Once upon a time in the early 2000s, the Backstreet Boys were one of the biggest boy bands in the world, and had screaming adolescent girls at their feet. Then things started to go wrong for the band. One of them began dabbling in recreational drugs, another took a wrong turn with alcohol, and one of their shining stars, Nick Carter, decided to hit the solo path.
Fast track to 2005, and the boys were back, sober and drug-free ,and ready to show the world that they have not lost their magic touch with their newest album, Never Gone. Despite their four-year hiatus, the fans are still strong and their music has not changed too much. They still have the sugar-coated lyrics and the harmonies that made the band big in the first place. The only thing that has changed is that their music has matured, along with the boys. This could probably be their most personal album to date, as the songs reflect the changes that have come with growing up. In an essence the band has gone from being the pop boy band, to a band of men, who know exactly all the marketing tricks to keep their fans true to them.
This album was a surprise for me, as I expected it to be similar to their other music. In essence it is, yet the album is actually really good too. Like the others, it is filled with ballad style songs, but then the Backstreet Boys are never going to be hard rockers. It's not their style.
However, the band has changed, and they recruited big guns to help elevate them back to fame. They not only used a Darryn Hayes penned song, but also team up with John Shanks, who has worked with Sheryl Crow, Kelly Clarkson, Ashlee Simpson, and Hilary Duff. The boy's have stayed true to form, and they manage to slide gracefully through each song, almost as if they have not been apart for four years. The songs are fluffy pop, but it's the type of music the boys are best with.
It's not surprising that their comeback was so successful, and it's a step in the right direction for the boys. Songs not to be missed: "Just Want You To Know," "I Still," "Siberia," and the co-penned Kevin Richardson track, "Never Gone."
Article comments
1 - Amro Al-Sabban
I think the album is great , they did develop their voices in this album , but i dont think that there is a ballad songs as they turned into a rock direction .
i think getting back to their Pop ballad style is the best for them .
2 - Kristin Quizxon
One year too late. Plus, they did not use the song penned by Darren Hayes. That one is called Lift me up!
3 - Maris
Personally I think Never Gone is their best album yet. I loved I Still and Climbing The Wall. Siberia haunts in a similiar way as Norwegian Wood. Just Want You To Know is fun rock and Incomplete aches and wails! Their voices harmonize in a mature way-little of the stylized harmonics of early R&B style Backstreet, which to me is just fine. Beautiful Woman gives us funk and Weird World pathos. I can't wait for the next album!
4 - shkumbinn
bsb are the best simply the best
5 - angel
If only they included the LIFT ME UP track. It's a really good song!
6 - Michelle Mckee
NEVER GONE RULED!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE THE BACKSTREET BOYS!!! THEY ARE THE ABSOLUTE BEST!! THE MUSIC OUT THERE NOW MINUS MY FAVORITES LIKE CARTEL, KELLY CLARKSON, MAROON 5, QUITEDRIVE, EMERSON HART, JESSE MCCARTNEY, PUSSYCAT DOLLS, AND MANY OTHERS, I COULDN'T TURN THE RADIO ON OR GO TO A STORE WITHOUT A CD FROM BSB! ROCK ON GUYS!!!!!!!!! I LOVE YOU!