Top tracks — play these first
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You Never Know Start here — establishes the sonic palette early
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If Only — If Only stands out for its heartfelt lyrics exploring themes of regret and longing, wrapped in a rich melodic structure that highlights the band's vocal harmonies.
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Runaway Run — This track features an anthemic chorus and layered instrumentals, capturing the essence of youthful rebellion while demonstrating lyrical maturity.
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This Time Around — The title track encapsulates the album’s theme of growth and resilience, blending catchy hooks with introspective verses that resonate with listeners.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album features strong melodies and harmonies but lacks significant innovation or lasting impact.
What we noticed
- The first three tracks feature upbeat tempos and layered harmonies, establishing a lively opening.
- Several songs incorporate a bridge that shifts the mood before returning to the chorus, creating dynamic contrasts.
- The album closes with a ballad that gradually builds in intensity, culminating in a powerful vocal climax.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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6/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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5/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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5/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Little footprint beyond its audience. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady mid-tempo sing-alongs
- youthful optimism in lyrics
- heartfelt reflections on life
- for nostalgic afternoons
Maybe skip if you
- prefer fast-paced listening
- seek experimental soundscapes
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Deep Cut — Solid entry in their catalog but not widely recognized beyond dedicated fans.
- Themes
- fame's pressures· cyclical growth
- Career context
- Released in 2000, This Time Around is Hanson’s second studio album, following their breakthrough debut Middle of Nowhere. The band aimed to evolve their sound while navigating the pressures of fame and expectations after achieving massive success with hits like 'MMMBop'. This album marked a pivotal moment as they sought to establish themselves as serious artists beyond their initial teen pop image.
- Stylistic neighbors
- The Mamas & the Papas· Maroon 5· O-Town
Tracklist
- 1 You Never Know Start here 3:05
- 2 If Only 4:32
- 3 This Time Around 4:19
- 4 Runaway Run 3:43
- 5 Save Me 3:42
- 6 Dying to Be Alive 4:39
- 7 Can't Stop 4:26
- 8 Wish That I Was There 3:34
- 9 Love Song 4:08
- 10 Sure About It 3:29
- 11 Hand in Hand 4:39
- 12 In the City 3:29
- 13 A Song to Sing 3:36
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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