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The Backstreet Boys return with "This Is Us", their seventh studio effort, released in Italy on October 2, 2009.
After two albums, "Never Gone" and "Unbreakable", which moved in a pop-rock experimental direction, the group—composed of Nick Carter, AJ McLean, Brian Littrell, and Howie Dorough—returns to its usual sound, which has garnered them a significant spot in the global music scene.
It's indeed a bit of a return to the roots, to the early albums, where the strong influences of dance, pop, and r'n'b were felt. For this new project, the guys turned to several prestigious producers, from RedOne (known for producing Lady Gaga and Sean Kingstone) to Claude Kelly, T-Pain, Jim Jonsin, and also including Ryan Tedder from One Republic, Josh Hoge, and Max Martin.
The track that opens the album—which consists of 11 tracks plus a bonus track—is "Straight Through My Heart", produced by RedOne, which is a perfect combination of past and future, of what the Backstreet Boys have been over these 14 years and what they will be in the coming years of their career.
The second track is "Bigger"—produced by Max Martin—which will be the next single released and whose video has already been shot during a recent promotional trip to Japan. The song is a ballad in pure Backstreet style, showcasing their voices at their best.
It continues with "Bye Bye Love", an absolutely catchy and fresh piece that makes you want to dance and sing, and with "All Of Your Life (You Need Love)"—also produced by RedOne—featuring compelling music.
The fifth track is "If I Knew Then", perhaps one of the strongest of the album and which definitely deserved to be one of the singles released. For this piece, most of the work seems to be entrusted to AJ McLean, who, with his distinctive voice, manages to add value to the song.
But perhaps the most beautiful—at least according to us—is the one that gives the title to the whole album, "This Is Us", co-written by Howie Dorough. It is one of the few ballads on this record, with a very sweet melody and an equally sweet lyric, executed masterfully. The classic piece to listen to repeatedly.
"PDA", acronym for Public Display of Affection, is definitely one of the most original tracks, with a quite daring lyric. Perhaps its uniqueness also makes it one of the best.
"Masquerade" is instead a decidedly cheerful song that sets the imagination racing, taking us to a masked ball complete with tigers, lynxes, soldiers, and beauty queens.
"She's A Dream"—written by the entire group along with T-Pain—is one of the tracks that best showcases the vocal abilities of this group, achieving really interesting harmonizations here.
"Shattered" is another ballad. What strikes most about it is that, while listening to it, you can feel the sense of despair the lyric tries to convey. Brian Littrell mainly fulfills this task.
The track that closes the album is "Undone" (written by Ryan Tedder and Josh Hoge). This is another track that best showcases the vocal ability of the four guys, who sing in falsetto in the chorus. Some critics have spoken of this track as a tribute to Michael Jackson. Personally, we leave the audience the freedom to listen to the track and express their opinion, even though, in all honesty, "Undone" is one of the best pieces on the album.
The final gem is the bonus track, "Helpless". We wonder why it is only a bonus track since, as far as we're concerned, we think it would have been perfect as a single. It's an entirely original track, even featuring a collaboration with Pitbull, who duets with the guys.
"This Is Us" is a surprising album. Recommended for all those who loved the Backstreet Boys in the distant nineties, but also for those who skeptically continue to snub them. Recommended for those who think this group is finished, for those who want something new, and above all, for those who love music.
If you're tired of hearing only music "modified" with autotune, all you have to do is buy this album and enjoy it, track by track, because these guys really sing, and they do it well.
Try it to believe it.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Bigger (03:15)
First off, I can't keep a promise, I'm no one to count on at allAdd on that I'm a coward, too scared to return your call
But you don't care, you keep sticking aroundWhile I'm acting a clown, you're bigger'Cause you're still here, your feet stuck to the groundDespite how silly it sounds you're bigger than me
It's known that I'm a liar often they're blacker than whiteAdd on my unkinded ego, no one's less humble than I
But you don't care, you keep sticking aroundWhile I'm acting a clown, you're bigger than me'Cause you're still here, your feet stuck to the groundDespite how silly it sounds you're bigger than me
All the messed up things I do, yeah, I swear I'll make 'em up to youBefore you go and have enough just let me make it betterI'll try and measure up, I'll try and measure up to you, oh yeahI'll make 'em up to you, oh yeah
'Cause you don't care, you keep sticking aroundWhile I'm acting a clown, you're bigger than me'Cause you're still here, your feet stuck to the groundDespite how silly it sounds you're bigger than meJust bigger than me
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By bsbgirls
'It's not easy to find today 5 voices so different but that together can create a magic, a magic called pop, a magic simply called Backstreet Boys.'
This is us... shout the five guys from Orlando, this is us, still here after 16 years, a record for a group born and grown under the stereotype of a boy band.
