Monday, August 13, 2012

How ‘Underneath Acoustic’ Soothed my Soul


The summer of 2003 brought new Hanson music after a long stretch. From 2001 to 2004, Hanson would struggle in a fight against their record label to put out the record they wanted to make. They bravely made the decision to start their own label and released ‘Underneath,’ in 2004 in their own terms. The Underneath Acoustic Tour was my first time seeing Hanson live, and August brought me an acoustic album that was a preview to ‘Underneath.’ My heart was feeling heavy and the mellow vibe of acoustic Hanson songs was just what I needed. I had instantly fallen in love with ‘Penny & Me’ when I had heard it months earlier as part of a live radio interview from the States. From the first moment, it became my perfect song for summer days and sweet memories associated with music.

One song that was particularly poignant for me on this EP was, ‘When You’re Gone.’ I related so much to the lyrics because I was going through a major loss in my life at the time and they embraced the pain and confusion that I was feeling. All of the tracks were perfect for those long afternoons when I just wanted to sit on the floor and absorb the music, really let myself drown in it. The music gave me the comfort I needed to be able to draw on my own strength. It taught me that life wasn’t completely hopeless, and started me thinking about the path of my life after high school. In their amazing efforts to get any music they could out to their fans, Hanson inspired me to hold on to my dreams against all odds. They fought for their music and they took control of their creative lives. In doing so, they produced the perfect songs at the perfect time to soothe my soul.   

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