Black & Blue Review

By Jan
Dec. 2000

This appeared in The Daily News on Dec. 18, 2000, in the "In Your View" column. Here is my original letter.

In Your View
The Daily News
P.O. Box 8626
Station A
Halifax, N.S.
B3K 5M2

Black & Blue Review

Hello!

I think Black & Blue is definitely a success for the Backstreet Boys. It shows more maturity musically and lyrically, and it�s really great to see their own work on the album more than it has been in the past. Some of the songs they wrote are album standouts, for instance, �The Answer To Our Life,� which all five Boys contributed to. And although Max Martin and the Cheiron gang still wrote and produced on many tracks, the album still has that distinct Backstreet sound that we all know and love. (Translation: as much as you�d like to think it sounds like *NSYNC and Britney Spears, it doesn�t!!)

Another impressive thing about the album is the fact that every single song has a different sound. The Boys have incorporated many different styles on this album, and the diversity shows. In general, the whole album has a more R&B feel, along with edgier vocals on some of the up-tempos like, �The Call,� �Get Another Boyfriend,� and, �Shining Star,� among others. The ballads and mid-tempos on Black & Blue also shine, and are highlighted by, �Yes I Will,� written by A.J., �More Than That,� and �Time,� written by the Boys.

This album definitely shows growth for the Backstreet Boys, and will appeal to a wide demographic of music lovers, since this album is so diverse and has so much to offer. In other words, this album ROCKS, and is by far Backstreet�s best effort yet!

Thanks!

Jan