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Published: Thursday, August 14, 2008
Backstreet Boys return with 'Unbreakable' CD
By VINCENT JACKSON 609-272-7202

Some pre-teens and teens lose their minds these days over the Jonas Brothers, but a decade ago, the Backstreet Boys caused the same frenzy.

Singers Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, AJ McLean and Kevin Richardson sold more than 75 million albums worldwide. Two of their CDs, "Backstreet Boys" in 1997 and "Millennium" in 1999, each sold more than 10 million copies.

Backstreet Boys, who last performed in Atlantic City in July 2005 at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, return to the resort to promote their sixth full-length studio CD, "Unbreakable," which was released in October. The CD includes production by Grammy-winner John Shanks, who worked previously with Kelly Clarkson and Bon Jovi among others.

Carter, Dorough, Littrell and McLean took part in a telephone press conference with the media before their tour started.

Q: What has the hardest part about recording this record?

MCLEAN: We actually went about doing this particular recording process a little differently than we used to, where we'd always all show up to the studio at the same time and just kind of go one at a time. This time, because everybody has gotten older and have different lives outside of Backstreet, we made it a lot more cordial for each of our schedules. One of us would go in for a certain amount of time and cut their vocal and then somebody would come in right after them and cut their vocals. It made it actually a pretty refreshing and easy process.

Q: How have your voices changed over the years as your sound has matured?

CARTER: I feel like I've gotten better. I feel like I don't sound like an album from the Chipmunks anymore. I'm very happy where I'm at and where I'm heading vocally. What I can contribute to the group, I think,is a lot better.

Q: The music industry has changed. Sales aren't as high. Does that affect you guys?

MCLEAN: I think we've finally come to the point now of understanding where the industry's gone. I think us, along with many, many other artists, have all kind of seen that with digital downloading and stuff like that, record sales are just never going to be what they used to be. But, it's not really that important. As long as we put together a great body of work and a really, really good album, and we're proud of it, and our fans are happy with it, that's all that really matters to us.

Q: Do you work with a choreographer when you practice? Do you feel that your moves need to be updated, or are they classic moves?

LITTRELL: It's very, very refreshing to work with young choreographers that really know what's out there. We don't claim to be the best dancers in the world. We don't claim to be the best singers in the world. I think people that are loyal fans of the Backstreet Boys know they will be entertained when they come to the show. We just have to get through the soreness first before we can hopefully look good.

Q: With the new tour, will there be any of your old songs?

MCLEAN: We're definitely putting in the "I Want It That Way" and the "Quit Playing Games" and probably do more medley versions of stuff because we really want to put in a lot more songs than we did before.

There was talks of putting in "We Got It Going On" in the very last tour, and we didn't get a chance to do it. Maybe, we'll do it on this tour.

E-mail Vincent Jackson: VJackson@pressofac.com

Backstreet Boys

WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 15

WHERE: House of Blues, Showboat Casino-Hotel, Atlantic City

HOW MUCH: Tickets, priced at $47, $57, $62, are available at the House of Blues box office or Ticketmaster at 800-736-1420 or www.ticketmaster.com.

WEB SITE:
www.backstreetboys.com

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