Rock Out with Your Sock Out: Listen to the First Single by Tinted Windows, the New Band with James Iha and Taylor Hanson

Who would have thought Bun E. Carlos of Cheap Trick would be in the same band as James Iha of The Smashing Pumpkins, Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne, and Taylor Hanson of, well, Hanson. (Yeah, as in “MMMBop.”)

The supergroup, called Tinted Windows, begun to take the music world by storm earlier this when the group’s unconventional lineup was announced. 

Of their eye-raising collaboration, Fountains of Wayne bassist said Adam Schlesinger said of his relationship with former teen popstar Taylor Hanson, “Ever since we met, [he] and I had talked about trying to do something together.”

James Iha sites their love for new wave, rock, and power-pop as the glue that made the three of them come together despite their stylistic differences. ”We talked about everything from the Buzzcocks to the Knack,” says Iha. “And, of course, Cheap Trick.” Cheap Trick drummer Bun E. Carlos was then asked to join the group.

Tinted Windows is schedule to play at this year’s highly anticipated South by Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas March 20. Their self-titled debut album drops April 21st.

To listen to their first single “Kind of Girl”, click here.

Damn, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t super psyched about this band. I can’t say I ever cared for Hanson, but The Smashing Pumpkins and Cheap Trick? I think I just creamed my panties!

The track itself, “Kind of Girl”, is actually pretty fun. At first I didn’t want to like it, but found myself dancing around my living room after the second or third lesson. 

What amazes me the most is that, back in college, I remember talking to this music journalist after he did a reading, and my asking him what musicians or bands he thought would change the face of music in the years to come. His answer: “Why not Hanson? No one thought the young boys who once sang “I Want to Hold Your Hand” would produce tracks such as “Revolution No. 9″ and “I Am the Walrus.” Count it!