Backstreet Boys - Straight Through My Heart (RCA)

Lisa Norman | Sunday, 16 August 2009

Oh my God they're back again, those stateside boys have returned but without the Kev-ster! Far removed from the hip boy band they once were in the '90s, their last release 'Unbreakable' hit bargain bins faster than you can say "that's Asda price". Fans from back in the day will surely be excited but if this is a glimpse of what is to come then surely there will be disappointment.

Taken from new album This Is Us, this lacklustre single will not please existing fans. Produced by Red One of Lady Gaga's 'Pokerface' and 'Let's Dance' fame, this BSB offering continues in the same vein. It's repetitive, dull and aimed at hitting the mass market with an average dance beat designed for the next Now That's What I Call Music album.

Encompassing the usual Backstreet Boys harmonies with the ever-familiar sound of Brian, Nick, Howie and AJ, it lacks the rhythm and personality of tracks such as 'Backstreet's Back' and 'We've Got It Goin' On'. True fans will know that their original stuff lacked the Take That style substance but still had enough of an edge to keep their female fans coming back for more.

Undeniably catchy, expect to hear this in a cheesy club near you. Failing that, a tween on the back of a bus will likely be blasting this dance beat out of their mobile phone.

Rating: 2/5