Article: Taylor Hanson of Tinted Windows

Tinted Windows probably isn’t the most unusual supergroup in the history of rock ‘n’ roll, but it ranks up there with Bun E. Carlos from Cheap Trick on drums, James Iha from Smashing Pumpkins on guitar, Adam Schlesinger from Fountains of Wayne on bass and Taylor Hanson from pre-Jonas teen-pop idols Hanson on vocals. The group’s self-titled album, a power-pop dream influenced by everyone from the Buzzcocks to the Knack, was released this year. The group plays Friday at the Great American Music Hall. We talked to Hanson about his new gig.

Q: You’re not playing any instruments as a member of Tinted Windows. Have you figured out what to do with your hands onstage?

A: In isolation, that could be a very funny question. I’ve figured out what to do with my hands … onstage. I’m a percussion player, so I grab a tambourine as much as I can. Otherwise I subtly molest the mike stand.

Q: Stop, you’re going to make your keyboards jealous.

A: That’s part of the whole deal, talking about what would make this band different about what we’ve done before. One of the things was backing away from instruments that don’t have strings, things that are typically more lush. The songs are so straight-ahead and so pop that we wanted to keep it loud and simple.

Q: I was at Shoreline Amphitheatre when Hanson played on July 15, 1998. Do you remember me?

A: Oh, my gosh. I totally remember you. You had the blue hat, right?

Q: It was actually green. How did your brothers take the news that you were going to work with another band?

A: It wasn’t a big deal. They were like, “So if you’re doing that it might be an excuse to take some time off?” They were plotting a break. We’re an all-in band. We have our own label, fan club and everything. It’s like a day job. So they were totally into it.

Q: So now you have two bands and four kids. How do you keep vertical all day?

A: I’m a coffee enthusiast. I try not to have too many bad habits. Heroin has a real down side, so I try to stay away from the hard stuff. I also have to give credit where it’s due: My wife is amazing. She had to know she was getting into a heap of trouble when we met.

Q: How would you rank Tinted Windows among supergroups such as Cream, Velvet Revolver and the Traveling Wilburys?

A: We never called ourselves a supergroup. I guess, technically, we are a supergroup, but I can’t imagine trying to rank ourselves. Hopefully, there’s a place in music for Tinted Windows. If we’re really trying to be iconic, we should just stop right now. If one of us could die, that would also help. But I don’t think anybody wants that gig.

Q: I think it’s safe to say that the members of Chickenfoot should be looking over their shoulders.

A: I don’t know. There are some pretty badass guys in that band. It’s hard to knock it in theory. {sbox}

To hear Tinted Windows’ music, go to www.myspace. com/tinted windows.

This article appeared on page Q – 45 of the San Francisco Chronicle

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Article: Tinted Windows – Round Table With James Iha, Taylor Hanson & Adam Schlesinger

When you throw the term super group around, the tendency is to dwell on the star studded lineup that earned the group its “super” status, and Tinted Windows is no exception. The power pop quartet has been riding high upon the heels of their self-titled freshman debut, but on the surface, the group’s lineup makes for a much better story than the album.

With Taylor Hanson on vocals, Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne on bass, Cheap Trick’s Bun E. Carlos on drums, and guitar riffs from James Iha of both Smashing Pumpkins/A Perfect Circle Fame, drafting up a feature on these guys without paying tribute to their previous projects would boarder on journalistic malpractice. But for as much significance as the aforementioned groups have earned, the real story behind Tinted Windows is one of a handful of musicians, all renowned in their own right, who banded together to dish up simple-yet-driven pop tunes that stray from the formula’s their other projects work within. Whether it’s the chord progressions, the set lists, or the stage productions with Tinted Windows, there seems to be a deliberate emphasis placed on simplicity that speaks to the cathartic release this band seems to provide to its members.

