1. TiffL

   7

   After taking a five year hiatus, the Backstreet Boys are back with a new album sounding a little older but wiser. Appropriately named, Never Gone, this album shows a lot of growth that the Backstreet boys have done. I saw appropriately named Never Gone because they might’ve been out of the spotlight for a while, they never completely gave up on music. And with this album, it’s a good thing they didn’t, we would be missing a great line up of songs. Being a group for more than 10 years, they had their struggles to get on top, and even on top they all had personal struggles. With this 5 year break, they finally got a break from being a band and got to do things they wanted to do and needed to do as individuals. But they couldn’t stay away from being a group and making music like they all love to do. Spending more than a year in the studio writing, producing, and recording songs for a new album . They spent time putting different sounds into their pop song to have a new variety of fans. Mixing a little more rock and also R & B but still kicking their original made sound that they are known for. As I mentioned before, the lyrics of this album are mature and deeper than previous albums. In past albums, they went for the rhyming factor which would turn to sound cheesy but catchy and it worked. This album and in the first single alone, you see the growing that the members have done lyrically and vocally. In “Incomplete” the lyrics used are “...Empty spaces fill me up with holes, distant faces with no place to go. Without you within me I can find no rest..” You can deel the pain that they are expressing a lot more deeper. Which makes the ballads on this album some of their best. Also, for their this album they focus more on ballads and to show off their vocal abilities because they are know for their great harmonies and pure talent. And they have a few mid-tempo songs that have great lyrics, such as “I Still..” and “Climbing the Walls”. They are lyrically better written they their other hits, like “As Long As You Love Me” and “Quit Playin’ Games”, but they are bigger hits because they are really catchy and that’s what radio and people go for. The new album has catchy song but not as catchy. If you were a die heart fan of the Backstreet Boys before you will noticed the maturity in the music and will like the change. But if you didn’t really followed their you might not like it as much, going into thinking it’s going to sound like the typical pop boy band. There is something missing in this album, and that’s a real big hit like “I Want It That Way” or even “Shape of My Heart”. The whole album is good but nothing big for radio. It’s really seems to be missing that one song that people go out and buy the album for. But if you are looking to hear great ballads and an occasional upbeat song, I’d recommend Never Gone for you.… Expand

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2. bigbyrd

   5

   overall average, some good singles, but the album as a whole is inconsistent. It seems more of a transitional album as the backstreet boys try to change musical genres from teenie pop to adult contemporary, their new style fits them well. but when it's all said and done, their music will forever be "incomplete" without good song writing and more focus.… Expand

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3. Matt

   3

   I know it's easy to bash them, but they are still the same generic boy band.

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