Yet another [un]biased, brutally honest BSB album review
I wanted to post something about the new Backstreet Boys album, This Is Us. I got it fresh off of Music One when it arrived on their shelves (through special arrangement, hahahaha I am an addict, but I’m not like the other hardcore addicts who probably braved last weekend’s storm to get their copy at the launch party in Galleria). Special shout out to Karla Turkey - sure kami ni Mama Beru na ikaw ang naunang bumili sa amin!!! Hahaha, whatevs. Anyway, here goes everything. (Hoy Karla, basahin mo ito ha)
Backstreet Boys
This Is Us
1. Straight Through My Heart ♥
2. Bigger ♥
3. Bye Bye Love ♥
4. All Of Your Life (You Need Love) ♥
5. If I Knew Then
6. This Is Us
7. PDA ♥
8. Masquerade ♥
9. She’s A Dream ♥
10. Shattered ♥
11. Undone
12. Helpless (featuring Pitbull)
What I love the most about this album, and I think this is also the reason why it got a high rating from Allmusic, is that this is very close to the BSB we got circa late-1990s to early 2000s - from Backstreet Boys to Millenium. Their next three albums were all right, but it deviated from what the Boys are known for. They are in their element with the pop beats and R&B harmonies, and they (thank heaven) realized that. So finally, they have released something that, at this point for me, is better than Black & Blue (hahaha if it’s worse than Black & Blue then it’s not worth reviewing), a notch up from Never Gone, a silghtly better effort than Unbreakable, but not as good as the first three albums. Getting back to your roots really is the way to go.
I really like Straight Through my Heart. Never mind the vampire video - that was pathetic. Otherwise, forget your Jonas Brothers, this is it right here. Hahahaha! If I Knew Then for me is kind of reminiscent of That’s The Way I Like It (Backstreet’s Back), I Wanna Be With You (Backstreet Boys) or It’s Gotta Be You (Millenium). Masquerade is like an Everybody (Backstreet’s Back) or a little like Larger Than Life (Millenium). Bigger is like ... As Long As You Love Me (Backstreet’s Back) - mid-tempo, with the harmonies. All Of Your Life is like The One (Millenium). Shattered is like 10,000 Promises (Millenium). She’s A Dream is like All I Have To Give (Millenium). These songs have that old school BSB flair that I personally miss.
My favorite song thus far is Bye Bye Love. LOVES IT LOVES IT LOVES IT. Play count is at 59 and going. I can’t compare it to an old school BSB song - any suggestions? (Hoy Karla ikaw mag-suggest ka) I think my favorite part of the song is when Nick sings this part of the chorus: “I think I wanna stay sin-gle”. It’s very playful and sexy. HAHAHAHA yes yes I said it! XD I think it’s utter genius to have pronounced “single” that way - holding that note in the middle of the two syllables, making an “ng” sound before completely going to the next syllable (right now I’m being OC). I hope they release this as a sin-gle!
I also love PDA. I don’t know if it’s just me, but at the end of the chorus where the line goes “I love it truly / Your PDA, ey, ey” I was actually thinking of another type of PDA, as in the tech PDA. Bwahahahah! Geek alert. *facepalm*
I’m not sure what Nick was talking about when he dubbed This Is Us (the song) as the new I Want It That Way (Millenium). For me, the other mid-tempo songs were better (haha sorry Nick). And Bye Bye Love > This Is Us x 100.
But never mind listening to just individual songs - I recommend listening to this album from start to finish. The transition from the first song to the next, until the last is very smooth. It doesn’t shock, to say the least. You’re not getting two different ends, unlike Never Gone. So, if you have an iPod, turn off the Shuffle and Repeat All.
So, there you go. Again, it will fail in comparison to the first three albums. Nevertheless, this is really a well thought out album. It has direction (unlike Never Gone). It showcases what BSB is known for - upbeat pop beats (unlike Unbreakable). Best of all, it’s a confident release (unlike Black & Blue). It's far from a bad release - never mind what the critics say - I've heard far worse. They’re letting the music speak for itself, which is fantastic.
“I think I wanna stay sin-gle”!!!!! Arrgh, LSS!
Backstreet Boys
This Is Us
1. Straight Through My Heart ♥
2. Bigger ♥
3. Bye Bye Love ♥
4. All Of Your Life (You Need Love) ♥
5. If I Knew Then
6. This Is Us
7. PDA ♥
8. Masquerade ♥
9. She’s A Dream ♥
10. Shattered ♥
11. Undone
12. Helpless (featuring Pitbull)
What I love the most about this album, and I think this is also the reason why it got a high rating from Allmusic, is that this is very close to the BSB we got circa late-1990s to early 2000s - from Backstreet Boys to Millenium. Their next three albums were all right, but it deviated from what the Boys are known for. They are in their element with the pop beats and R&B harmonies, and they (thank heaven) realized that. So finally, they have released something that, at this point for me, is better than Black & Blue (hahaha if it’s worse than Black & Blue then it’s not worth reviewing), a notch up from Never Gone, a silghtly better effort than Unbreakable, but not as good as the first three albums. Getting back to your roots really is the way to go.
I really like Straight Through my Heart. Never mind the vampire video - that was pathetic. Otherwise, forget your Jonas Brothers, this is it right here. Hahahaha! If I Knew Then for me is kind of reminiscent of That’s The Way I Like It (Backstreet’s Back), I Wanna Be With You (Backstreet Boys) or It’s Gotta Be You (Millenium). Masquerade is like an Everybody (Backstreet’s Back) or a little like Larger Than Life (Millenium). Bigger is like ... As Long As You Love Me (Backstreet’s Back) - mid-tempo, with the harmonies. All Of Your Life is like The One (Millenium). Shattered is like 10,000 Promises (Millenium). She’s A Dream is like All I Have To Give (Millenium). These songs have that old school BSB flair that I personally miss.
My favorite song thus far is Bye Bye Love. LOVES IT LOVES IT LOVES IT. Play count is at 59 and going. I can’t compare it to an old school BSB song - any suggestions? (Hoy Karla ikaw mag-suggest ka) I think my favorite part of the song is when Nick sings this part of the chorus: “I think I wanna stay sin-gle”. It’s very playful and sexy. HAHAHAHA yes yes I said it! XD I think it’s utter genius to have pronounced “single” that way - holding that note in the middle of the two syllables, making an “ng” sound before completely going to the next syllable (right now I’m being OC). I hope they release this as a sin-gle!
I also love PDA. I don’t know if it’s just me, but at the end of the chorus where the line goes “I love it truly / Your PDA, ey, ey” I was actually thinking of another type of PDA, as in the tech PDA. Bwahahahah! Geek alert. *facepalm*
I’m not sure what Nick was talking about when he dubbed This Is Us (the song) as the new I Want It That Way (Millenium). For me, the other mid-tempo songs were better (haha sorry Nick). And Bye Bye Love > This Is Us x 100.
But never mind listening to just individual songs - I recommend listening to this album from start to finish. The transition from the first song to the next, until the last is very smooth. It doesn’t shock, to say the least. You’re not getting two different ends, unlike Never Gone. So, if you have an iPod, turn off the Shuffle and Repeat All.
So, there you go. Again, it will fail in comparison to the first three albums. Nevertheless, this is really a well thought out album. It has direction (unlike Never Gone). It showcases what BSB is known for - upbeat pop beats (unlike Unbreakable). Best of all, it’s a confident release (unlike Black & Blue). It's far from a bad release - never mind what the critics say - I've heard far worse. They’re letting the music speak for itself, which is fantastic.
“I think I wanna stay sin-gle”!!!!! Arrgh, LSS!