What can I say about the Backstreet Boys, which I’t already? It’s no secret that Star Shine supported the group in the past 8 years we’ve been a magazine. Band member, AJ McLean’s mother, Denise Solis is one of our writers for crying out loud!

We are indeed biased!

Yet I try every approach with a fair evaluation honesty. Needless to say, I listened to the new BSB album, This Is Us, and nitpicked several times where I could. It was’t easy, especially with an album that tries so hard (and accomplishes it) to be true to what the Backstreet Boys are famous for, but still keep up with time in music.

This Is Us is actually a departure for the members Nick Carter, AJ McLean, Brian Littrell and Howie Dorough in the sense that it was’t filled with ultra-Mushy ballads like they’re famous for. Songs like”I’ll Never Break Your Heart “,”Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely “,”More Than That”and”Inconsolable”they have proven more of a vocal harmony group than a boy band that bears cheesy outfits.

The only real ballad on the new CD”Undone “, written by Ryan Tedder and has a great falsetto by Howie Dorough,”Shattered “, which brings back some classic BSB offers something new. It really shines a light on Nick Carter’s vocal growth over the years. Finally,”She’s A Dream”a ballad, not too juicy. The group wrote the song with T-Pain and, surprisingly, lacks the overloading the machine rapper known for state-happy! It would be a shame to change the group’s vocals perfectly too.

As for the rest of This Is Us, he delivers some great dance songs like the radio-worthy”Masquerade”and”PDA’, a fun, provocative song for the relatively clean-cut Boys. One of my favorite quotations is:”We’d be at the club, restaurant, supermarket or the movies / kissing and touching with my hands over your loot \’. How can you not smile that?

The first two singles from the album enormous contrast. While the”Straight Through My Heart”is aimed at a new market airplay on dance stations,”Bigger”really tells a story with a different style in contrast to a song out there.

My complaints about the album lie within 2 of the eleven tracks. The title track”This is our “, says the exact words too much time, and when I complimented Dorough’s falsetto on”Undone”it’sa bit too high at times on this issue.”All Of Your Life (You Need Love)”is elementary lyrical and beat-wise as opposed to the group’s mature style.

\ “Bye Bye Love”was originally a song I was’t, but it’s rapidly growing on me. With all the negatives out of the way, let me praise”If I knew then”the beat, the vocal arrangements and lyrics are great! It’s urban core mixed with Backstreet elements.

This Is Us has done an excellent job in offering an organic listening to each member’s amazing vocal ability while backing beats keep them. With all of the machinery used to make dance music now, it’sa relief to know that some people still rely on their own vote producing great music!

Hopefully once Brian Littrell’s recovery from the swine flu, the Boys make their promotional appearances to let the world know that they’re here to stay!