walk" tour. Check out the site. They sell shoes for $40, which buys a pair a shoes and also donates another pair to children in impoverished areas overseas who are limited in their mobility because of their lack of shoes to get around. I have mixed feelings about groups like this, and am still a little hesitant of them, but I have to keep telling myself that having idealism in everything (and holding this insanely high standard) isn't always practical. Little things lead to big things. I was worried, to explain, that all they did was "drop" the shoes and leave, without the ministry of presence and without the aspect of "mutual mission" that I have come to love. But these groups take the shoes to these shanty towns and take the time to put the shoes on each child's feet. And they wear the shoes themselves, which they say seems to have an impact on the kids. They have a blog if you want to check it out. Anyways, with every date the boys play, they hold a walk. They invited concert goers waiting to be the first ones in the door to the concert, to take a two mile, barefoot walk around the city with them to raise awareness for those less fortunate. Unfortunately I didn't even hear about this until afterwards at the concert (not being as hard core a fan as others there), but I was at a mini-retreat "staff day" that day so I wouldn't have been able to attend. But this is me regretting it, and I digress...

Anyways, I have a habit of writing long blogs. And to sum up, I'm just pretty much in love with this album and with the band at this juncture. It's great to find celebrities who are doing something to make a difference and encouraging others to do the same. And especially not in the mega-star way. They're not trying to make activism trendy, or promote themselves as do-good-ers to promote their image. They're also not trying to do something so huge that we can't do ourselves. They're still under a lot of people's radars, and who knows, could be spending more time fighting their decade-old teeny-bopper image. But they're not.

Also check out their Fire on the Mountain lyrics and they're video for Great Divide if you want.

p.s. Gray was talking about some cross posting or biz like that...I'll just say, I at least posted a link to this post on this blog (which is a good one to check out and check up on, btw)...I don't know if that's what he meant, but oh well...