NEW YORK - When the three brothers who make up the group Hanson released their major-label debut album, Middle of Nowhere, they became the undisputed adolescent-division champs of feel-good pop.

But that was three years ago, an eternity in the music business. Now the charts are packed with a plethora of teenage and teen-oriented artists - led, of course, by the Mickey Mouse Mafia, that vast coalition of blond baby divas and boy bands launched in Orlando.

Coming back out of nowhere: With their second major-label studio album, Hanson can't count on dominating the boy-band spotlight. That gives Hanson the unusual distinction of being considered old guard before any of its members leaves his teen years.

Lounging in their location van before a photo shoot in lower Manhattan, Isaac, Taylor and Zachary Hanson reflect on this situation. They decide that the only solution is a complete image overhaul.

"I've figured out the market," begins 14-year-old Taylor, affecting a nasal, nerdy voice intended to represent a record-company suit. "We need to get two more members."

"Ike will be the sensitive one," says Taylor, 17, referring to 19-year-old Isaac. (Taylor is "Tay" to his siblings; Zachary is "Zac.") "I'll be the shy one. Zac will be the rebel."

Actually, for three striking young blonds whose breakthrough single was called MMMBop, the brothers Hanson appear to have spent relatively little time plotting a cute marketing strategy.

In contrast to other young male artists who have conquered the teeny-bopper market in recent years, the members of Hanson have always written the bulk of their material.

They also play their own instruments - Isaac is the guitarist, Taylor is the keyboardist, Zachary is the drummer.

For their long-awaited album This Time Around, which hits stores today, Hanson wrote all the songs themselves and co-produced with Nowhere board man Steve Lironi. Lironi was re-enlisted after the band met with several other producers, including former Cars leader Ric Ocasek, who worked on a few sessions with Hanson.

"You'd have some guy who just wanted to rock out," Taylor says. "Or some techno guy who didn't know how to do a band thing, or someone who wanted it to be too poppy. With Stephen, we could bring in modern elements but still keep the essence of rock 'n' roll music."

This Time features grittier textures and heavier classic and modern rock influences than Nowhere, which sold more than 4 million copies and earned Hanson comparisons to such inspired sources of bubble-gum soul as the Jackson 5.

The first single and title track, which shipped to radio in March, is a fervent midtempo rocker that, according to Airplay Monitor editor Sean Ross, "sounds more like a Joe Cocker record from 1971 than a boy-group record."

The song reached No. 20 on Billboard's Hot 100 last week and peaked somewhat lower on airplay charts.

The Hansons stress that they don't necessarily draw on experience when writing songs - particularly love songs.

"None of us has a girlfriend," Taylor says. "I made a rule to myself that I wouldn't date anybody until I could drive. I didn't want it to be like 'Hey, so, my mom'll pick you up at 8, OK?'"

Hanson's resident heartthrob has his license now, but as big bro Isaac notes, "It just comes down to the fact that we haven't found the right girls."

For the time being, at least, Ike, Tay and Zac Hanson have their careers, their family - Mom and Dad are still their tutors and close professional advisers - and one another.

"Our goal is to keep this group together as long as possible," Taylor says. "Someday, someone may go off and do some solo thing, or write or produce for other people. But hopefully, the focus will always be on Hanson."

"Whatever comes after that," Isaac says, "is just icing on the cake."