Customer Reviews

Unbreakable

5 star:		(68)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Five little Backstreet Boys, not youngsters anymore
Kevin went off on his own, and then there were four
Four little Backstreet Boys, hopefully unbreakable
Though less than what they started with, they still sound unmistakable


This album is a welcome return for the matured though down-sized Backstreet Boys, one of the surviving groups of the mighty boy band era. Still firmly entrenched in the mainstream pop genre, this album does not disappoint, with several tracks that merit being released as singles.

First single "Inconsolable" is typical BSB, and is very similar to "Incomplete", the hit single from their last album. Other tracks to note are the upbeat "Everything But Mine", "Any Other Way", and the reggae influenced "One in a Million" and "Panic".

Of course there are the trademark BSB ballads like "Something That I Already Know", "Love Will Keep You Up All Night", "Unmistakable", and bonus tracks "Downpour" and "In Pieces" to keep ballad-lovers swooning. Another interesting track is "Treat Me Right" written by A.J. McLean of BSB and J.C. Chasez formerly of `N Sync.

A track I REALLY like is "Helpless When She Smiles", especially the chorus, which goes "I'm a house of cards in a hurricane / A reckless ride in the pouring rain", and with fourteen tracks and two bonus tracks, you're sure to find a favorite too.

Recommended for fans of mainstream radio-friendly pop music.



Amanda Richards, November 2, 2007

Backstreet Boys was the most popular boyband in the world for a while in the mid/late 90's, the only other band that could really challenge them was N'sync. Outsold tours, 10x Platinum albums and screaming fans on every airport was their weekday. But most boybands are shortlived. The members grew up, and so does the fans and eventually they all value other things in life and are ready to move on. NKOTB, Take That, N'sync all disbanded and few of their membes were able to succeed as solo artists (Robbie Williams and Justin Timberlake being exceptions). When backsteet Boys released their compilation album "The Hits: Chapter One" in 2001 evil tongues would say that they would't be back and that it would have been better titled "The Final Chapter". Nick Carter also tried a solo project with mixed results one year after and it looked like the hope of a new Backstreet Boys album was small. Then, in 2005 after a few years of hiatus the band surprised everyone when they announced that they were recording a new studio album (their first in 5 years). "Never Gone" was released in 2005, and it clearly demonstrated a change in direction, the pretty dance pop songs were replaced with ballads and rock songs and it showed minimum hints of a past as a boyband. It evenbtually sold 10 Million copies world wide but the only big hit was the powerballad "Incomplete". While the album's content was expected from a band of grown up men closer to 30 then 20 it also left alot to be desired if you liked their catchy Max Martin produced 90's sound. 2 Years later the boys with their 6th studio album called "Unbreakable". Is it more edgy Rock or does it show signs of their past? Read on to find out.

When "Unbreakable" was recorded, Kevin Richardson decided to call it quit, leaving the band number to 4. As a whole it doesn't have big effect on the overall sound cause Kevin was just singing backround vocals and was never that influentual anyway. The sound seems to be more of a hybrid this time, most songs end up being Rock-pop or ballads but they haven't completely forgot about their past and a few songs are quite surprisingly catchy dance-pop. The boys seems to have bigger impact of this album aswell cause they're involved in the song writing proccess on several of the songs. Producers include John Shanks, Dan Muckula, Emanuel Kiriakou and JC Chasez from N'ync that put the old rivalry in a quarantine to help them out with the sound. To try to sum up this album in the best of ways, let's start with the first single "Inconsolable" that is a ballad simular to what "Incomplete" from their last album was. It's really good and already climbing on the charts. "Something that I Already Know" is simular, a midtempo-ballad with great melody and hook that could be a hit. 3 more decent ballads are "Helpless When She Smiles", "Unmistakable" and "Unsuspecting Sunday Afternoon" while "You Can't Let Go" is a classic piano ballad and "Love Will Keep You Up All Night" sounds like Westlife pop. On the midtempo rocker "Trouble Is" they sing that "there's a part of me that still can't let go of a memory / Love is what the trouble is" it ends up being quite good. "Any Other Way" is new wave rock with a fresh sound and "Panic and "One In a Million" are Maroon 5 ish R&B-rock. Let's save the best for last, "Everything But Mine" is a back to back 90's pop anthem that wouldn't have been wrong if inluded on "Black and Blue", the last song "Treat Me Right" produced by JC Chasez is also a uptempo dance-pop song but with trendier production. Both these 2 songs are surprisingly good and serves as a memory flash back to their brightest days in the 90's.

