This is Great!!!
I'm also kind of mad that this didn't get released in America (me and everyone else who's a Backstreet Fan). I LOVE this album by the Backstreet Boys, even though this took place way back in 1996. I like how these guys sounded really young when they first started out. My favorites on here are almost all the tracks that didn't make a cut on the United States debut. Nick sounds so cute in "Let's Have a Party" which by the way, is one of my favorite imported songs. I also happen to like "Boys Will Be Boys" because of its great rhythm and lyrics. Now I have a question for other Backstreet Boys fans like myself: Was that Kevin singing in "Nobody But You"? If it was, he sounded awesome at the time! I love the song "We've Got It Goin' On" as well. Ten years worth of Congratulations on your First CD Backstreet Boys! OH yeah, I should mention that Brian sounds really great on this CD as well, just listen to Quit Playing Games (With My Heart) and Boys Will Be Boys and you'll see what I mean.
A must have for all BSB fans who would like to know how it all began...
Note: Although this album is refered to as "the Holland bonustracks", it's actually released
in the whole of the Netherlands (instead of just "Holland") and in some other European countries as well. . way back in 1996. . . .
Since this is their true debut album, all songs are song on a young age, so Nick does sound a bit nasal at some tracks. . . and the voices sound young all around. The "thank you's" are very cute as well. . . A quick revieuw of all the songs:
The first song is "We Got It Goin' On". This is the same song that's on the US-version of 'Backstreet Boys' (1997). Pretty catchy tune, get's stuck in your head, easy to sing along to and dance to. Their debut single (1995) and start of their succes-story in Europe.
Then there's "Anywhere For You", this one is also the US-version of the album and was the 4th European single. It's a love ballad with again lyrics that invite you to sing along.
"Get Down (You're the One For Me)" was the 3rd single and this is again a very catchy song that you can dance to. Also on the US album.
"I'll Never Break Your Heart" 2nd European single. Romantic love ballad, back then released with the videoclip in the snow (not the one in the aparment). Also on the US album.
If you don't sing along to "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)", you probably don't sing at all. This is a very catchy midtempo song that became the 5th and final European single of this album. It's also on the US-album, but on this album, Brian sings both verses. He doesn't on the US-album, nor on the single or videoclip. There the verses are split between Brian and Nick. So if you wanna hear the original version of the song, go buy this album.
"Boys Will Be Boys" used to be their opening song for one of their first tours. Uptempo song, invites you to swing and sing.
"Just to Be Close to You" is a love ballad, almost song a-capella (there is only some percusion in the song) and it's just very beautiful. The boys used to sing this song a-capella on their early shows and tv-apearances. Lovely Howie solo stuff on this song. This song has a spoken intro by Kevin. This earned him a reputation of "Mr Sexy Voice" in Europe (together with his intro on "Darlin'". . . AJ speaks on this song as well.
"I Wanna Be With You" has the feel of "We've Got It Goin' On", but has some interesting solo-parts by Brian in it. Catchy, dancable end sing-along song. Makes you feel happy.
"Every Time I Close My Eyes" is a midtempo love song, loads of AJ and Brian solo stuff on this song.
"Darlin'" is a love-song (bet you couldn't see that comming) again with the "Mr Sexy Voice"-Kevin spoken intro. Brian takes on most of the solo stuff in this song. The only non-single of this album on the US-album.
"Let's Have A Party" is a song that makes you feel happy. It has Nick with a very young and slightly nasal voice doing the solo stuff, and AJ, Brian and Kevin rapping. . . if you a chance to see a live version of this song, you really schould (like the one that is on the "Live in Concert"-video from 1998 (Germany). . . on that video you'll see most songs of this album preformed live by the way. . .
"Roll With It" is a mid-tempo song that encourage you to move on even though you feel down. Mostly Nick, Brian and AJ solo's.
"Nobody But You" is one of the rare songs that features Kevin singing solo a lot. Catchy mid-tempo love song. Was used as Kevin's solo song during the 1998 tour (almost the same tour as the one that's on the Homecoming dvd/video).
"Don't Leave Me" is a catchy midtempo love song that probably would have been a big hit if it had been released as a single back then over in Europe.
"We've Got It Goin' On [Marcus Radio Mix]" is a remix in the Eurodance style. Makes the song even more dancable than the original mix.
