Black & Blue


Nick designed the cover. He's quite the artist isn't he?

It's here! And I don't believe it. I've been waiting so long, most of the time worrying about whether or not it would be good... with the dissappointment of NSA I really had a reason to worry. But on Tuesday, November 21, I knew one thing for sure. Backstreet's here to stay.

The Call: This really should've been the first single. It's a great way to start out the album and would've been a good way to promote it. But it's the next single and that's good. We're seeing the bad side of Backstreet here aren't we? Oh my... cheating on a girl! Who woulda thought? It's a good song, the first song I heard when I listened to the album, the first one that made me think "Backstreet is so back." I love their new style of fast songs, and you have to admit, Nick and AJ can work them. The phone call in the beginning is a little weird though. I mean, how old does that girl sound? Not legal, that's for sure.

Shape Of My Heart: This is kinda like I Want It That Way and Quit Playin' Games all molded together. It's a good song, but I don't really think it brought any new fans into the mix. It was great for the already fans though. Did you know that tragical is actually a word? I thought it was funny because, well, they made it up or something. But damnit, my dad said "It might be a word." And with that, I looked in the dictionary. Sure enough, under tragic it says "See also 'tragical'". Whoa. How unfun is that? LoL. I love how AJ sings the tragical part live. Oh yeah. Good song, very pretty. [My dad likes this one.] However, it makes no sense. What shape is your heart?? LMAO. My fave line is "I'm here with my confession, Got nothing to hide no more" and I dunno why. [It's Nick. It's so because of Nick.]

Get Another Boyfriend: Awww yeah. Here's my favorite song off this album. I'm loving the beats, lyrics, and vocals. The digital "Getanotherboyfriend" is not good. And AJ got in his signature "Backstreet" at the beginning, as if they're afraid that someone is gonna steal their song. I'm loving AJ and Nick singing these songs even more as they go on. This is the 2nd song that they talk about someone eating them up from inside... care to explain that to me guys? When I first heard about this song I thought it would be a kick ass "I don't you no more" song, but it's the opposite. It's good though, so I'm happy. I hope this is a single, it so deserves to be. And you know it. I like how it ends, with them all harmonizing "Get another boyfrienddddda". Uh huh. All in all, it rocks.

Shining Star: So... Nick and Howie wrote this. Together. ::Trys to stop remembering jokes about them:: Alright then. When I saw the song list I thought this would be some sappy wedding song about love and all. But I was wrong... yet again. It kinda has a sexual meaning in the words, the way AJ sings and how Nick says "Every single part of me be yours." I like the "Darkchild, Backstreet Boys, c'mon" Rodney Jerkins thing. Even though that is in every single one of his songs... it's fine by me. I think Nick wrote the chorus. Just check out listen to it and you can tell that it didn't take a genuis to do. [No offense Nick.] The bridge is good, probably my favorite part of the song. These fast songs really give mah boys a new sound... and I am very fond of that sound. Go Backstreet! ::does cheerleader head nod and throws hand in the air:: Ahem.

I Promise You (With Everything I Am): We just had to keep the "same song title as the other group" thing going on didn't we? ::Sigh:: I'm feeling country at the beginning... and that's not a good thing. Once you get past the first 30 seconds or so it doesn't really have that feel to it anymore. The whole "'Til death do us part..." lyric makes this song just scream wedding song. I'm feeling the harmonies, and the lyrics are pretty. I like the bridge [yes, again]. These boys are just sounding so good these days. I love AJ's "You ooh ooh" thing. Hehe. I can only imagine what that would look like live. ::pictures hand motions:: At the end Nick says "This I promise you!" which is not cool. Why Nick why? It's okay, could be better.

The Answer To Our Life: This was written by all 5 of them... can I get an aww?! Too cute. The beginning is weird... I dunno, the music reminds me of one of those organs at the mall that play themselves... I'm sure no one else knows what I'm talking about. Anyway, I like the "Shake it baby" thing. I don't really understand what the hell they're singing about, what is this sign they speak of? Whatever, it's a very cute song. Here they go singing about destiny again... it's a habit I tell you. Guess what part I like of this song? The bridge. How'd you guess? LoL. I don't understand the lyrics, but they sound good singing them so that's all that matters. It's lyrics like this that Eminem makes fun of... "destiny", "Is it today or is it tonight?", ect. But honestly, the strange lyrics can be forgotten cause this song is hella cute and the fact that they all wrote it makes it even cuter.

