O-Town doesn't live up to fan's high expectations
By LAURA ROMPF
Scene Music Critic
Most fans knew it. They bought the boy bands' CDs, attended their concerts and watched their videos on MTV. But most fans knew it.
Just like the newest band on the scene, O-Town, both the Backstreet Boys and *Nsync were created by use of a specific formula: five boys, a voice instructor, a choreographer and a wealthy manger who helped ensure a record deal, gigs and promotional photo shoots.
Thanks to ABC's show "Making of the Band," many fans' suspicions and fears were proven right before their eyes — like the Reebok pumps fad of the late '80s, boy bands are manufactured, built for a short life-span and overall, carbon copies of each other.
But wait — before all the *NSYNC and Backstreet Boys fans throw this review off the lunch table, *NSYNC and Backstreet have something on O-Town, and that's experience. That experience makes their albums more solid and worth purchasing if you are a fan of pop music.
However, O-Town's debut album has only a few songs worth listening to: "Liquid Dreams," "All for Love," "Baby I Would" and possibly "Shy Girl."
"Liquid Dreams," the first single off the album, is currently making daily appearances on MTV's "Total Request Live." Although it's not topping the latest hits from Backstreet and *NSYNC, the video's computer graphics draw fans who have consistently voted the video into the Top 6. The fun, upbeat song describes a boy's fantasy of creating the perfect girl by combining certain features of superstars including Madonna, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Janet Jackson, Tyra Banks and Selma Hayek.
"All For Love" and "Baby I Would" are the two signature hits the boys performed over and over on their television show. For anyone who watched even a few episodes, these songs will instantly ring a bell.
Track 11, "All For Love," is a good dance song, but from the lyrics, to the rhythm, to the harmony, the song offers nothing new. It says, "I'll be your king/ Because you are my queen/ Life's a livin' dream." Cute, yet cliché. It leaves you thinking, haven't I heard this song before?
However, track 12, "Baby I Would," does offer something new. Despite the numerous ballads boy bands put forth, "Baby I Would" stands out. It utilizes the several distinct voice ranges of the O-Town boys and creates nice harmony.
The song says, "Would I walk through fire, just to be with you?/ Would I cross an ocean just to hold you?/ Would I give up all I have to see you smile?/ Would I walk through hell and not think twice/ Baby I would." It's somewhat reminiscent of the last song at a middle school dance — you've asked your crush to dance and you're standing six feet apart swaying to the slow beat. The song is sweet.
To be honest, several of the other songs on O-Town's album shouldn't have made the cut. With millionaire Lou Pearlman —the same man who created Backstreet and *NSYNC — behind O-Town, they most likely sifted through hundreds of possible singles to choose the best twelve.
However, although Backtreet, *NSYNC and even Britney have turned to Swedish hit-maker Max Martin and his team to write songs, the O-Town album bears none of Martin's work. It has no classic party tunes like "Bye Bye Bye," "I Want It That Way," or "(Hit Me Baby) One More Time."
People will likely laugh out loud when they hear track two, "Every Six Seconds." It describes a boy who has fallen head over heels for a young lady and thinks about her constantly. Ok, that would be flattering, except the lyrics are quite bizarre. It says, "Ten times a minute/ Six hundred times an hour/ Another cold shower/ Until you give me some." Here's a hint, boys, this not the best of pick-up lines.
The laughing continues with track nine, "The Painter." It says, "If I were a painter, mixing my colors/ How could I ever find, the blue of your eyes?/ The canvas could never capture the light of your smile." Once again, boys, this is not a cute, sweet pick-up line. It's an awful poem. The sixth graders at that middle school dance could've written it better.
Track six, "Shy Girl," has potential. It's lyrics are cute, and the up-tempo beat is catchy. It says, "Shy girl, it's written on your face/ A mermaid out of water, feelin' out of place/ Shy girl, tryin' to hide our love/ Pretending that there's nothing between the two of us/ Don't run away, don't be afraid/ Don't be shy, girl." It could be a concert favorite with the right choreographed dance moves and laser show.
Overall, the O-Town album is disappointing. "Making of the Band" was an intriguing show, taking the conflict and love story themes that makes MTV's "Real World" so addicting, plus it showed first hand the pressures in show business.
Too bad O-Town's album isn't as intriguing and addicting as the show. Their careers probably won't ever reach Backstreet or *NSYNC's level, but hey, living in a mansion with all expenses paid, getting a record deal, and touring the country isn't exactly a bad way to spend a few years of one's young adult life.
All Scene Stories for Tuesday, February 6, 2001