After their sound check, prior to a performance at Boston’s Paradise Rock Club, Iha sat down for a one-one-one interview with Glide that eventually roped in both Hanson and Schlesinger. It could have been expected that when interviewing artists who’ve been doing press for years, they could slip into a robotized answer mode that does no more than give the writer what he or she needs. But for a group with a background that almost ensures monotonous Q&A, they not only took the task on, but they even offered up some power-pop quotes to Glide.

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CD Review : Tinted Windows

Missing the good old “MMMbop” days? Well, good news. Taylor Hanson (the one who looked like a really cute girl) is back with his very own supergroup — Smashing Pumpkins’ James Iha, Fountains of Wayne-er Adam Schlesinger, and Cheap Trick drummer Bun E. Carlos. The project is so unapologetically sweet, you’ll get diabetes just thinking about it.

Schlesinger penned the majority of the tunes using Fountain of Wayne’s usual approach — fuzzed out guitars, handclaps, and catchy choruses — which works great for Hanson’s vocals. Hanson himself takes writing credit on just one song, the classic rock-ing “Nothing to Me.” Iha delivers the most interesting track, “Back With You,” a midtempo daydreamer that would make a great Jack’s Mannequin song.

This record may paint-by-numbers power pop, but that’s the point. Pop music doesn’t have to be complicated; it just has to be fun. Mission accomplished.

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Article: Pop Quiz: Tinted Windows’ Adam Schlesinger

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve heard of Tinted Windows, a supergroup starring Taylor Hanson, Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne, James Iha of the Smashing Pumpkins, and Bun E. Carlos of Cheap Trick. Since their album came out late last month, they’ve been playing some gigs, but fielding more questions. How did this come about, inquiring minds wanted to know. Really, though, the band isn’t such an absurd concept. Schlesinger and Hanson have been acquainted with each other since the MMMBop days, and Schlesinger and Iha founded Scratchie Records together. The three visualized who they wanted as their ideal drummer, and came up with Carlos, who accepted the invitation. Shake it up, pour it out, and you’ve got the joyous, tightly crafted pop of Tinted Windows. There. All the questions seem to be answered, but we wanted to know more. So we asked Adam Schlesinger to take our Pop Quiz, and he complied, even giving us a shout-out. He’s being totally truthful here, right?

When you were in elementary school, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Dental equipment salesman.

Do you have any tattoos?
“Born to Answer Questions for Magazines.”

Are you superstitious?
Not yet—knock on wood.

First album you bought?
“Chicken Fat” by Robert Preston (single).

If you could have any super power, what would you choose?
The ability to turn a one dollar bill into a five dollar bill.

What restaurant would you eat at every day if you could?
Chili’s Too, O’Hare Airport.

Have you ever been arrested?
Not yet, because no one has discovered the Ponzi scheme I am running.

What’s your guilty pleasure?
Identity theft.

Do you have a favorite bar in New York?
It’s a tossup between Applebee’s in Times Square and the Olive Garden in Chelsea.

How many times a day on average do you think about sex?
Approximately 3.14159265.

Ever been star struck?
No celebrity has ever hit me.

When you get good news, who’s the first person you tell it to?
BlackBook magazine.

What do you always watch if it’s on TV?
Me.

What do you normally sleep in?
A bed.

Where’s the craziest place you’ve had sex?
This is known as the Newlywed Game question.

What’s on your computer wallpaper?
Pictures that James Iha downloaded from Cute Overload.

If you could be any literary character, who would you be?
The pigeon from Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems.

Where do you really want to be right now?
Long security line, O’Hare Airport.

What’s the first job you ever had?
CEO, General Electric.

Favorite Muppets/Sesame Street character?
That really hairy one … Robin Williams.

What’s the best advice you ever got?
Bring a sweater.

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Tinted Windows Review

James Iha of Smashing Pumpkins/A Perfect Circle, Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne, Bun E. Carlos of Cheap Trick and Taylor Hanson of Hanson (WTF?) together again for the first time! What are the results from this Super Group with over 75 years of combined experience? Pure power pop greatness!

