Anthem Tour: Anaheim

Anaheim, CA, Sept. 25th, 2013

It felt wrong to be on Disney property and not ride any rides. I'd pick Disneyland over waiting in line for Hanson any day if I could afford it, but I already used up my spontaneous theme park money on Knott's Berry Farm at the beginning of this trip. And in the true spirit of cheapness, we also chose to forego Pass the Line and just went for decent spots in the back for this one. Lucky for you, that makes it the one show this tour I took a few pictures at.

I assume the show was sold out because I've never seen a House of Blues so packed before. Paul McDonald's set was a bit different than what we had come to expect because his wife, Nikki Reed, joined in for a few more mellow songs. They looked really happy together. It was also wingman Jonathan Pears' birthday, so Hanson and Nikki brought out a cake and sang "Happy Birthday" and "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" with the crowd to celebrate.

 

Taylor wore his best Paul McDonald attire for the occasion.

And Zac tried, too.

A happy (somewhat blurry) good time was had.

Isaac hinted on the walk that they would start changing the shows up a bit, and they didn't disappoint. Zac's solo was "Get So Low," and we got to hear a great new cover of "Ain't Too Proud to Beg," complete with Taylor on bongos. Then they took us back a good 16 years and kept the bongos out for the first part of "MMMBop." I've never seen so many cell phones shoot into the air so fast (and even an iPad...which is just bad concert etiquette, my friend). For once, I'll let a few photos do the rest of the talking. Consider this Anthem blog the picture book edition.

❤

Anthem Tour: Tucson & San Diego

Tucson, AZ, Sept. 22nd, 2013

One downside of doing multiple shows on a tour (and the entire reason I started this blog) is that inevitable moment of "Tucson, Tucson...which one was Tucson again?" that's happening to me right now.

I don't at all mean that the show was forgettable, I just mean that I forgot, you know? (Kind of like how when my dog eats something, it doesn't necessarily mean it was edible, either). And sometimes all it means is that nobody shoved you or called you names that night, and you had a fairly relaxed good time.

Tucson walk

What I do know is that the lady in charge of security at the Rialto was really nice and efficient, and that I already emailed the venue to tell them just that because I think positive feedback is just as important as complaints. She took the time to map out the walk and take it with us and seemed happy to do it. She cared about making sure people didn't walk in the road, and she brought extra bottles of water that she offered us when we got back. It was a welcome change from the kind of venue staff that looks like they can't wait to be rid of you and treats you like a pest rather than a paying customer (I'm looking at you, Bluebird Theater. I also believe in leaving Yelp reviews).

Other than that, I know this was the day Rachel finally got drumsticks from Zac, and the day we saw an old man in a wedding dress ride a bicycle down the street--large boombox in tow--belting out some gloriously bad 80s song that I wish I could remember. I also really wish someone got it on video.

San Diego, CA Sept. 24th, 2013

I remember San Diego. It's the one with no public restrooms. Let this be a lesson to you should you find yourself sitting in front of the San Diego House of Blues for many hours at any point in the future. I don't mean the HOB didn't have a public restroom; I mean the million Starbucks, clothing shops, 7-Elevens, etc. in about a five block radius had no public restrooms, and there is no "I'll just hold it until we get home" in that scenario. It was also super hot and I spent a good hour napping in the fetal position under my umbrella because I'm a wimp in any weather extreme.

San Diego is also the one where Isaac wiped out straight off of the stage and took the piano down with him at the end of the show. "Going out with a bang" has never been so literal.  It was after the final bow and Taylor and Isaac had swapped sides of the stage to grab fans' hands in the crowd. I missed the big moment because I was busy avoiding death by being crushed into the barricade while Taylor greeted the people around me. I just heard the massive bang and turned to see the piano on its side and Isaac popping up from the floor with a sheepish grin and a wave that said "I'm okay!" From what I understand, he had been grabbing fans' hands and someone pulled a little too hard or perhaps wouldn't let go. To try to regain his balance/keep from being pulled down, he grabbed the piano for support, failing to remember that the "piano" is actually a much lighter keyboard in a mostly hollow piano shell. It's not built to hold the weight of an adult male, hence why Taylor no longer cavorts around on top of it. I'm glad pride was the only thing injured, at least.

