Black & Blue

The Backstreet Boys' previous outing, Millennium, was a tough act to follow, combining as it did the storming pop of "Larger Than Life" and the sublime balladry of "Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely." Black & Blue is a worthy successor, if a slightly more mature sound for the boys. There's plenty of uptempo pop, such as the catchy advice dished out on "Get Another Boyfriend" and the slinky beat-riddled R&B of "Shining Star," nicely balanced with some smooth ballads--you can almost hear the lighters sparking up as the Spanish guitar gently plucks away on "I Promise You (with Everything I Am)." However, it's when they take up immediately where Millennium left off that they are at their strongest: "The Answer to Our Life" and "Not for Me" form a sturdy bridge from their previous output onward to the future. If this is the state of things to come, the future is decidedly rosy for Brian, Kevin, Howie, A.J., and Nick. --Helen Marquis