Backstreet Boys Album: “Never Gone”

The Backstreet Boys have produced an incredible album with their fourth studio release, "Never Gone." Just one of the awesome tracks on this CD, "Incomplete," is already standing out as a fine example of their talent and creative strength. This album proves the band is STILL here and ready to rock us while making it all look so easy. Backstreet Boys fans will be very pleased with this album and I think many other music fans would do themselves a favor by trying this CD on for size. Yes, yes, I know: Some people have practically written off the band as has-beens and losers; but I say their life experiences and their natural talent have once again forged to produce a very good album that is one of the best you'll buy this year. Still other people have said that this album does not offer "new enough" material. I wasn't aware the band was obligation to change drastically!

"Incomplete" is an emotional, passionate and just plain beautiful ballad which is a strong way to start off the album. There's no secret why this song is blasting all over coffee shops already! Try it yourself and tell me you don't like it. (The video was great, too.) Moreover, as people may already know, Backstreet Boys band member Kevin Richardson co-wrote the album's title track "Never Gone" to commemorate his father. When songs are written from the heart like this the artist is always at his best when creating really good music. Indeed, the album has tracks all throughout that you will almost instantly want to listen to over and over again. This shows the band's ability to reach out to their audience using common emotional experiences with beautiful musical arrangements and creative lyrics to produce songs that are instantly memorable and long lasting. "My Beautiful Woman" is another very good song. The musical arrangements are very well done throughout the entire CD as well.

Moreover, Never Gone shows the Backstreet Boys working well with their peers. Look for Five For Fighting's John Ondrasik; Savage Garden's Darren Hayes; the very talented Max Martin; Billy Mann (who worked with both Pink and Sting) and last but not least the band works with John Shanks, winner of a Grammy award for producer of the year for his work with Sheryl Crow, Kelly Clarkson, Hilary Duff and Ashlee Simpson. A fine team!

So, after all is said and done, the Backstreet Boys show us all with this CD that they are not too old to create good quality songs. They have NOT been too absent too long to make this CD into a solid comeback that is not to be ignored. It's no illusion: They'll never be gone.

When the Backstreet Boys first hit it big in America, I was ten years old and in love with bubblegum pop. Most young teen girls tend to be and I'm not embarrassed by that admission. They released a few songs that will stand the test of time, like "I Want It Way", but I never felt that their albums were solid from start to finish. I think the proper term for some of the blander songs is "filler". I was a big fan though, and that didn't matter to me at the time. Now, as an adult woman, I've developed an eclectic taste and I appreciate such a plethora of musical styles that this album is the perfect middle ground between my favorite genres. Hence, my five star rating. As a girl who kicks back with AC/DC, Kelly Clarkson, Def Leppard, Green Day, Eminem, Celine Dion, Prince, Broadway's "Wicked", and Mozart's opera "Don Giovanni", I say I can be a pretty fair judge on the musical quality of the album--I'll look at it from more than one side.

1) Incomplete - When this song was first released, I could hardly wait to hear the rest of the album. From it's haunting piano melody at beginning to the unique way the vocals were arranged it stimulates your senses. I love how AJ sings the verses and Nick sings the chorus with back up from Kevin and Brian on certain points and from Howie on the others. It's completely beautiful. 9/10

2) Just Want You To Know - This song has a very rock vibe to it. The soaring chorus with the driving bassline remind me of modern Def Leppard songs, especially Max Martin's "Unbelievable" from their album "X". Seeing at how this was written by Max also, I am not surprised that I love it. Such a fun song. 10/10

3) Crawling Back To You - At first listen, I didn't care for this song all that much. Some of the lyrics seemed over the top. But at second listen, I listened to the pure musicality of the song and I love it. The chord progression on the chorus is beautiful and I love how they say "Banging on-a your front door" it makes me smile because it reminds me of "I want it that-a way". 8/10

4) Weird World - This song, written by Five For Fighting's John Ondrasik, is one of my favorites on the album. I love the soft rock sound and the meaningful lyrics which remind me a lot of Billy Joel and Elton John songs. I don't know why so many people on here tend to dislike this song, but the only thing I can think is that it doesn't really fit with the rest of the songs on the album. I appreciate that because my mix CDs tend to have songs that don't fit together. The song is deep and beautiful. 10/10

5) I Still... - I wasn't sure how to receive this song at first. The way it starts reminds me of Linkin Park's "Crawling". It, like, "Crawling Back To You" took a few listens for me to enjoy. The chorus is beautifully constructed with desperate, sweeping lyrics and I particularly like the bridge. 8/10

6) Poster Girl - This song has a strong rhythm and blues vibe and reminds me a lot of Craig David and Abs. As a music major in college, I enjoy the sumptuously layered harmony in the chorus. It was worth repeats just to try and pick out all five voices in the refrain. I really don't care too much for the "La la las" in the bridge but other than that, this song is pure magic. You'll be humming the chorus for hours. 10/10

7) Lose It All - This song is beautiful. The lyrics and the vocals are filled with emotion. If you love classic pop-rock ballads, you will love this song. I like the edgy bridge that leads to AJ's little tender lyric and then the pounding chorus again. One of my highlights of this song? Hearing Kevin's beautiful voice. We don't hear it enough! 9/10

