It's hard to believe that 15 years have passed since
BACKSTREET BOYS redefined the modern musical landscape, ushering in a chapter of pop culture that commandeered the world's radio airwaves, broke music and concert sales records, launched a new generation of teen idols for millions of youths.
Their first two U.S. releases both received the Diamond Award for sales, BACKSTREET BOYS in 1997 and quintessential MILLENIUM in 1999, which reached No.1 in 25 countries. They have scored dozens of top 40 hits, including top 5 smashes "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)", "As Long As You Love Me", "Everybody (Backstreets Back)" and "All I Have To Give".
A lot has changed since 1997, when we firts got to know the five singers comprisong Backstreet Boys: Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, Aj McLean and Kevin Richardson who, in 2006, amicably decided to exit the group, with the full blessing of his teammates. But as we hear on their sixth album, UNBREAKABLE, what remains gloriously synonymous are BSB's indelible melodies, hooks galore and finely crafted three and four-part hermonics, demonstrating that these guys have matured into talented musicians who still love what it is they do so well.
Backstreet Boys spent a year and a half recording the album which marks a confident return to the pop template that best defines the group's sound. First single "Inconsolable", produced by Emanuel Kiriakou, is a classis piano-driven midtempo ballad reminiscent of the group's biggest hits.
"Helpless When She Smiles" is another stunning hit-worthy midtempo ballad, produced by Grammy-winning John Shanks. A number of other tracks were produced and co-written in Nashville by Dan Muckala including the moody Beatles-esque "Unsuspecting Sunday Afternoon".
Also among priorities this time around, BSB wanted to include uptempo tracks and synthesizer-soaked "Everything But Mine", "Panic", "Any Other Way" and "One In a Million" ably fir the bill. Like their song says, Backstreet are well and truly back.