The surprise of 3 Car Garage, which collects pre-fame recordings by the mighty under-18 trio, isn't in the somewhat rough production, but how well-formed the Hanson aesthetic was before they met song doctors and the Dust B... more »rothers. That production team streamlined "MmmBop" from the perceptibly slower version here; it was the boys, though, who tried their hands at a "Sweet Jane" soundalike ("Stories") and the pomp-rock play of "Day Has Come." Isaac, Taylor, and Zac take everything with such honest enthusiasm, it's clear that they would've set up amps and drums with or without their parents' encouragement. The place to start a Hanson collection is still last year's Middle of Nowhere, but these kids' Garage days are more proof that their millions of fans aren't wrong. --Rickey Wright« less
The surprise of 3 Car Garage, which collects pre-fame recordings by the mighty under-18 trio, isn't in the somewhat rough production, but how well-formed the Hanson aesthetic was before they met song doctors and the Dust Brothers. That production team streamlined "MmmBop" from the perceptibly slower version here; it was the boys, though, who tried their hands at a "Sweet Jane" soundalike ("Stories") and the pomp-rock play of "Day Has Come." Isaac, Taylor, and Zac take everything with such honest enthusiasm, it's clear that they would've set up amps and drums with or without their parents' encouragement. The place to start a Hanson collection is still last year's Middle of Nowhere, but these kids' Garage days are more proof that their millions of fans aren't wrong. --Rickey Wright
Chris P. (Satin43) from GRANT, MI Reviewed on 8/20/2006...
Case only has back cover with track listings.
CD Reviews
Young
challana | on a chair, in my room, on my 'puter | 11/24/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Most of the songs are slower, but some of them (i.e. the 'Isaac Ballads'- as many fans like to call them) are supposed to be because they won't ever have the same effect otherwise. Admittedly, "MMMBop" sounds kinda weird after 'Middle of Nowhere'. My warped sense of humour finds "Pictures" funny, even though I don't think it was written to make me laugh - it just does. It's really great to hear what they used to sound like and when you do the math, Taylor was eleven/twelve at the time of these recordings (actually, no math, it was recorded in 1995 and I'm born in the same year as Taylor). When you think about that it just goes to show how passionate these guys have been about music all their lives, and you can hear the passion in their voices."
A great CD for someone so young
challana | 02/05/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"It is trully amazing to think that kids ages (about)15, 13 and 10 could have written and recorded this great music. Hanson really have talent and people who don't appreciate Hanson's talent should not be listening to their music in the first place and then dissing them. No offence, but people should try to remember how "talented" they were at those ages and how many of them wrote songs and sang since they were 6 years old, if not younger,(It's obvious that most people who diss Hanson are adults). Give those wonderful guys a break. When they did this CD, they were very young and rather inexperienced, you can say, and didn't have a lot of money for all the things that would make the CD sound a little better (quality-of-sound-wise). The most importan thing is that they did it at all, and did a great job. This CD was released as kind of a gift to the fans, so if you don't like Hanson, then don't buy it."
Even guys can like Hanson!
challana | 11/02/1998
(3 out of 5 stars)
"I admit it. I am a 21-year-old male who likes Hanson's music. There's no shame in that, either! This album, while not as good as either Middle of Nowhere or Snowed In, shows that this group is no prefabricated pop group like the Spice Girls or the Backstreet Boys. They have real talent and just needed the support to focus it. The songs aren't as memorable as those from their first album, and the vocals aren't the greatest (due to some cheap studio time, I'm guessing), but the early versions of "MMMBop," "Thinking of You," and "With You in Your Dreams" are fantastic. This is an album for completists, not for someone who hasn't acquired a taste for Hanson's music."
Fun Little CD
Geno | 05/04/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This is a fun little CD that gives you a peak into Hanson's earlier recordings of songs that have been released, and some songs that have never before been released! It includes the ever popular MMMBop (of course!) and other great songs on their "Middle Of Nowhere" CD in their early stages. This is a fun CD to listen to. I like the whole idea of the "this is us before we were famous" thing. I wish other artists would release a CD of their earliest work, the songs that they recorded before their careers took off. Listening to Mariah Carey's demo-tape would be really fun! It's not my favorite CD, though, because it's a bit slow paced. I prefer "Middle Of Nowhere". But, I still like the sound of their early songs! They have some great songs on here. Great purchase right here! Enjoy!"
True Fanson's Paradise, Not For NonFans
twoblueflames | Tulsa, OK USA | 01/07/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This CD is exceptional for the ages these boys were at the time. All of their CDs are, but if you found "Mmmbop" to be whiny and repetitive and bubblegummy, do not buy this CD looking for refuge from this type of sound, because it is even more noticeably present on this CD and yes, my friend, there is another version of THE song, with three "m"s and one "bop", just like on the "Middle of Nowhere" CD, but even younger and more high-pitched. The CD is overall quite impressive though, especially if you're a fan, but even if you're not, you have to give them a little credit for writing these songs. "Tin Soldier", an adaptation of the famous children's story of the one-legged tin soldier and the ballerina is so sweet it will give you cavities, but ingenious nonetheless, and not without musical merit as well. It was originally released in Tulsa as an Indie CD and there are still real copies of it, with the original title "Mmmbop" floating around on ebay from time to time. This is probably the closest thing anybody with a 4 or 5 figure income without a savings account will ever get to owning the original though. Needless to say, I have it. *smile* Enjoy."