Are you listening?

(Young) Guys with guitars today: Hanson and Tyler Hilton--Hanson because I heard "Mmmbop" on the radio a few days ago and Tyler Hilton because I didn't want to post just one song.

Hanson are, of course, most famous for their debut single "Mmmbop." They've never quite managed to replicate its commercial success or infiltration of pop culture, but they've continued to release good songs (even if their photo gallery seems to imply they are a little too serious now).

Lost Without Each Other--this is the song that might even surpass "Mmmbop" on my list of Hanson favorites (I don't have all of This Time Around, so I guess it's theoretically possible there's an even better song on that album somewhere). The boys are older, so don't expect the high-pitched singing of before, and this song doesn't have the summery gloss of "Mmmbop," but it really catchy. The drum (and piano, in the beginning) keeps the song going, but it's when the guitars hit and the chorus arrives that the song is at its best moments.

This Time Around--a last-minute addition to today's post and the title track to their second album. It's slower than "Lost Without Each Other."

Tyler Hilton is a young singer/songwriter whose success in the U.S. has been far from vast or mainstream. He's known for appearing on TV series One Tree Hill (in which you could also hear his music) and in the movie Walk The Line (if you look at his album cover, I bet you can guess who he played). Also, if you've ever looked at the picture for iTunes' "Teen Pop Essentials" and wondered who that was next to Justin Timberlake, Jessica Simpson, and Britney Spears, here's your answer: Tyler. That's overplaying his role or fame in the teen pop world, but I suspect they based their decision to include him in the picture on looks, not popularity. His voice has a rough edge that makes his music sound different from much of the pop popular among teens, as does the folky edge on many of his songs.

Kiss On--a track from his second full album, The Tracks Of Tyler Hilton. Catchy in an acoustic guitar sort of way, and probably the best out of the Tyler Hilton songs I know (which I admit to not be all of them).

How Love Should Be--Tyler's latest single. I'm not sure what it means that it was released in May 2005 and there's no new album yet; maybe he just likes to take more time with his music? It's not as catchy or as fun as "Kiss On" (which isn't exactly a barrel of laughs itself, but does seem, despite its subject, to take itself less seriously). It's a little generic pop-rock for me, to be honest.

To buy Hanson's Underneath, go here (physical) or here (digital); to buy Hanson's This Time Around, go here (physical) or here (digital; only valid for U.S. residents); to buy Tyler Hilton's The Tracks Of Tyler Hilton (sometimes referred to as The Tracks Of), go here (physical) or here (digital); to buy Tyler Hilton's single "How Love Should Be," go here (physical) or here (digital).

Next up: I'm not sure. At some point in the next couple weeks, there should be a special on a particular boyband, but that definitely won't be tomorrow. Maybe some B-sides?

hanson tyler hilton