Hanson: Have the Boys Grown Up Too Fast?

The thrill of great teenie-pop comes in hearing preternaturally talented tots warbling the overwrought sentiments of teenagers in love. That’s why Hanson’s 1997 confection “MMMBop” was such a guiltless pleasure. At once soulful and lighter than air, “MMMBop” was a near-perfect example of pop craft in the service of puppy lust (and you thought “MMMBop” was just a silly nonsense word!).

Three years after its breakthrough hit, the three Hanson brothers are experiencing the growing pains of a very young band negotiating the tricky transition into young manhood. Lots of things have changed on this album (due in stores Tuesday), not the least being Taylor Hanson’s singing voice, which has dropped a couple of octaves (call it Peter Brady syndrome). For a band like Hanson, that’s kind of like emasculation in reverse. Like a child star forced to audition for adult roles, Hanson seems too intent on acting mature, so instead of the cheerful effluvia of its debut, “Middle of Nowhere,” we’re left with such overwrought heart-wringers as “Love Song” and “Dying to Be Alive”--songs that sound like attempts to nibble off a bit of the Backstreet Boys’ turf. Just because Hanson is growing up doesn’t mean it has to grow old before its time.

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