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

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.

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!

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.

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.