Photo: Ray Kay
Call them pop’s longest-running, most persistent group. Call them men, not boys. Just don’t call it a comeback. “We almost named the album that,” jokes Nick Carter, one-fourth of the Backstreet Boys, whose seventh studio effort, This Is Us, is slated for release on October 6th. “We’re the Brett Favres of the music industry.” Clearly, he and his bandmates are fed up with the public perception that they’ve taken an extended time out. They’re not ‘NSync, after all. “It does frustrate me,” says Brian Littrell. “Everybody asks, ‘Where have you been? What have you been doing?’ When we’re, like, ‘We’ve been touring the world, and working our butts off!’ ”
OK, so maybe the boy-band racket isn’t what it used to be. There are no million-plus first week sellers in today’s music business, and so many outlets vying for your attention that it’s easy to miss a respectable showing like Backstreet’s 2007 album, Unbreakable. Which is one reason why A.J. McLean, Howie Dorough, Carter and Littrell are looking back to a proven formula with This Is Us. “The idea was going back to those great R&B ballads as well as dance songs you can shake your butt to,” McLean explains. “And we were fortunate enough to work with some amazing writers and producers who got our concept and everything fit perfectly.”
Check out the Backstreet Boys’ RS photo gallery.
Among the industry heavies to lend a hand: Ne-Yo, T-Pain, Pitbull, Ryan Tedder, Max Martin, RedOne, and beatmaker Jim Johnson. “The production on this record has been pushed a little more,” says McLean. “It’s edgy and current but also shows our love for the pop-R&B that we grew up on.” Carter interjects: ...
Article Source: Rolling Stone : Rock and Roll Daily