Overall, Backsteet Boys may never experience screaming fans inside of airports any more or journalists intervening in their private lifes anymore but maybe that is a good thing afterall cause they are all grown men by now and it was almost 10 years ago at their peak. But apart from countless of other boybands that disband to try solo careers, Backstreet Boys stuck together as a unit and emancipated themselves from greedy managers, grew up and developed as musicians with several writing credits here and a sound that is more suitable for a bunch of guys around 30. For the more I listen to "Unbreakable" I like it more and more and think that the title makes alot of sense if you look at a band that never gave up. I don't think it will sell as good as their dance-pop albums at their peak but there's plenty of great songs here like "Inconsoalble", "Something That I Already Know", "Treat Me Right" and "You Can't Let Go" to mention a few. This is a band that still sticks around, and I think it's even slightly better then "Never Gone" with a sound that is more diverse. If you liked it, this one is recommended aswell.

It has been more than a hot minute since this band was at the top of their commercial peak, but their creative peak may have just turned the corner. Most of the album is what you would expect from this group, some dance numbers mixed in with pop ballads. The difference here is that all of these songs have hooks. This is twice the album of their 2005 comeback "Never Gone," despite losing a member their vocals sound better than ever. The lead single "Inconsolable" manages to develop a killer hook just as good as their earlier smash hits although it sounds a little like it is from the late 1990's. Some of the more impressive tracks sound a little more innovative and contemporary. Using the term "innovative" to describe an aging boy band is not something I would usually do, but witness the closing track "Unsuspecting Sunday Afternoon" and its Beatlesque arrangements and pitch-perfect harmonies, and while these "boys" may not have reinvented the wheel, they have reinvented themselves. Everyone grows up, but this group is aging quite gracefully.

It's great to see the US releasing a version with extra tracks for a change, instead of fans being forced to buy an import CD that costs from 30 to 40 dollars. Although, that doesn't negate the fact that they should still just release ONE version with ALL the songs on it, considering they have the room on the CD, rather than making us spend more money to get tracks that could fit on the CD anyway.

Either way, both "Downpour" and "In Pieces" are sophisticated, melodic power ballads that the Backstreet Boys get better and better at with age. No filler here. These are must have tracks for fans.

I've been a fan of their music since I was in highschool (alnost 6 years ago now) I have to admit that I was a bit skepical, being that they were out of the music scene so long. But I was glad that I bought the cd. I love it! I highly reccomend it for those of us that have been with them all along or new comers! A great collection of songs!

I went to aol first listen to hear the new cd athough it didnt have the bonus tracks as amazon does,I heard every song and This is The best cd they have done.I own every backstreet boy cd from the 1st cd to imports and all that were released in the USA(EVEN the Burger king ones)This surpassess the rest!I highly recomend this cd to everyone.

Backstreet Boys are back and vocally better than ever. Unfortunately for them, the music industry has vastly shifted from the Boys glory days of embracing their expertise (power ballads and teen-pop) into the current Top 10's club beats, which require very little singing, a lot of synthesized phrases, and at least one rap cameo by Timbaland to be considered a hit.

So while Unbreakable got a fair amount of publicity and debuted at a decent #7 slot on the Billboard 100, it will by no means sell 10 million copies like their efforts a decade ago.

However, with that said, the BSB are truly better than ever before, and the fans who have stuck by them since the mid 90's will be thrilled.

Lead single "Inconsolable" is solid and enjoyable, but perhaps too reminiscent of 2005's "Incomplete."

Second single "Helpless When She Smiles" is comparable to 2000's "Shape of My Heart", although, perhaps better.

One track where the Boys attempted something different was "Treat Me Right", which is catchy and would make for a good single.

Other stand-outs include "Something that I Already Know", "One In a Million", and "Unmistakable".

In 1997, Nick Carter sang "I'm gonna tell the world, make it understand...as long as there will be music, we will be coming back again." And although the world may not currently understand their sound, which lacks techno, Timbaland, or kids from High School Musical (thank God), they lived up to their promise of good music.