Anthem Tour: Salt Lake City & Las Vegas

Salt Lake City, UT, Sept. 20th, 2013

SLC was a lot of fun because I got to see a few friendly faces I hadn't seen since the last tour.

I know, my tan is your pale.

That day was a toss up between San Diego for the hottest day of the tour for me because the line was sitting in direct sunlight all day. Salt Lake City is probably where I started working on this serious watch tan I had by the end of the trip ----> 

I accidentally found an Old Navy behind the venue and bought shorts, partly because I wasn't prepared for all the heat, and partly because I don't know how to exit an Old Navy without buying something first. After that, Zac wandered out past the line to shop for some kind of sport/game equipment and was nice enough to stop and talk to the fans in line and take pictures. It's one of the few times I've met the guy in daylight, not counting walks. Rachel and I chose that day to wear our semi-matching nerd shirts, so we took advantage of the situation and added a third nerd to the herd for a quick picture.

The most memorable part of the show for me was finally getting to hear "A Song to Sing" with the extra verse (click for an instant replay. Video courtesy of Taylor M., not me). It started out as a Taylor solo, but then his brothers quietly joined him for that final chorus and extra verse. It was the rare kind of moment I just wanted to watch silently and not sing along for fear of missing something I might never see again.

After the show we had a fun conversation with Isaac that turned out like some kind of "Greatest Hits" compilation because we discussed punching and kermit, both topics we've covered with him before. Perhaps we just look like people that want to discuss physical violence and puppets. (My muppet shirt was even hidden by my hoodie at the time). Just as we started talking to Taylor, some guy showed up behind us and Taylor's face lit up as he jumped the rock next to us to get to him. He was nice and came back to talk to us and the rest of the line after a quick bro-hug. We found out via twitter later that it was Matt Wertz and we just didn't recognize him in the dark.

Las Vegas, NV Sept. 21st, 2013

In Vegas we picked up two more friends for the trip and spent another hot day in line and seeing a little of the city. I spent my obligatory 25 cents in a slot machine just to say I've gambled in Vegas, and that was that. I felt more accomplished for buying a $1 hot dog, to be honest. The barefoot walk was easily the hottest walk I've ever been on, and I saw some really brutal blisters in the aftermath. Mine were just filthy. 

There were two distinctly memorable moments for me during this show. The one that I prefer to remember was that Zac played a request for a friend's birthday for a song that meant a lot to her. I was so happy she finally got to hear it! The second moment was getting gum in my hair.

Here's how it happened. I was the last person in the front row on Isaac's side, and the barricade wasn't long enough for me to be on it with my friends. There was just enough room for ONE person to stand where the gap was between the security guard and the barricade. It wasn't a good spot, but I took it because the one draw was that nobody was in front of me.

Naturally when a tall drunk girl in a dress the size of a tube sock wedged herself between me and the security guard, I didn't appreciate it. She turned to me and said "Oh I'm sorry, you can still see, right?" I guess she wanted me to put on a fake smile, grudgingly lie and say "yes," and whisper angrily to my friends behind her back for the rest of the night. Instead I gave her the truth which was a big fat "No?" infused with a DUH! She turned back around and acted like she had done her duty by asking and had no intention of moving. Options ran through my head, and I picked the one that seemed the most civil that would still get me my spot back: I just squeezed back in front of her and refused to move. No pushing or elbowing or anything violent, just a quick squeeze back into my own space that I held onto a little better this time.

A few seconds later, I felt a light touch in the middle of my back, and though it's never happened to me before, it was so predictable I knew exactly what was happening. I pulled my long hair over my shoulder, and sure enough there was a wad of nasty purple gum stuck near the bottom. Did she want me to cry and leave? I don't know. I pulled it out easily (thankfully!) and told the security guard. He didn't seem interested in doing anything about it, so I did.

I turned around and asked her, "I'm sorry, did you want this back?"

She threw her hands up and shrugged, opened her mouth wide, and gestured animatedly inside as if showing me that there wasn't gum inside proved that it wasn't hers. Right. Her mouth was empty because her gum was sitting in my hand. At a loss for what else to do, I said "Here you go!" and stuck it to her arm to be rid of it. I heard the security guard laugh and didn't see her again.

Problem solved I guess, but is there gum sticking etiquette, guys? My brain didn't even come equipped with the proper response to such a silly action. What should one do in that situation?

