This is a come back album for the Florida quintet, who went from being the new kids on the block in late 1990s, to the old chips off the block in the early 2000s. Following their Grammy award in 1998, the boy band became extremely popular, mainly with young girls. They sold tons of albums, 87 million, to be exact. But fame, ego, and drug and alcohol problems resulted in the band’s breakup two years ago. Now the backstreet boys are back. This release, after a five-year hiatus, is the band’s fourth effort and perhaps their last chance to prove they still have the right stuff. They do. Never Gone sold over two million copies in seven days and went number one in America, Europe and Asia. This release has it all: catchy hooks across the musical spectrum – ballads ("I still…"), soft rock ("Just Want You to Know"), R&B ("My Beautiful Woman"), pop dance numbers ("Poster Girl"). All sung in the usual soothing, uplifting vocals. That said, after one listen, it all sounds about the same. But no matter. Fans loved The Boys concert in Shanghai last January 2006, proving they do have staying power.
Sony-BMG

(c) that's Shanghai Magazine
Chief editor: Steven Crane
March 2006 issue



(c)that's Guangzhou
Guanzhou Chief editor: Christopher Cottrell
March 2006 issue