Believe it or not, the Tinted Windows has been ten years in the making. According to their bio on their website, James Iha of the Smashing Pumpkins, Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne and Taylor Hanson of Hanson have been friends since the late 90s. They recently decided that they should form a band with loud guitars to accompany Taylor Hanson’s voice. Their goal was to sound like The Knack and Cheap Trick. They still needed a drummer and they wanted one like Bun E. Carlos of Cheap Trick. On a whim, they sent the demos to Carlos in hopes he might be interested and he quickly joined the band. The results are pure power pop greatness.

The first thing you need to get over is the car wreck aspect of the members in the band. Obviously, Schlesinger has been belting out this kind of material with Fountains of Wayne, so fans of his will not be disappointed. Carlos is a legend from the greatest power pop band in history, so fans of his will be ok, however they may think the lyrical content is a little too sugary as compared to Cheap Trick. The WTF aspect is Iha playing chords that considerably much happier than the fuzzy grunge of Smashing Pumpkins or the dark metal riffage of A Perfect Circle.

The member that people will have a hard time getting over is Taylor Hanson. He has grown up considerably since belting out the guilty pleasure, “MMMBop” with his brothers. The last Hanson album was critically well received as a pop rock gem, however the acclaim did not translate to sales. On the self titled debut album, Hanson shines belting out numerous “Whoas Whoas”, “Cha Cha’s” and other sing along phrases to go along with the sugary lyrics.

The band is at its best on tracks like “Kind of a Girl”, “Messing with My Head”, “Dead Serious”, “Can’t Get a Read On You”, “Nothing to Me” and “Doncha Wanna”. All of these songs are full of hook heavy guitars that fans of the 80s “skinny tie bands” will appreciate. While the lyrical songwriting will not be mistaken for Bob Dylan (or Cheap Trick for that matter), the lyrics are fun and light, the way pop should be.

The lead single “Kind of a Girl” is by far the best and catchiest song. The band is kicking on all cylinders as Hanson belts out “Whoa Whoas” throughout the whole song and Iha fulfills the bands goal to have loud noisy guitars. It also has a brief 80s guitar solo.

Equally as infectious is “Can’t Get A Read on You.” It is a fast paced hook heavy rocker that will have listeners playing air guitar every time they listen.

As I said, the lyrics are overly simplistic and at times hokey. “Cha! Cha!” is fun, but childish for a band with three quarters of its members over the age of 40. However, no song is as lame as “Without Love”. I am not a big fan of songs speaking on the virtues of love. It didn’t work for Peter Cetera (“Glory of Love”) and the immortal Beatles (“All You Need is Love”), so I don’t feel this tune will change my mind.

Without love
You got nothing to live for, nothing to give
Without love
You got nothing to wish for, nothing to get

Without love the days are so long
Without love
You could never go
On and on and on on and on come on
On and on and on on and on come on

LAME! LAME! LAME!

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Article: Feeling Sixteen Again with Tinted Windows

It’s been a long time since I’ve been excited about a supergroup.

On paper, the idea of cherry-picking random players from different bands to create something new and fresh has always been intriguing-not unlike picking one from list A and 2 from list B at your favorite Chinese eatery.

In practice, however, to say that results may vary is an understatement. For every Raconteurs, Golden Smog, or even Crosby, Stills & Nash to wow you, there’s a Chequered Past, Asia, or Little Village to utterly underwhelm you (and I really, truly wanted to love Little Village).

Still, taking the backbeat from one of the most legendary power pop bands of all time (Cheap Trick’s Bun E. Carlos), the flashy guitarist of one of the 90s biggest alt-rock bands (Smashing Pumpkins’ James Iha) and quite possibly the most underrated pure pop songwriter of our generation (Fountains of Wayne bassist Adam Schlesinger) got my attention mighty quickly.

Adding the youngest brother of the bubblegum family act who introduced the word “MMMBop”into the American pop culture lexicon (Hanson’s Taylor Hanson) lent an intriguing twist to the project.

Snicker all you want, but the Brothers Hanson-at their heart-were a power pop band, who even collaborated with genre giant Matthew Sweet before breaking up.