Anthem Tour: Denver

Denver, CO, Sept. 18th, 2013

Every city has at least one street everybody knows to stay away from in that questionable area of town. You know the one where you live. And in Denver (correct me if I'm wrong, locals), apparently it's Colfax--the street The Bluebird Theater is on. No one told us this before we booked a hotel a mile down the street from the venue.

Of course no one told us there would be flooding and all the decent hotels would be booked and that we would be idiots to wait until the day of the show, or that a homeless man would be camped out sunbathing next to our car, either. It was a little Victorian themed bed and breakfast, and on such short notice, we were put in the basement where the owners lived with one shared bathroom for the "floor." The Great Gatsby Room was introduced to us as "the dungeon," and we were told not to worry, that only the second floor was haunted. It set the tone for a couple of overly paranoid out-of-towners to be a bit more jumpy than usual.

     

The basement stairs leading down to our room.                                      Our room door.                        

                     Our door from the inside.        Creepy file cabinet in the bathroom. Live, Laugh, Love, Linger.    

The show was fun, minus a little scuffle with a fan who didn't seem to think it was fair that we managed to save ourselves room to dance and she didn't. Digression time.

Front Row 101

Having front row is 50% getting it and 50% keeping it. Your struggle is not over the minute you step into your favorite space; you have to be proactive once you're there or you won't be there for long. I'm not suggesting that you throw elbows or go all Incredible Hulk on the people around you; I'm saying that if you bend down or turn to the side or make any sudden movements at all, that space will inevitably shrink from the people around you edging into it. It's not always intentional, but it's show science. You move, and your spot will, too.

So to the girl who so rudely screamed at me for holding my own space: I'm genuinely sorry you didn't hold your spot better; I know it sucks to have front row and not be able to enjoy it because you can't move. I'm sorry your friend didn't come early enough to save a spot for herself up there with you, and that you thought if I would just move over and crowd all the people to my left, she could squeeze in, too. I wasn't fond of the idea of pushing my new friends into the wall on that side. I'm sorry Isaac didn't see you slamming your elbow down onto my friend right on top of his sound pedals--that would have been gold to watch. I wish you better luck and manners at your next show. P.S. You should have been eyeing the girls on your other side; they were the ones that took your beloved space while you were glaring at me.

In all seriousness, I know that probably sounds a bit harsh/too mean, but it was really unfair for Rachel and I to be screamed at and elbowed when we never moved an inch to take anyone's space. I wish it had gone better for everyone, and as snarky as I sound, I really am sorry this person didn't have a better experience. I'm just also sorry it was taken out on us for no apparent reason.

*puts soapbox away* Back to the show.

For having a spot right up against the stage in front of Isaac, I saw very little of him that night. The spotlights were so intense that I wore sunglasses for most of the show and still could only make out his silhouette at best.

I was excited to hear "Need You Now" for the first time, and Taylor's solo of "Weird" was a nice surprise, too. I'm a sucker for piano, and I really enjoyed getting to hear the piano part stand out so much with nothing but his voice. It was nice hearing "Already Home," too, but it felt like maybe it went back into the vault for reworking since we didn't hear it again.

After the show, security greeted fans by the bus with shouts and threats to call the police. Naturally, everyone responded well to that kind of treatment and showed the same courtesy to the venue as they extended to us. Meaning of course that everyone moved to the other side of the street and stood, if anything, more determined to stay than before out of spite. I had to laugh a little watching two brave fans literally skip past security on the sidewalk knowing that nobody can be faulted for skipping in public.

All three guys eventually came out and were nice enough to chat and take photos for a while with those still waiting, much to security's annoyance.

The next morning we got brave and looked in the "Linger" drawer at the hotel:

     

         Nordstrom "Body Bags"

                                                                                                                

Anthem Tour: Albuquerque

Albuquerque, NM, Sept. 17th, 2013

I don't have a lot of luck when it comes to travel plans. My last Hanson trip ended with me calling AAA to come jump our car at midnight on my birthday in the middle of nowhere, SC. The trip before that was to Jamaica, and our bus broke down on the way home--roughly six times, no exaggeration. This trip was no exception. Let me give you a timeline (we won't discuss the canceled flight on the way home yet):

Sept. 14th
5-10 PM I work
10-midnight I drive home, then finish packing the car.

