My all-time favourite boyband (and the first one I liked, actually – it was a slippery slope!) are currently working on a brand new album, and some of the songs have leaked to YouTube, so I’ve decided to review them and see how much potential they have. The boys have never yet made an album I didn’t like, although I’ve listened to the most recent one less than the others, so with the new album having both Max Martin AND RedOne on board, I’m feeling pretty confident. Other contributors include Ryan Tedder, Stargate, and a less pleasing list of rappers, such as Lil Wayne and T-Pain.
Bigger
I was first drawn to this one because it’s a Max Martin song, and I think it has great potential. I’m sure we’ll hear this on the album, as it’s very rare for a major artist to be given a Max song and not put it on their album. The last instance was when Avril made I Will Be a bonus track, and that ended up a Leona single!
Hologram
This is a fun song, electro-ish with silly lyrics. A little like Kanye West’s recent sound, with a poppier spin. This would be worthy of being on the album, and will help to give them a more 2009 sound. It was produced by Brian Kennedy, who gave us Rihanna’s brilliant Disturbia, and Forever by Chris Brown.
Masquerade
Here’s another song produced by Brian Kennedy which has apparently been pitched to the BSBs, but there seems to be no official word on whether they have actually recorded it. It does sound like the kind of song they would do, and would suit their voices well. I can even imagine which bits Nick and AJ would sing.
Undone
This song was written by Josh Hoge, an r&b singer who I only know of as someone who Ryan Tedder has written quite a few songs for. Again there is no confirmation that the BSBs have even recorded the song, and it sounds somewhat like a BSB song, but with the falsetto in the chorus it’s a bit more *N Sync. I’d give it 7/10 – good but not a classic.
Evergreen
This seems to be a song that didn’t make it onto the last album, Unbreakable, but is rumoured nonetheless to be included on the new one. It’s quite a sweet, jaunty song, but could do with a bit more ‘oomph’. As it’s similar to their Never Gone sound, and the new album seems to be more r’n’b, I doubt it’ll make the final cut.
Don’t Try This At Home
This one, like Bigger, was performed at a recent BSBs gig, so there’s a good chance we’ll hear a recorded version at some point. It’s a ballad and sounds like a nice one. However, it’s certainly no patch on classics like I Want It That Way or As Long As You Love Me, so I don’t mind if it doesn’t make the album.