Hanson - Get The Girl Back

"It's about time to put your cards back on the table"

This has been percolating for awhile. Initially, when Hanson first released their new single, I gave it a quick listen and thought "this is surprisingly great." Then, I promptly forgot about it. Now I'm really delving into their new album (amazingly titled Anthem) and getting kind of obsessed. I've always thought Hanson were very talented. I play This Time Around and their debut album to this day. The awesome thing is that they've just kept on making quality music, even if most may have forgotten about them. Anthem is full of material that's rockier, funkier and hookier than their other recent material. It deserves to win over new fans and bring back old ones (like me). Anyone think Taylor sounds a lot like Michael Jackson in parts of this? SO catchy.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Tinted Windows - Messing With My Head

"You've been messin' with my head for oh so long now"

It happens every year. I finish my countdowns, look back, and think: crap, I forgot something. Usually I forgot to even nominate the song, and thus didn't consider it at all. The song in question this year (and it probably won't be the last) is Tinted Windows' Kind Of A Girl. The band's album was released last Spring and is pretty darn good on its own right. The single kinda came and went with the occasional radio spin, hence my forgetfulness. Tinted Windows is a side-project/supergroup consisting of members of Cheap Trick, Smashing Pumpkins and Fountains of Wayne, with Taylor Hanson (of Hanson fame) on lead vocals. They perform 70's style power pop with an emphasis on hooks (think The Knack or, obviously, early Cheap Trick). The song I want to post today is the second single, though I never heard it on the radio so I'm not sure many people that don't have the album even know it exists. The song, however, is wonderful - the kind that you'll be humming all day and night. Taylor sounds amazing, as usual, and possesses a kind of glam swagger when performing this kind of track that's a real thrill to hear. Fans of the new Melody Club album (my #2 this year), Motion in the Ocean-era Mcfly, Fountains of Wayne or classic power-pop will absolutely love this.

Tinted Windows - Messing With My Head by alienhits

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the album here. Follow me on twitter at nickajames)