Sept. 15th
12-3:30 AM I drive to the Charlotte airport, 3.5 hours from my house. I intend to pass out as soon as I board my 5:45 AM flight.
4-5:30 AM Airport check-in & boarding
5:45-7 AM We sit in the plane. We sigh and look at our watches and make angry status updates on our phones. Passengers traveling to Connecticut are asked to exit the plane and rush to another flight. We know this is a bad sign for the rest of us. Turns out there's a fuel leakage and we need a new plane.
7:30 AM I stand in line back in the terminal, waiting to find out how United proposes to get me to L.A.
8:10 AM My connecting flight from D.C. to L.A. leaves. I'm still sitting in Charlotte.
9:45 I board a new direct flight to L.A, 4 hours after my original flight.

After I finally landed in L.A. around 12:30 west coast time, Rachel picked me up and we rushed to Knott's Berry Farm for the rest of the day.

 

We hit the road to Albuquerque on Day 2 and visited the Grand Canyon on the way there.

On show day, I participated in the smallest walk I've ever seen with less than 50 people. I also stuck to the front of the walk, where I stepped in some kind of microscopic needle-like booby traps before the rest of the crowd. If you walked and didn't feel them, you're welcome. I picked them all up in my own feet first.

It was a great first stop on the tour because it was a seated show, and Paul McDonald opened his set by coming down into the crowd and walking the aisles with his acoustic guitar (leaving J.P. and his hoard of instruments on stage). We saw Paul & J.P for 10 out of 11 shows, and they put on a good show for every one. Check them out.

And then I got to stand in my favorite place in the world, even though I've never been to New Mexico before:

 

It felt like a great show, but I'm sure I'm a little biased. Isaac put on a KILLER performance of "Being Me." I literally think it was the best performance I've ever seen from him of anything, ever. I know that's a strong claim to make, but it was that good. We were excited to hear their new cover of "Happy Together" for the first time, and I remember particularly enjoying "Juliet" with Zac on the piano and Taylor on drums. I ended the night by fulfilling something on my imaginary Hanson bucket list--drumsticks!

Anthem Tour

I missed my flight. I rode roller coasters. I saw the Grand Canyon and got yelled at in French. I stood front row center for a seated show and got a pair of Zac Hanson's drumsticks...

and that was just the first three days.

Tour season. For a traveling fan, it's time to see and do anything. You go into it knowing there will be a mix of amazing memories and the kind of huge WTF moments that can only come out of sleeping on a sidewalk in a foreign country. You welcome the good and the bad and the air of craziness that accompanies it all. Consider this post a prequel to show-specific reviews that I'll post later when I'm 1) better rested, and 2) less sick. Traveling fan 101: you will be sick when you come home. Always. If you come home well-rested and healthy, you didn't hit the road hard enough.

My trusty car did the entire east coast run last tour, all the way up to Maine and straight back down through Florida. The poor thing just wasn't up to that level of dedication this year, so I did the most responsible thing a girl in my situation could do--I flew to L.A. where I met up with my friend Rachel (who owns the same car but newer) and did the entire west coast in her car instead. It made for a crazy, beautiful tour symmetry.

On day one, we hit Knott's Berry Farm. Day 2 was the Grand Canyon, and then came the Hanson shows:

Sept. 17th Albuquerque, NM
Sept. 18th Denver, CO
Sept. 20th Salt Lake City, UT
Sept. 21st Las Vegas, NV
Sept. 22nd Tucson, AZ
Sept. 24th San Diego, CA
Sept. 25th Anaheim, CA
Sept. 26th Los Angeles, CA
Sept. 28th Portland, OR
Sept. 30th Seattle, WA
Oct. 2nd, Vancouver, BC, Canada

There was little sleep and lots of driving, eleven shows, eight barefoot walks, dozens of friends both old and new, and 21 days lived at warped speed out of a car. I couldn't possibly capture it all in a blog post or a photo review, but I'll do my best to share what I remember.

I'll leave you with one of my favorite travel quotes as a permanent disclaimer:

"Like all great travelers, I have seen more than I remember, and remember more than I have seen."- Benjamin Disraeli

The Art of Asking: Help me win tickets?