Everyone: You know, because Larger Than Life 2 wasn't a good enough title. I'm feeling Britney-ish at the beginning of this song. I mean, what are they saying? I really like the dedication to the fans for the second time now. Larger Than Life was certainly more original, now it's kinda like a repetitive thing. The circus music = no. What about everyone who wasn't "...There from the start"? I mean, I've been a fan since then, but there's a lot of people who jumped the Backstreet Bandwagon with IWITW. I never thought of performing as playing, but I whatever floats your boat. I can picture Brian pointing at the crowd during the "you you you" line. Can't you? The chorus is about as unoriginal as it gets, but it's all good. This song isn't the best, only because it's not totally original.

More Than That: This is my favorite ballad on the album, it's pretty, good, and everything else. The vocals are amazing, as are the lyrics. My favorite lyric is for sure AJ's "I heard him promise you forever, but forever's come and gone". That's just so pretty. I hope this is the ballad they release, it's awesome and favored by the fan reviews I've read. "I won't say the words than take them back..." The only thing bad about that is that I originally thought that it was "I will say the words then take them back..." which is weird and doesn't make any sense. It's good to hear Brian some more, he's kinda mute on this album. The title is kinda cheesy, but overall, I love it. It's amazing.

Time: I once again must ask for an awww. Okay then. See, they can write a song you stupid critics. ::sticks out tounge:: I really like this song, it hooked me the first time I heard that medley on TRL. The lyrics are very good, I used to think that line "Come what may" was "Come with me" and I was like "Why should I come with you??" LoL. You know they say that they've changed, but the haven't really. As a group -- hair, personality, looks wise -- they have, but their songs aren't really that different. It's still good. I like the bridge again. Once again they say "you and you and you" -- expect more pointing from Brian. This is close to being my first fave ballad, but More Than That is just so good. I love how they all wrote it and it's not about love! It's an original idea, about themselves... props to you guys. Mucho love goes out to this song, I'm so feeling it.

Not For Me: Do you hear Kevin's solo?! "No no uh uh" at the beginning. Hehe. No verses for him on this album. :( I love the beat on this song. This is definitely one of my faves... oh yeah. It reminds me of NSYNC ::hides from rabid fans:: because of the way they say "babe" [think IGMB] and the BBB dance moves go to the chorus. Don't ask me how I know that. Ahem. I like how it gets all fast when AJ starts to sing, and the echos of Nick. Ah, yes. The idea is cool, and the lyrics are amusing. "I don't wanna be part of your screenplay, just tell me did you rehearse on me?" is my favorite line. It's original and good. I love the "no no uh uh's" way too much. Another cool thing is how the music stops at "Cause if you think that it's the way that love should be..." and then starts up again at "...Well lemme tell ya it's not for me." That's awesome. This song rocks. No no, uh uh. :)

Yes I Will: I never would've thought that AJ wrote this. It just seems like a "Brian song." And can you say wedding song? Goodness. It's pretty, but I'm not too fond of the "...And someday start a family with you." line though. That's just weird in a way. I like when AJ does the boyband quiver in this song. Rock! I'm loving his voice more and more as these songs go on. It's so unique. They're promising stuff again in this song... ugh. Promises are bad, especially from AJ. [Don't ask] I like the ending. It's a nice ballad, and an even better wedding song.

It's True: This is the first song I heard off this album, and well, you can see why I was worried. I wrote a while sentimental paragraph on this that I have to find and put up. Anyway, the lyrics are pretty, but this never would've made it as a single... it's like if Back To Your Heart was the first single off Millenium, not good. The lyrics are pretty damn sappy. I can deal with it, but I usually skip it.

How Did I Fall In Love With You: Shouldn't there be a question mark at the end of that title? Just a thought. I like the line "The best of friends, like sister and brother" that Brian sings. That's really sweet. Although I know from experience that most sisters and brothers aren't "the best of friends." Howie wrote this, would that be why he sings almost the whole song? I guess. Hey, Howie doesn't want to be alone tonight. LoL. I could say some mean stuff about that but I won't. I'll be a nice girl. Is is just me, or is this a really quiet song? Like, you have to turn it up to hear it. Maybe I'm going crazy. It wouldn't surprise me. This one really grew on me, I used to not like it at all. But it's really pretty when you hear all of the lyrics.

"What Makes You Different (Makes You Beautiful):
This was the bonus Walmart song. I don't have it on my cd, but that's what Napster is for. Anyway, the song is beautiful. I love it. It's just so sweet... Howie, you rock. The lyrics are awesome, the beat is cool, and the guys sound great. If it was on the album, it would be way up there in terms of favorites. But it's still good. I love it. Yeah-ah. Note: My fave line from the song is the link. Go Howie, go Howie, it's your birthday... LMAO.

Overall Black and Blue gets this BSB fan's approval. It's good. I'm real happy with it, it was worth the wait. It's packed full of fast dance songs, ballads, and the inbetween stuff. I'm happy, and you will be too if you buy it. Oh yeah, it kicks the ass of NSA... just a fun fact for you to know. :)

So come as you are... You've got nothing to prove