Rating:
Genre:
Rock
Release Date: 03/28/2006
Throughout the '90s and into the next century, the boy band
teen idol phenomenon swept through the mainstream
pop charts like a virus, leading to delusions of rapture for some and intense flesh-eating pain for others. No matter the musical preference or aesthetic, one cannot deny the sheer force with which this musical/marketing phenomenon made its presence felt in a wide palette of genres. This compilation captures over a dozen of these anthems from some of the most popular artists like
*NSYNC,
98°,
Hanson, and forerunners like
New Kids on the Block,
Wham!, and
Boyz II Men. The most obvious omission here is a most glaring one: there's no
Backstreet Boys! Many will protest, but the absence of
the Fab Five is easily forgettable given the nonstop hit brigade from start to finish. And speaking of finishes, the inclusion of
EMF's anthem
"Unbelievable" is a bit of a head-scratcher, but a nice way to end an otherwise pleasantly inoffensive journey through one of
pop music's most dominant movements.
~Rob Theakston, All Music Guide