Remember back in 2011 on the Musical Ride Tour, there was a contest to win a pair of tickets at any tour stop, and you got an extra entry for every person that used your link to enter?

I did a full month of tour that year, and that free ticket was worth more to me than you know. I posted a blog entry at the time and I asked you guys to use my link and help me out. Some of you did, and I was lucky enough to win that pair of tickets to a show in NYC.

Another tour, and another three weeks down the coast for me (the west coast this time!), and free tickets are worth a lot to me once again. If you're feeling generous and are also interested in winning your own pair of tickets !PLUS A M&G!, we can do this again.

Click this link. Enter this contest. May we both win!


After you've done that, here's a pretty neat video about the power of simply asking people for help and the amazing response that often comes from humbling yourself enough to ask.

Update: Sometimes I'm not sure if my insane luck is good or bad. For this edition of Holly has weird luck, I just happened to enter this contest for the ONE show this tour that has sold out in advance so far, and I'm ticketless. You using my link to enter just became more helpful than ever. I can't really afford to bribe you or anything, but find me in line at a show and I'll give you a high five and share my Scooby fruit snacks or something :-)

If a picture's worth a thousand words, I'm way behind.

I'm no photographer. As far as shows are concerned, half of the time my camera stays packed along with all the other things I didn't really need to bring, and the other half of the time I'm too busy jumping and clapping to hold a camera steady anyway. (And I will totally judge you if you're standing on your tiptoes holding your camera 6 feet above your head with some sort of hidden go-go-gadget arm talent for the entire show).

Besides, in the event that I DO bring my camera, this inevitably happens:



Backstory: I bought a waterproof camera for Jamaica so I wouldn't ruin my good Sony on the beach. Guess who never had to set foot outside of the hotel room to drop it on the tile floor anyway?



Photographer or not, the Sony (RIP) did capture some fun memories, and in all my nerdy wordiness, a lot of them never made it to the blog. If a picture is truly worth a thousand words, I probably owe you guys a lot more than 13 extra pictures by now. In honor of the late great DSC-H20, a random collection of photos from various places for your viewing pleasure:

(The original version of this post included polite unobstructive tags slightly off to the side in each picture. I've always thought it's pretty annoying to see a great picture with a watermark right over someone's face. Turns out, it's also pretty annoying to find your pictures floating around with the tag intentionally cropped out, so my apologies for the updated "this is why we can't have nice things" style watermarks.)

Asheville 2008

Myrtle Beach 2008

Nashville 2008

Charlotte 2009

Charlotte 2009

Charlotte 2009

Charlotte 2009

Charlotte 2009

Charleston 2011

Washington DC 2011

Epcot 2012

Jamaica 2013

And lastly, one that is arguably too low quality to post, yet too cute not to share:

Tulsa 2013

An Analysis of "Tonight"

Ever since I got Anthem, I intended to do a close reading of "Tonight" to see just how many references to past Hanson songs might be buried in there. I finally sat down with a pen and paper and wrote the lyrics by hand, then started underlining and scrawling notes in the margins. I dug and dug until I hit something--or rather, it hit me.

The first time I heard this song, I loved it. On the surface it made me feel the way I feel at a Hanson show. "Jump in the crowd/ throw up your hands/ and sing it out loud/ tonight." I thought it had the same kind of uplifting urgency as "Scream and Be Free" that tells you to seize the moment and live every day like it's your last, don't let life pass you by, [insert cliche], [insert cliche], etc. And it's probably no revelation to some of you, but somewhere between scribbling little green boxes around "Chase down the dream" and "one more," the finality of the song punched me in the face.

First, I want you to read the chorus as a fan. Picture yourself swaying in the packed crowd of some anonymous dark venue, belting out these lyrics:

Tonight is the first night

Tonight is the last night.

Don't care what has come before;

Tomorrow's an open door

So box to the ropes

Jump in the crowd

Throw up your hands

and sing it out loud

Tonight.

It's a familiar feeling, right? You're throwing up your hands in happiness, just letting go of the outside world and whatever stress may be awaiting you once you walk out those doors. Nothing else matters in that moment, so you're going to let it all go just for tonight.

Now go back and read it from the perspective of a band that knows they've hit a harder rut than anything they've overcome in the past. The phrase "irreconcilable differences" may be looming in the air. It might be the last song you ever write together.


(No...really. Scroll back up and read it again.).


