Black & Blue

1	The Call 3:24
2	Shape of My Heart 3:50
3	Get Another Boyfriend 3:06
4	Shining Star 3:23
5	I Promise You (With Everything I Am) 4:22
6	The Answer to Our Life 3:17
7	Everyone 3:30
8	More Than That 3:44
9	Time 3:56
10	Not for Me 3:15
11	Yes I Will 3:50
12	It's True 4:14
13	How Did I Fall in Love with You 4:04

Barnes & Noble

Although their edgy new fashion statement is more thrift-store funky than Milan runway chic, not much else has changed for the Backstreet Boys on their third disc, Black & Blue. And for die-hard fans, that's a good thing. Instead of heading for club-thumping territory like their boy band rivals 'N Sync, Black & Blue finds the Boys remaining true to their roots with a winning mix of bouncy, up-tempo tunes -- the pouncing synth track "The Answer to Our Life" and the spunky Rodney Jerkins-produced "Shining Star" -- and syrupy ballads such as the soon-to-be wedding day classics "I Promise You (With Everything I Am)" and "Yes I Will." There are some changes, of course. Instead of Brian Littrell's earnest vocals, flamboyant A. J. McLean's gravely pipes come to the fore on several tracks including the hymn-like ballad "Time" and the funky dance cut "Not for Me." While the boys take a stab at playing down and dirty on "The Call," on which they make triflin' "my cell phone didn't work" excuses for their cheatin' ways, it's not a great fit. The Backstreet Boys are at their wholesome best when gushing sentimental odes such as the Max Martin-penned masterpiece "Shape of My Heart" and the soaring ballad "More Than That." As long as their pristine vocals remain intact, it's hard to imagine these hit-making heartthrobs disappointing their faithful. Tracy E. Hopkins

All Music Guide

When 'N Sync usurped the Backstreet Boys' record of number of albums sold in a single week early in 2000, it had to hurt the Backstreets, since it was played in the press as if they had lost the teen pop throne. By the time the group released their third album, Black & Blue, Thanksgiving week 2000, 'N Sync was still popular, but the arc of No Strings Attached illustrated that they were weak where the Backstreets were strong -- namely, they couldn't really deliver the seductive mid-tempo pop tunes and ballads that were the backbone of the Boys' crossover success. Songs like "Shape of My Heart," which flows as gracefully as "I Want It That Way," prove that the Backstreet Boys do teen pop ballads better than anyone, but what's interesting about Black & Blue is how aggressively they protect their territory. Of course, it's relative protection, since they, like 'N Sync and Britney Spears, work with Max Martin, the man behind the biggest hits by all three artists. Consequently, it's not a coincidence that "Get Another Boyfriend" is a dead ringer for "It's Gonna Be Me" crossed with "Baby One More Time," but what gives Black & Blue character is that it's clear that the Backstreets want to remain kings of their world. So, the ballads are smoother than ever, and their dance numbers hit harder, all in an attempt to keep their throne. It works, even if it takes a couple spins before the singles stand out, since the Backstreets' material and voices are stronger than that of their peers, adding up to state of the art teen-pop. Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Teen People

All Five boys contributed to the writing and producing of Black & Blue. Two of the songs... are immediate standouts: "Time," a mid-tempo number that was produced by Babyface and cowritten by the group, and "The Call," an edgy dance tune about a guy who gets caught cheating on his girlfriend.