Never

After being away from the music scene for five years, The Backstreet Boys have plucked up enough courage, overcame their personal battles and are back with their new album.

With so many boy bands making their appearance on the scene, getting their instant success with one hit and then slowly fading away, the Backstreet Boys have proven that they're not the one-hit-wonders type of boy band.

No, they're back; they've grown up and have come back with a mature, sound.

The album is filled with feel good tunes and although the boys are still touching on topics of break up, love and disappointments, they have vocally grown. And there is no trace of the teenybopper sounding tunes they featured before.

The album is user-friendly with most of the tunes, falling in the category of love songs, mixed with pop. Their songs have more depth and a feeling of being in love, and alive. Most of the songs made me feel peaceful and at ease with life and all.

Backstreet Boys have succeeded in making the album one of good vocal quality, although I think they could have written songs on a bit more diverse topics. But I guess they sticking to the formula: Love and heartbreak sell, always. The more heart-wrenching the more copies sold.

Highlights included 'Poster Girl', for the lyrics, the story told as well as the instrumental arrangements and the 'feel' and energy of the song.

The album has a kind of purity about it, as if they've left behind all the artificial boy band formulas and simply given the public some really great music, featuring melodies created with acoustic guitars, strings, and drums.

The title of the album describes them perfectly; even though they've been absent from the music scene, they were never gone. They were growing, personally, vocally, and have used their life lessons, strengths, and positive aspects of their journey to come back and add some value with their music.

The one thing the album lacks is variety in sound; all the songs fall into the same kind of category, love songs, pop and smooth sounds.

As I wasn't a Backstreet Boys fan in the past, this album was pleasantly surprising. There are (really) a few beautiful tracks on the album, like 'Safest Place to Hide':
Can you see me, here I am, standing here
I'm always there
When I feel like giving up, I climb inside your heart
And I find, you're my safest place to hide.

Truly Touching. (Really)

This is the C.D loyal fans would have to own, and even if you weren't into them before, this album may change your mind.