What's up with Hanson? For one thing, forget "MMMbop"-- well don't forget it, but you can expect even more punch in their sound these days. Hanson's latest CD, This Time Around, blends the pop style they're known for with a more rockin' beat. Isaac, Taylor and Zac are about to kick off a worldwide tour that starts mid-July and goes for six months to a year. They're psyched--and you will be, too!

Q: What are you looking forward to in your new tour?

ZAC: It'll be fun to go back to Japan because PlayStation2 is out.
TAYLOR: We're looking forward to playing music, seeing the fans, being onstage.
ISAAC: We're proud of this record, and we're looking forward to playing it for our fans.

Q: Can you describe the sound of This Time Around?

ZAC: I'd say--cool.
TAYLOR: It's kind of hard to describe. It's still pop-rock.
ISAAC: The new record is a little bit more rock and roll than the last one. Definitely still pop rock music, but it's taken a twist and turn from the last record. If you're only familiar with "MMMbop," it'll be quite different.

Q: What's the weirdest part about being famous?

ZAC: When we go to countries where you never, ever think you would have fans, and people are buying your records, it's weird and cool.
TAYLOR: People look at you as if you're something different. But we are as normal as you can possibly get.
ISAAC: The weirdest part of being famous is the fact that people know who you are.

Q: What's your favorite city you've been to on tour? Why?

ZAC: Tulsa, Oklahoma. It's so cool to play the hometown.
TAYLOR: We played the Hollywood Bowl is Los Angeles [California], which was amazing because so many people have performed there.
ISAAC: I like New York a lot. It's really cool, and I like the vibe there. I like Australia a lot--the people there are very nice.

Q: Do you take any good luck charms with you on tour?

ZAC: Well, I've eaten Lucky Charms cereal a few times before if that helps! I bring the book that I'm reading and my journal.
TAYLOR: We always bring our journals with us [when] we travel. We write what we're thinking and what's going through our heads.

Q: What are your favorite video games? What character are you most like?

ZAC: I was just playing Ace Combat 3. I also like Eagle One.
TAYLOR: I'm not a video game guru. Zac is definitely into video games.
ISAAC: Playing video games isn't a major pastime for me, but I do like to play. It's hard to relate to video game characters since most of the time they're fighting.

Q: What was the last CD you bought?

ZAC: The last CD was the band Train.
TAYLOR: I also just bought Train's album, and the Bob Marley compilation. We listen to Foo Fighters, Counting Crows, [The] Black Crowes, Sheryl Crow--all of the "crows."
ISAAC: The last CD I bought was Train.

Q: Do you have a hidden talent?

ZAC: I haven't found it yet, I'm still searching. I like to draw. For our official fan club magazine, MOE, I did a two-page comic strip. Plus, I can belch on command.
TAYLOR: We have a fan club magazine and we write articles for that and pull that all together. We all are very into art and drawing, so maybe art is our hidden talent.
ISAAC: Recently, at a party, I discovered a hidden talent for limbo. Everybody was like, "You're a freak. I had no idea you could bend your back back that far."

Q: Is there a phrase you use way too much?

ZAC: "Hello" or "How are you?". That's a phrase everyone in the world uses too much. There are different variations. There's "Hello," there's "Howdy," there's "Hey."
TAYLOR: Everybody uses the word "like" way too much. Besides that there's not one particular phrase.
ISAAC: I often say things like "I uh..." or "Well, I umm..."

Q: What world record would you like to hold?

ZAC: The record for longest vocal note ever held.
TAYLOR: The world record in skydiving for free-falling the longest without pulling out the chute. Not that I've actually skydived.
ISAAC: Maybe the longest bungee-jump record.

Q: What's your favorite ice cream?

ZAC: Plain vanilla.
TAYLOR: Vanilla bean.
ISAAC: Baskin-Robbins' Super Chocolate Fudge. It's so chocolaty it doesn't melt. That, or Rocky Road. I'm a chocolate guy.

Q: What's your favorite pizza topping?

ZAC: The crust. I'm going with the base. There's not always cheese, there's not always sauce, but there's always dough. I'm looking for the root of pizza.
TAYLOR: What I always go back to is pepperoni.
ISAAC: I have to order my own pizza if I want to get my favorite toppings: green peppers, onions, pepperoni and cheese, and jalapeno peppers.

Q: What is your favorite TV show? Favorite movie?

ZAC: "The Simpsons." Indiana Jones trilogy.
TAYLOR: I don't have a favorite TV program. We go to the movies a lot. The Star Wars trilogy would have to be one of the tops.
ISAAC: I don't get to watch it often, but "That '70s Show" is funny. One of my favorite movies is "The Blues Brothers."

Q: Do you have a message for your fans?

ZAC: Nanu nanu. It means whatever you want it to mean.
TAYLOR: We're excited about getting their feedback on our new record, and we can't wait to see them on tour.
ISAAC: Thanks very much for supporting the band. We really appreciate your enthusiasm and hope you like the new record.