THIS IS US TOUR: Backstreet's Back With Seventh Album

Backstreet's back, alright! With a new look, a new flavor and a new attitude, the dynamic boy band the Backstreet Boys hits all the right notes in its new album, "This Is Us."

Obsolete and out-of-style for nearly a decade, the nearly extinct pop group does not fail to impress with its refined, clean lyrics and melodies. The Backstreet Boys, the face of pop music at the turn of the century and the leading musical act in the boy band era of the 1990s, have come a long way from their days of looking down on the rest of the music world from their heavenly thrones.

Following its glory days, the group released two albums, "Never Gone" in 2005 and "Unbreakable" in 2007. Both albums fell flat and were criticized by fans because of their alternative and gospel rock sounds.

The magic and creativity the group channeled when they churned out chart-topper after chart-topper seemed gone, and the Backstreet Boys became a thing of the past. Gone are front man Nick Carter's perfect golden locks and A.J. McLean's grungy, thug-like, trashy demeanor. Gone is Kevin Richardson, one of the founding members, who left the band in 2006 to focus on a solo career. "Millennium" and "Black & Blue" seem like age-old albums, distant memories.

What is left, however, is the energy and talent of Carter, McLean, Brian Littrell and Howie Dorough, who are all still relatively young. The group reverts to its old, upbeat sound in "This Is Us" by combining classic pop elements with modern R&B and hip-hop tones.

While they may not have the same spunk as they did in the 90s, the Backstreet Boys are able to elicit memories of "Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely" and "I Want It That Way" with their new album. Doing away with the sad, droopy, piano and guitar-laden tracks of "Unbreakable" and "Never Gone" has proved favorable for the Backstreet Boys.

The title of the album clearly describes the group's intention to redefine its identity as a pop group. Reworking and revamping their music style, the Backstreet Boys have become pioneers of a new hip-hop/R&B/pop brand of music while retaining a boy band identity.

Collaborating with notable hip-hop and R&B producers Jim Jonsin and Brian Kennedy and artists such as T-Pain and Ryan Tedders, of the rock band OneRepublic, the Backstreet Boys are able to add both flavor and authenticity to their tracks.

Leading the way is the single "Straight Through My Heart," a generic Backstreet Boys track but catchy nonetheless. The lyrics of the chorus include, "Straight through my heart/A single bullet got me/I can't stop the bleeding, oh/Straight through my heart/She aimed and she shot me," bring back the dreamy sound of "Millennium." A powerful beat anchors an all-too-familiar melody to provide a stunning track.

In addition to incorporating signature elements onto many of the tracks, the Backstreet Boys make use of many modern radio-friendly beats and effects to create a revolutionary sound. The auto-tune infested track "PDA (Public Display of Affection)" evokes feelings of a Timbaland-created club beat, while the techno heavy beat of "All of Your Life" provides an electric background to the group's otherwise dynamic lyrics.

Tracks such as "If I Knew Then" and "Shattered" utilize old-school beats and lyrics to create original sounds. "Bye Bye Love," one of the best tracks on the album, combines a modern pop beat with an R&B feel to create a stellar theme reminiscent of Chris Brown's "Forever."

"This Is Us" is one of the many tracks on the album that could potentially challenge the popularity and innovation of the group's earlier hits. The track fits the role of a pop power ballad and reminds listeners of the classic hit "The One." Carter's ability to perfect his falsetto notes contributes to the track's value. With the melody of Elliot Yamin's "Wait For You" and the beat of T.I.'s "What You Know," "This is Us" is a truly unique listening experience.

"Undone," a heavy, sentimental track, creates a heartfelt, warm mood and should win hearts over in a matter of seconds. "She's A Dream" enchants listeners with a soft acoustic background and savvy, R&B beat. Produced by T-Pain, the track consists of a flowing melody that bubbles with warmth.

The "auto-tune king"'s influence on the track, not to mention the entire album, is prominent. "Bigger" is the only track on the album that is simply painful to listen to. The song sounds like a tribal chant accompanied with an annoying acoustic riff. The track has colors of "Never Gone," which sets it up for failure.

Overall, "This Is Us" is an excellent, versatile album, equipped with a little bit of every genre and sound. The Backstreet Boys' decision to abandon the rock genre and bring back their signature pop sound with an infusion of modern R&B and hip-hop has paid off.

"This is Us" is a piece that is both well produced and well executed.

Innovative beats have reinvented the group dynamic and have dramatically changed the group's flow and style. Central themes including love, heartbreak and the effects of popularity and the pain of loneliness. Though they have aged significantly from the last time they ruled the charts, the Backstreet Boys' lyrics and singing are just as polished and dreamy as they were back in the day.

Carter's powerful vocals throughout the album along with the finesse vocals of Littrell, Dorough and McLean shine throughout the entire album.

While the days of churning out hit single after hit single and filling up whole arenas with 60,000 tweens are most likely over, the Backstreet Boys have every bit of glitz and glamour as they used to.

http://voice.paly.net/view_story.php?id=9141