To sum it up in one overused bit of Tumblr terminology: FEELS.

Suddenly that open door is saying you're free to leave, you're throwing up your hands in frustration and defeat, and you're up against the ropes fighting one last round, for one night only before you throw in the towel. Tonight.

Despite all its great Queeny sounds, it's a really heavy song if you let it be.

And because this is what I originally set out to do with this post, here's the version without the punch in the face, just noting all the direct references to past Hanson songs:



 (Pretend I boxed in "walk" in the line "too tired to walk." I totally meant to.)

...and then what happens when you give me a red pen and I form my own ideas:



7/10/13 ETA: I've seen a few responses more or less disagreeing with this interpretation, which is totally okay. I just wanted to clarify that I'm not saying this is definitely what the song is about or what Hanson meant us to get out of it, it's just one interpretation that I think happens to fit pretty well (even if by coincidence). In the end it still stirs up all my "feels" because even if I'm way off base with this interpretation, the fact is we know Hanson did reach a breaking point last year, and I imagine they did have feelings similar to the ones I read in these lyrics. Whether or not they intentionally put them into the song, only Hanson could tell you.

10/11/16 ETA: I came back to this post because I'm working on a similar analysis of "Feeling Alive," and something new hit me. The line "When you walk the line brilliance can sound insane" has always bugged me because I could never really make sense of it. It took THREE YEARS and a great new song for me to come back to this post and have a lightbulb go off in my head. So for what it's worth, I think the line that's being walked in that lyric is the line of deciding to give up or deciding to push through, where one more step in the wrong direction could mean the end, and a step in the right direction is good, but you're still so close to giving up and have a long way to go. When you're in that place and the mindset of just being done, even the most rational, reasonable suggestion or idea can sound impossible or like it isn't worth it, i.e., "brilliance can sound insane" because you're not in the right headspace to be receptive to even the best suggestion in the same way that simple tasks become difficult for those suffering depression. You have all my respect if this is old news to you; I feel like I just pulled out a 3-year-old splinter I didn't even know I had.

Anthem

an·them  \ˈan(t)-thəm\

noun

1. The sixth studio release by the band Hanson

2. An incurable infection of sound punctuated by catchy melodies and harmonies, upbeat tracks, and general face-melting guitar

3. Of or pertaining to awesomeness. See "rock."

4. Aural pleasure

Synonyms: talent, perfection, earworm, #win

Near Antonyms: downer, bubblegum pop, comeback, Kanye West

I sat down to write a quick little album review, and this happened instead. My bad. The opinions I have are usually strong and entirely my own, but we're all susceptible to the influence of other people's opinions. I really didn't want the push of other people's preferences to cloud my own judgement this time, so I avoided reading any. This is it. My reaction to the first time I sat down and listened to Anthem with as little outside influence as possible. It's long. It's prone to tangents. And it was written in a naturally biased state of excitement. Carry on.

General Observations

• Anthem is my favorite album title to date. I geeked out in true word-nerd fashion over the press release that began with a single, powerful definition. I got lots of A's on essays throughout school. My secret weapon? Hand-pick the most suitable definition for the term you want to argue and throw it right in the first sentence. This is me sending a virtual fruit basket to whoever wrote the press release and decided to use that definition of "anthem." 
• I'm thrilled to see an Isaac lead again, though sad they cut "Nothing on Me" (is that the title?). The clips I heard had the same kind of sass and punch I love about "Fired Up" and "You Can't Stop Us." I hope it won't be locked away in the Hanson vault for good. Ditto for "Get So Low," which I enjoyed in Jamaica.
• I hear more Queen in this Hanson album than any other, and that's a direction I'm happy to go. Even the cover art screams Queen! (cue parody called "Scream and Be Queen") 
• I like the design. The colors, fonts, & suits all have a very polished, classy look. It's a step up from SIO in the typo department, though I still spot a few. Free editing offer still stands, guys.

Songs

1. Fired Up

I like the energy; it's a great show opener. I also can't believe Zac said the line "Come with us if you want to live" ISN'T a refrence to The Terminator. I'm not sure how it could ever be anything else.

2. I've Got Soul

Something in the horns or arrangement reminds me of "Soul Man." The whole song has a very 70s vibe to it. It's also neat to hear a guest performer (Michael Fitzpatrick of Fitz & the Tantrums) on a verse and not just as backup. In all truth I like the sound more than the lyrics.