That aside, Taylor-emboldened by Carlos’ presence-channels his inner Robin Zander with effortless ease on Tinted Windows’ irresistible self-titled debut, making this the album of the summer in an alternate reality 2009 where smart, hooky, guitar-driven pop reigns supreme.

Schlesinger’s songwriting remains as crisp as ever. This time, however, he trades the uber-brainy approach he brings to the Fountains’ table in for a more stripped down M.O., delivering deceptively simple gems that still shine smartly.

Like any power pop worth its weight in soaring harmonies, these songs are earworms of the most delightful kind.

Some, like “Doncha Wanna” (can we pass a law to require every person with a pulse and a driver’s license to blare this at every red light?) and “Kind Of A Girl” hit you immediately like the adrenaline rush of a first kiss with the girl or guy you never dreamed would kiss you.

Others are set to time deploy inside your head when you least expect it and keep you humming long after summer’s gone. Either way, the choicest moments of Tinted Windows can make you feel sixteen again.

Entertainment Weekly’s review of Tinted Windows boldly declares “If you don’t love this, your tie’s too wide.” I’ll see that and raise with a “If you don’t love this, you are”-to reference a favorite Jon Stewart Daily Show bit-”clearly not a fan of joy.”

Tinted Windows by Tinted Windows was released on April 21 on S-Curve.

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Kind of a background check fail, huh?

Ridiculous amounts of Tinted Windows articles which mention MMMBop

It’s no secret that I have “mmmbop” on google alert. As I had mentioned previously, I don’t want to post every tinted window article, as this blog is mainly about Hanson. But I got a bajillion and one notifications this morning, so here are some links:

Pumpkins’ James Iha in new supergroup

Shades of the Past

Tinted Windows: Power-Pop Supergroup Makes A Super Record

Super ensemble Tinted Windows hits the sweet spot

Brookville Also Playing: Tinted Windows

Power pop for the ages through ‘Tinted Windows’

I wonder how many articles out there DON’T mention MMMBop…

Article: How to Make Good ’n’ Cheesy Pop

1. Smashing Pumpkins guitarist James Iha and Fountains of Wayne’s Adam Schlesinger meet in Chicago in the early nineties. A few years later, when FOW’s self-titled debut is released, the now arena- huge Pumpkins (above) take the fledgling band on the road with them. Iha and Schlesinger eventually co-found Scratchie Records.

2. In 1997, Schlesinger meets and befriends the then-14-year-old Taylor Hanson in L.A. while Hanson is writing material for his band’s major-label debut, Middle of Nowhere.

3. In 2006, Schlesinger has an idea for a new project—loud guitars with Taylor singing. Iha likes it. At the 2007 Fools Banquet, the annual songwriters’ retreat hosted by the Hansons in their hometown, Tulsa, Schlesinger and Hanson write what will become Tinted Windows’ first song, “Take Me Back.”

4. The project gets back-burnered until 2008, when the trio meets up at Chelsea’s Stratosphere Sound, the studio co-owned by Iha and Schlesinger, to begin recording. One problem: no drummer. “We kept saying we should get someone like Bun E. Carlos” of Cheap Trick, says Schlesinger.

5. Eventually, it occurs to them that, hey, they could just ask Bun E.! He accepts. They come up with the name Tinted Windows—“an intentionally cheesy-sounding homage” to the power-pop bands that inspired the project, says Schlesinger. “I liked that it sounds like a band that was playing the Jersey shore on a Sunday in the late seventies.”

6. S-Curve Records offers the band a deal, and in February the members meet for rehearsal—their first time all together in one room—then shoot a promo video (below).

7. Schlesinger rejects the idea that the band is a supergroup: “This is about four people who we thought could make good music together.” The supergroup’s self-titled debut comes out April 21. Appearances on Letterman and Jimmy Fallon are scheduled, along with select tour dates.

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Article: Tinted love: The Hanson-Smashing Pumpkins-Fountains of Wayne-Cheap Trick get-together

Supergroups are predictable.

