The Backstreet Boys: Black & Blue

(Jive)

Herald rating: * *

Review: Russell Baillie


Funnily enough, part of punk-pop band the Offspring's stage act is to beat up cardboard cut-outs of the Backstreet Boys — hence perhaps the title of the boy band's third album?

Of course not, it's probably something to do with their mega-selling mix of R&B-pop (the "black") and their cushy, mushy ballads (the "blue").

Which is exactly what they do throughout the 15-tracks on which Brian, Nick, Kevin Howie D and AJ get in some of their own songwriting, meeting the puppetmaster efforts of the likes of Swedish producer Max Martin (who rewrites Baby Hit Me One More Time one more time on opener The Call), Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins (the Michael Jackson-ish Shining Star) and Babyface (the extra drippy Time).

It all sounds as luxuriant as limousine leather with those harmonies and tag-team vocals (at best on Everyone) glistening like the aural equivalent of chrome.

And talk about attitude huh? These boys have got'em, ranging from kiss-off (Get Another Boyfriend) to marry-me (the wedding-ready I Promise You, Yes I Will, and How Did I Fall In Love With You?) to the little-boy-lost ballads (More Than That) on which they sound like five Kens apologising to one Barbie.

Yes, they are indeed a sorry lot, and dull and increasingly anonymous to boot.