3. You Can't Stop Us

The first time I heard this song, I was standing on a beach in Jamaica. I knew immediately that it would be my new favorite Hanson song. It sounded like Queen and "Life in the Fast Lane" had a happy child and gifted it drums. The album version doesn't quite measure up for me, but isn't everything made better by standing on a beach with Hanson? Also, thanks to Hanson introducing this song to us as "You Can't Stop Us Now," I will never get the title right.

4. Get the Girl Back

It wouldn't have been my first choice for a single, but it's growing on me already.  It's one of those songs I'll always like more live. Bonus points for making me clap.

5. Juliet

A+ from the English teacher here. I heard somewhere that Zac wrote this song for his daughter and just changed the name (Junia-->Juliet). I think it's sweet and brilliant, particularly the line about "any other name," knowing that it IS for a girl with another name, but that hardly changes the meaning. I was nervous when I heard a clip on hanson.net that sounded like "Where is the Love" (of Black Eyed Peas origin, not Hanson), but I'm pleasantly surprised by the full version. Shakespeare allusions + Zac's voice= win.

6. Already Home

I picture buffalo roaming to this one for no particular reason. They're happy buffalo, so it's not a bad thing. I love the harmony in the "oh oh ohs" and the bridge. If there's one thing Hanson is great at, it's building a solid bridge.

7. For Your Love

Maybe I've been watching too much Merlin lately, but I love the knight imagery. It sounds more like a fairy tale love song than a battle cry, but the lyrics tell the story of a loyal man who is willing to fight for his love, whether it involves storming a castle or laying down his life "not for glory," but "for your love." No wonder the first words out of my friend's mouth after we heard it were "I've just heard my wedding song." Swoon.

8. Lost Without You

It's your basic catchy pop love song, but I could go on vacation inside the breakdown at the end when they're repeating "just stay here in my arms."

9. Cut Right Through Me

If you've seen Zac doing the jig to it in the Re:Made in America documentary, you'll never unsee it. It's the kind of song that is going to embed itself in your brain whether you like it or not and may do its best work inside a commercial. The first time I heard part of it was during a livestream. My friend had to leave to go to the bathroom; Zac was drinking Mountain Dew. Jokes were made, and you may catch me unintentionally singing "you go right through me" to a beverage some time.

10. Scream and Be Free

This is one of my favorites. It's the song that gives us the title for "Anthem," and with good reason. I love the lyrics and the image I get from the line "sing it if you know it" of standing in a packed crowd, my favorite place to be. I can't wait to sing along badly at future shows.

11. Tragic Symphony

Word-nerd alert: I really like the title, that pairing of words that probably haven't been put together before. Taylor's voice also sounds particularly good to me on this track. I'll probably always think of KT Tunstall, though.

12. Tonight

The more I listen to it, the more I think "Tonight" could overthrow "You Can't Stop Us" as my new favorite--album wise, at least. Points for all the references to past Hanson songs (On the Rocks, This Time Around, etc.), and I just plain love the sound. I want to build a room with pillows and bright blue walls and pixie stix and put the end ("Don't wait for tomorrow") on repeat. That end is my single favorite piece of the album, hands down, and definitely the Queeniest bit of Hanson music in existence that feels a lot like "Somebody to Love."

13/21. Save Me From Myself

Call it track #13 or track #21, but it's more or less track #8 to me--the infamous Zac ballad. I first heard this song in Jamaica. Granted that night I stood next to the stage where the sound quality was that of a MIDI ringtone being streamed through a toaster, but it was forgettable to me. It rings a few bells now that I hear it again, like the name "Amelia," which, by the way, all my favorites have sung about. Andrew McMahon, Jon McLaughlin, & now Hanson. She must be some girl! The nerd in me likes the song more now that my friend Rachel pointed out how well it fits with Doctor Who. If anyone ever needed saving from himself and felt the loss of his friend Amelia, it's the Doctor.

If you've read this far and haven't already purchased and replayed Anthem at least half a dozen times, I'll be genuinely shocked. But if that is indeed the case, you can find it online at iTunes and Amazon, hanson.net, and physical copies in many stores that carry music like Walmart, FYE, and Best Buy.