8) Climbing The Walls - This is my other favorite song on the album. Brian's vocals on the verses coupled with the acoustic guitar are so rich and beautiful. The heavy hitting chorus is wrenched with pain and the strings are a great foil for the lyrics. Howie's welcome voice on the bridge as it leads to the key change at the end is perfect. AJ's soaring descant between the final repeat of the chorus is amazing. 10/10

9) My Beautiful Woman - This was the first song I heard from the album, nearly a year ago. Back then, it had a decidedly more rhythm and blues feel. Personally, I love the new rock vibe. The song is very sexy and rhythmic. The bridge's spelling of "BEAUTIFUL" is cute if not a tiny bit corny. If anyone wants to hear the original R&B version, e-mail me and I'll send a link. 9/10

10) Safest Place To Hide - This is a song about devotion that features all five boys singing a verse - something I always look forward to hearing in a Backstreet Boys song. I love the sweet simplicity of the chorus. It suits the tone of the lyrics perfectly. This song is one that most everyone can relate to. Beautiful and elegant. 10/10

11) Siberia - When I first read the title, I was like, "Siberia? WTF?" I am obsessed with Brian's voice. It has such a gorgeous pure quality to it. The opening hook that drives the song is so catchy and the chorus makes the title fit the song. "My heart did time in Siberia"... wow. The only thing I don't like is the use of the synthesizer during the first part of the bridge. 9/10

12) Never Gone - The title track, written by Kevin in memory of his father. If you've ever lost someone, it will tug on your heartstrings. It could also have some potential as a graduation song (sorry, I just graduated from high school and I spent the latter half of May searching for graduation songs for the choir to sing). It is a beautiful ending to a wonderful album. 9/10

Album total: 111/120 = 9.25 average = 4.625 stars, which rounds up to 5 stars.

If you're a big fan and you love extras, go ahead and get the Dualdisc. It's worth it for the behind the scenes stuff. Yay. And if you get the CD at Wal-Mart, you'll get the bonus "Song For The Unloved", a gorgeous mid-tempo song, with melancholy undertones. Even though I killed my soul going into Wal-Mart, it was worth it for this gem that sounds like their older material.

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Yes, I will admit it: When I was 14 and 15, I was one of *those* girls--you know the ones I mean. I plastered my walls with posters of the Backstreet Boys and lived on Internet fan sites. I saw them in concert six times; and yes, I even had a favorite Backstreet Boy (Brian--who, I must admit, I still think is just yummy). I bought all their videos and all their CDs (even the expensive imported ones). I was obsessed. I am aware that this confession may make me sound crazy--but really, I'm not. I was just a teeny-bopper, a persona I've thankfully outgrown. Gradually, my obsession waned...I became interested in *real* boys...I grew up. And, when I recently purchased NEVER GONE and listened to it for the first time, I was pleasantly surprised to hear that the Backstreet Boys grew up, too.

In the five years since they released BLACK & BLUE, the Boys have had a lot happen in their lives. Two are married, one has a child; one is a recovering alcoholic; one has been accused of beating up Paris Hilton (and how many of us can say we've done that?). These personal advancements in their lives are reflected in the music of NEVER GONE. The trademark Backstreet Boys sound is gone on this CD...and actually, that's a good thing. Gone are the synthesized pop beats. And instead of giving every band member a chance to sing in every song for the sake of millions of drooling girls, A.J., arguably the band's strongest singer, takes the lead on most of NEVER GONE's tracks. This makes this album's vocals tighter overall (although Nick still sings lead quite a bit--and I don't know, I just really don't like his voice all that much, it's too...whiny).

The Backstreet Boys' comeback album is still pop and will still please former-teen fans; but it's clear that their sound is evolving and maturing. The songs "Weird World" and "Poster Girl," in particular, show sophisticated lyrical depth--somewhat surprising (in a good way) coming from the same band who sang such inane songs as "If You Want it to Be Good, Girl, Get Yourself a Bad Boy." Their new sound is kind of Kelly Clarkson meets Maroon 5 (sounds like a weird combination, but actually it's very cool). Every band should try to evolve its sound on each album it releases--and with NEVER GONE, the Backstreet Boys have succeeded in doing so.

But don't worry: For those fans who miss the bubblegum, the song "Beautiful Woman" offers such cheesy lyrics as "'B' is for beautiful as the sunrise." That corniness--pardon the pun--is never completely gone from the Backstreet Boys' music.

My favorite track on the album is "Siberia." The lyrics are haunting, the vocals are tight...It's a great song.

NEVER GONE proves that the Backstreet Boys, well, will never be gone. It's a successful comeback album that offers improved vocals and more mature lyrics while still appealing to the same group of fans who salivated for the Boys so many years ago. This music is different from their earlier stuff, but it's better. Backstreet's back--and they're all grown up.

I don't understand how anyone couldn't fall in love with this album. I actually stopped listening to their older material because I was sick of all the sicky pop stuff and I'm into rock more now. So when I heard "Incomplete" for the first time I was sooo thankful that they'd grown up. The entire album just makes me want to dance from begining to end. It's awesome. They've grown up. It's definetly different than their older material. Compare "We've got it goin' on" from their selt-titled album to "Climbing the walls" from this album. Huge difference man, huge difference. I'm not saying all of us should think the same way when it comes to music, but some things are just obvious. This album is brilliance.