I normally never write product reviews but after listening to all 16 solid songs from the Backstreet Boys' new album, I was compelled to add my $.02. "Unbreakable" is a refreshingly mature sounding recording that will reel in new fans and maintain it's original, and now older, fan base. I absolutely love the different genres mixed in to make this album a little something for everyone - Easy Listening, a little Electronica, Alt-Pop, R&B with a twinge of Country. If you're a fan who's been enjoying their music since the "Get Down" days, you'll appreciate how far the Backstreet Boys have come lyrically and artistically. They even let Howie sing on a few tracks! Though Kevin is not around this time around, it doesn't take away from the harmonizing vocals. Can't wait for the tour! ***** of *****

The Backstreet Boys seem to have fallen into obscurity in today's pop world, and it's a real shame because they are the definition of pop. They don't need synthetic warping of their voices to create a good song; they sound the same live as they do on their album. They don't cut corners, they're talented, they deliver quality vocals, and they do both ballads and pop beats equally well. Their songs can make me cry and want to dance. They are probably the only band I will end up listening to forever. 15 years is a ridiculously long time for a band, let alone a pop one, and I will forever be impressed at how they've endured. They went on a long hiatus, lost Kevin as a member, had AJ in rehab, Nick's voice seems to change with every album, Nick and Brian went solo, and half of them got married and even had kids. I'm amazed they're still around, much less able to put out such an incredible album. The only reason that they are no longer making waves with their every move is because of the shift of the music industry. They don't rap, sing overly sexually suggestive tracks, ditch their band because they think they're too good for them (ahem, JT), or get their music produced by Timabland (I still can't believe that Apologize was distributed as "Timbaland ft. OneRepublic"). It's such a shame that they haven't been able to turn off their talent in order to be a big success again, and I mean that in the most sarcastically ironic way I can possibly muster in text.

I have to note that this is an album that requires a little more breaking in. It took a couple of listenings before I really got into it. And then I put the entire album on repeat, because I could do so without having to press "skip" all the time. Also, what I like best about this album is how non-generic the lyrics are.

Their first two singles, Inconsolable and Helpless When She Smiles are killer songs. Inconsolable has been compared to Incomplete, but I don't think they're really the same. In fact, I think the only reason people say that is because the word "Incomplete" is so close to "Inconsolable." Incomplete sounded like a complete tragedy (albeit a beautiful/powerful one), but Inconsolable stands on a sort of middle ground between happy and sad. I actually think it sounds hopeful. It's vocally demanding (their live performances of this track aren't their best), and really shows off their newly mature sound. It's a solid Backstreet Boy classic.

Helpless When She Smiles, in my opinion, is nothing like any of the ballads they've done before. Well, it may be a little like Incomplete. It's the kind of song you close your eyes to and let the emotion fill you up. The lyrics are smart, particularly the chorus, and it is again very vocally driven, and is simply just an amazing song.

After these two, the best power-ballad is Something That I Already Know. It is heartbreakingly beautiful.

Treat Me Right is refreshingly different from their usual style. It is subtly upbeat and probably the closest they come to the sort of pop that has followed since their glory days. I particularly like the choreography they do with this song on their current tour. The only problem I have with this song is with some of the non-chorus parts towards the end. They don't quite seem to fit together smoothly, but overall, it's a good listen.

Panic is my favorite upbeat song off this album. At first, I thought it was a strange song. I actually have no idea what it is about it that makes me like it so much, but I feel that it's better than Everything But Mine and Any Other Way (which I've heard are going to be their next single(s)). I just find it so much catchier and unconventional.

If you have the chance to get the deluxe copy of Unbreakable, you won't be disappointed. Bonus tracks Downpour and In Pieces are both very good songs.

My last word is that I imagine that it's been difficult working without Kevin. Many say that it didn't make a difference, but only those who don't understand harmonization would say that. There is a reason it's called a barbershop quartet, and not a trio. Harmonies work better with four parts, and when there was five of them, one would sing solo and the other four would harmonize. Now only three of them harmonize. They've had to work hard to adjust their sound and find songs where they can fill out the sound with just 3-4 voices instead of their previous 4-5. It is most noticeable in their live performances. But they are still doing spectacularly. I commend the Backstreet Boys for coming back better, although not bigger, than before. They have rightfully earned their success, and I hope that they will continue reminding us that there is good pop music left in today's culture.

People I'm sure would love to dismiss this album never listening to it... but that is a bad decision.. This is another step up for the Backstreet Boys. With more hooks and more mature sounds... and less cheesy lyrics (which everyone secretly likes...)They have made what I believe to be their true comeback album... which is relevant to todays pop music... and given the chance could top the charts once again.