You’ve got to hand it to Backstreet Boys. Who would have thought that 23 years after their first, self-titled album, the finger-clicking fivesome would be the best-selling boy band in the world? They’ve survived the departure of one of their members for a couple of albums, endured personal tragedy, formed a supergroup with New Kids on the Block, comfortably outlived rivals NSync, smashed records with a residency in Las Vegas and recently announced a massive world tour. Now on their 10th album, Nick, Howie, AJ, Kevin and Brian are most definitely a going concern – but is their new record DNA any good?
On the basis of the first single “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” (sadly not an Elton John/Kiki Dee cover), it’s not looking promising. While admittedly catchy, this is also slick, boring and doesn’t even sound like Backstreet Boys. “Nobody Else” suffers from the same problems – but then there’s “Breathe”, the best song on the record, an a cappella delight peppered with trademark harmonising and, hurrah, finger-clicking. This is what they’re all about, and why they stood out in the first place – the band’s official website even admits that the song is "old-school BSB". Less charming is “New Love”, a bizarre, funk-infused, mercifully brief number with daft lyrics ("Who are you, the sex police?"). The dull “Is It Just Me” ends abruptly before the singles “Chances” (efficient) and “No Place” (lovely) bring things back on track.
There is some great pop on DNA – mostly on the singles which bring to mind Backstreet Boys’ glory days. Of course, a band in its third decade will want to try a few new things, but it’s when they move away from what they’re good at that the album falters.