Anthem
by Hanson
  • Record Label: ADA
  • Release Date: Jun 18, 2013
User Score
6.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 9 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 9
  3. Negative: 2 out of 9
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  1. justathoughtabl
    Oct 20, 2013
    6
    Full disclosure: I've been a fan of Hanson since 1997. i was not a teenager but in my 20s at the time. I enjoy most of their stuff, particularly their last album, "Shout it Out," but let's face it: these guys are not innovators. Two of the three brothers are in their 30s now, so I think we can conclude that they're not going to become artsy any time soon. But that's okay. They are whatFull disclosure: I've been a fan of Hanson since 1997. i was not a teenager but in my 20s at the time. I enjoy most of their stuff, particularly their last album, "Shout it Out," but let's face it: these guys are not innovators. Two of the three brothers are in their 30s now, so I think we can conclude that they're not going to become artsy any time soon. But that's okay. They are what they are, and that's excellent craftsmen of hooky songs, good singers, slightly-below-average instrumentalists. ((it's OK--the Beatles weren't great instrumentalists either.) Now...this album Anthem. I must say, it's OK, not great. I get what they were trying to do. Most songs have a hook that will sound great in a show, with the audience singing along or doing a call-and-repeat thing. But there's really nothing memorable about any of these songs, and they rely too heavily on rock cliches and basic chords. And unlike the last couple of albums, this one has the Isaac ballad, an adult-contempo, angsty plea for love that, when performed live, is the time when everyone gets up to get a beer. Isaac's voice, while technically good, is pretty standard and not unique. Anyway, nice try. I think I'll put on Shout It Out, which is...again, not innovative, but excellent.… Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
64

Generally favorable reviews - based on 5 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. NOW Magazine
    Jul 8, 2013
    40
    Unfortunately, their sixth studio album, Anthem, has neither the undeniably sweet earworms of their first effort nor much of the catchy soul-rock they’ve produced since.
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  2. Entertainment Weekly
    Jun 19, 2013
    83
    On funkified tracks like "Get The Girl Back," the brothers expand their reach, inviting horns, handclaps, and shout-along choruses to the party. [21 Jun 2013, p.68]
  3. PopMatters
    Jun 19, 2013
    60
    It’s fine enough, but it’s just not memorable in any real tangible way.
    Read full review
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