The Backstreet Boys were put together back in 1993, by Lou Pearlman, when boy bands were all the rage and heard non stop on every radio station. Back then the band consisted of five talented members Howie Dorough, AJ McLean, Nick Carter, Kevin Richardson and Brian Littrell, who stole the hearts of teenage girls. In 2006 Richardson had left the group, with the hopes up starting a family; however his fellow band members still believe that he will make a comeback debut sometime in the future.

Once again the Backstreet Boys have worked together, minus Richardson, to bring us their seventh, and said to be best, album yet. “This Is Us” is scheduled to be released by RCA Records, in the European areas, on October 5th. The United Stated release, by Jive Records, is scheduled for the following day.

The Backstreet Boys have decided to take this album back to where they once were. They want to regain the momentum they had with hits such as “I Want It That Way” and “All I Have to Give”; therefore they have once again teamed up with producer Max Martin, who was the mastermind behind the latter of the two hits.

In addition to collaborating with Max Martin, The Backstreet Boys also recruited help from Red One, producer/songwriter. Red One was able to assist Lady Gag with her hit singles “Poker Face” and “Just Dance”, so The Backstreet Boys wanted the same success. Therefore Red One worked with the band and produced the albums lead track, “Straight Through My Heart”.

This band has experienced its share of ups and downs, and each of the band members has attempted a solo career, which also seems to have just been a fleeting thing. Overall this band keeps trying to reinvent and so far hasn’t really found their niche, but with thirteen top 40 hits and having sold over 100 million albums, they are definitely do for a hit album and word out there is that This Is Us is just the album to push them back up to the top of the charts once again. The best boy band of all time Backstreet Boys are back and better than ever.

The Black Eyed Peas just released their latest, fifth album to mixed reviews, perhaps because some fans have now gotten away from the music of the BEP’s and perhaps because they have gotten to listen to Fergie on her own, a few people were disappointed in this album, however it must be said that this seems to be some of their best collaborative work to date.

The sound is not revolutionary, but familiar. They are offering up a new danceable play list which includes some similarity to hits past. If you like their music however, you wont be disappointed, because however similar this music is to tracks that have past, the current sounds are still a bit different and the lyrics range from the moving to the bizarre.

The E.N.D., which stands for Energy Never Dies, includes fifteen tracks from hip hop to booty shaking. It has a heavy beat party sound, more then any album they have done in the past. Even if you are not a dancer, these tracks will have you wanting to get out of your seat and joining everyone on the dance floor.

In time for the summer party season, many of these tunes will be top 40 hits and will be heard blaring from car windows as well as home stereo systems everywhere. If you haven’t heard the amazingly successful sound of their first hit single Boom Boom Pow off the new album, this is just a preview to this incredible album.

It is difficult to believe that anyway could think this group is going anywhere but up, especially with all there enthusiasm and energy. With a funky sound, influences by music from past and today, keeps the band fresh and fans constantly wanting more. This album is everything a true fan of the Black Eye Peas would expect and more.

After a four year hiatus, Dave Matthews band has come back with their newest release, “Big Whiskey And The Groogrux King”. This album is a departure from their earlier albums, to say the least.

In the past the Dave Matthews Band was known for a more rocking sound then bands such as Moe or Phish. With their newest release, the DMB goes into a new direction and expends on a more mature approach towards music and it’s influences while mourning the loss of their dear friend and founding band member, LeRoi Moore.

Moore died in 2008 as a result of complications caused by an ATV accident. His role as saxophonist was taken up in the studio by Jeff Coffin. Many theorize the band came back together to make this album as a sort of tribute to Moore, and this is easily across the CD.

There are many songs on the album, especially “Funny the Way It Is” the albums first track, that reflect on the loss of Moore and the bands reaction to his passing. It is the track that most resembles the old Dave Matthews Band sound while incorporating their new direction. Other tracks, such as “Alligator Pie” and “Baby Blue”, deal with the bands time apart and work with others, as well as their experience with producer Rob Cavallo, while recording in Louisiana.

With a Delta Blues sound, along with New Orleans French Quarter influences this album show the bands ability to play, despite the loss of Moore.

While it is a departure from past albums, true fans of the band are likely to find the feeling of the music little changed, although the sound has. If those same fans have found the heart of the sound with the Dave Matthews Band before, they will find it again here, and enjoy the little bit of change the band offers up. “Big Whiskey And The Groogrux King” is sure to become a DMB classic on par with “Under the Table and Dreaming” and “Crash”, even though it may take a little getting used to if your listening to it right after those albums.