Hanna-McEuen is a country music duo made up of Jamie Hanna and Jonathon McEuen, sons of the founding members of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and, since their fathers married twin sisters, first cousins. They released their self-titled and critically acclaimed debut album in 2005.
Hanna-McEuen is an American country music duo composed of first cousins Jaime Hanna and Jonathan McEuen. Both members of the duo sing, in addition to playing guitar and mandolin; Hanna also plays harmonica, while McEuen also plays banjo. Their fathers, Jeff Hanna and John McEuen, co-founded the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, a country music band which had success in the 1970s and 1980s. In addition, Hanna was formerly an occasional supporting musician for the alternative country band The Mavericks.
Hanna-McEuen released its self-titled debut album on DreamWorks Records in 2005, although the album's singles were distributed and promoted by MCA Nashville. The album produced a Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts in "Something Like a Broken Heart." Hanna-McEuen received positive reviews. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic called it "one of the best debuts of 2005" and cited the duo's country rock and alternative country influences, rating it four-and-a-half stars out of five. Entertainment Weekly reviewer Chris Willman gave a B+, comparing its sound to The Mavericks and calling it "an euphonic, often euphoric alternative." Jack Lowe of About.com gave it five stars, saying that it was "very smooth and fun to listen to."