It’s almost always some bunch of folkies (Crosby, Stills & Nash) or blues cats (Cream) or ’70s burnouts (the Firm, Asia, Bad English) doing exactly what’s expected. The results can be awesome (see “Deja Vu”). Or lame (BadEnglish’s “When I See You Smile,” anyone?). But rarely are they shocking.

Shocking would be a blend of Smashing Pumpkins and “MMMBop.” Or that dude behind “Stacy’s Mom” jamming with Cheap Trick drummer Bun E. Carlos.

Well, prepare to be shocked. Carlos, Hanson’s Taylor Hanson, ex-Pumpkin James Iha and Fountains of Wayne’s Adam Schlesinger have joined forces as Tinted Windows. The team’s self-titled debut hits stores tomorrow.

In search of some explanation about these strange bandfellows, we called up Schlesinger.

Herald: Start at the beginning. How did you and Taylor connect?

Schlesinger: I met Taylor years ago through Steve Greenberg – then an A&R guy at Mercury, now head of S Curve Records – who’s putting the album out. When he signed Hanson, he suggested that I write some songs for the band. Stupidly, I didn’t write anything for their record and it went on to sell one zillion copies. But Taylor and I stayed in touch and always talked about doing something together. The idea behind Tinted Windows really was just to get Talyor’s voice up against some loud guitars.

What about James?

I became friends with James even before Fountains of Wayne. He was very helpful in getting Fountains of Wayne going. Since then, we’ve started an indie label together and run a New York studio called Stratosphere Sound.

And what about Bun E. Carlos?

The three of us knew we wanted a drummer who could play like Bun E. Carlos. Then we thought, “We should just ask him.” So we just kinda cold-called him. He wanted to hear some songs, so we sent what we had over and he said, “OK.”

Are you worried that people will listen with preconceived notions?

We knew people would be a bit confused by (Tinted Windows), so we intentionally didn’t talk about it all until the record was done. We wanted people to be able to immediately hear some music when they heard about us.

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Article: Fourteen Hanson Songs for Tinted Windows Converts

Earlier this month, when it was announced that Tinted Windows—an ostensibly-super-group featuring Fountains of Wayne’s Adam Schlesinger, The Smashing Pumpkins’ James Iha, Cheap Trick’s Bun E. Carlos and Taylor Hanson (for whom my inner twelve-year old still carries a brooding, awkward torch)—didn’t just exist but indeed had songs and a MySpace and SXSW dates (you know, all the things that real bands have) I thought it must be a joke. When I watched the promotional video I became reasonably sure that it wasn’t a joke, but even more desperate to be wrong: The songs were tinny and vapid and somehow more insufferable than the video’s creepy host, and seemed sure to draw the ire of the now-grown-up versions of all the kids who so fiercely mocked me for my Hanson-love in middle school.
But not only is Tinted Windows not a joke, the band’s also been really well-recieved so far, buzzing the crap out of SXSW and faring fairly well in music’s oft-nasty little corner of the Internet. (Stereogum’s post about the group, for example, features some of the most enthusiastic comments I’ve ever seen from the blog’s usually-snarktastic readers.) So I’ve backed down, given the songs a few more tries, and might come around. Eventually. Maybe.

Still, I sense that much of the band’s appeal right now is the strange notion of Taylor Hanson as a glowy-faced rockstar making somewhat exciting music—which would indeed be shocking if you, like many, wrote off him and his brothers as mindless bubblegum pablum circa summer ‘97. Anyone who stuck around, though, knows that Hanson’s catalog is hardly limited to the earwormy madness of “MMMBop.” From Middle of Nowhere, the brothers’ platinum debut—on which the trio wrote or co-wrote and played instruments on all the songs, all before then-thirteen-year-old Taylor’s voice had even cracked—to their most recent album, 2007’s The Walk, track after giddy, soulful pop-rock track blows Tinted Window’s as-yet-sparse offerings right out of the water. Here are fourteen of the best, compiled with help from my fellow resident Hanson apologist, associate editor Kate Kiefer.

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