"I Wanna Be With You [Amadin's Club Mix]" is just a great grand finale. The remix of this already great song will get stuck in your head and if you can listen to this song without feeling the need to dance, you must be an alien!
Overall. . . you get an hour, nine minutes and 11 seconds worth of great (but old) BSB songs. A must have for every true fan. Get Backstreet's Back too while you're at it, if you have these two, there's no need for the US debut album, you'll have all songs that are on that album and loads of great songs that deserve to be heard.
And if you really like your clasic BSB songs, try and get the UK single of 'We've got it goin' on', there's a bonustrack on there by the name of 'Tell me that I'm dreamin'' and that song is just so cute.
THE BEST BACKSTREET ALBUM!
I am his oldest DAUGHTER. This ISN'T Joseph.
In my opinion, this was is the best Backstreet Boys album. And it stinks because it was NEVER released in America! This album has more of an R&B feel to it: just listen to the rhythm of each song.
1. We've Got It Goin' On - 1000/10! I love this song. The beat is great and AJ's vocals ROCK.
2. Anywhere for You - ONE MILLION/10! This song is so beautiful. Brian and Nick's vocals are AMAZING! And the great part is . . . NICK WAS ONLY 16!
3. Get Down (You're the One for Me) - 1000/10! What can I say about this song? The beat is great, the boys' vocals are great, . . . etc. Definitely a great song to dance to.
4. I'll Never Break Your Heart - 1000/10! AJ and Brian did a great job on this ballad. Their voices were great in the early days of BSB, and this song proves it.
5. Quit Playing Games (With My Heart) - 1000/10! Okay, this song has it's good and bad points. Good point: Brian gets a solo. Bad Point: NO NICK ON THIS VERISION! I think that Nick gets his part on the American debut.
6. Boys Will Be Boys - 1000/10! DEFINITELY a party starter. Great rhythm. Good job BSB.
7. Just to Be Close to You - 100/10! Okay, I admit that the "like a flower to a tree" part was a little bit weird, but, once you get past that, this is a GREAT song. Great beat.
8. I Wanna Be With You - 1000/10! This song is GREAT! I love when Brian sings "And Iiiiiiiiiiill be waaaiiiting". He sounds great.
9. Every Time I Close My Eyes - 1000/10! AWESOME rhythm. AJ and Brian sound GREAT.
10. Darlin' - 10/10. Okay song. Not worth repeating. Brian's voice is beautiful though.
11. Let's Have a Party - ONE MILLION/10! The beat is so cool, and I realize that the music it sounds like a remix of the Jackson 5's enjoy yourself. Nick's voice is VERY CUTE. And the song suits him. Definitely worth repeating again and again and again . . . well . . . You get the idea. (I guess you can guess who my favorite Backstreet Boy is!)
12. Roll With It - ONE MILLION/10! I can relate to this song. I love the way the music starts off. It's very cool.
13. Nobody But You - 10/10. Now, I will admit that this is one of the very few times you hear Kevin singing on a song. But he sounds GREAT.
14. Don't Leave Me - 10/10. I love the music. And AJ's vocals.
15. We've Got It Goin' On [Marcus Radio Mix] [*] - 1000/10! Better than the original! The beat is AMAZING!
16. I Wanna Be With You [Amadin's Club Mix] [*] - 1000/10! I love Brian's voice. And the rhythm.
Keeping The Backstreet Pride Alive (FOREVER!)
Signed,
Mrs. Nick Carter (Now do you know?).
Loved this import version!
Loved all of it! One particular song I like is I Wanna Be With You, which has to be one of BSB and Max Martin's funkiest songs! It just sticks into your head for weeks--the rhythm and melody along with the heavy funk and beats are all on point. About 12 months after I bought the US version in '97, I bought this album, which had some different songs from that version. Some others I like are Let's Have a Party, the positive Roll With It, the macho Boys Will Be Boys, Nobody like you and the songs that made the US version of the album. A very dynamic and adventurous album. .
A knockout classic!
This cd is the BEST Backstreet Boys cd there is! (along with their debut, and perhaps Millenium). Thank your lucky stars that you found it here on amazon. com, because I was one of the (unlucky) ones that purchased it for WAY too much money in 1997 for about $. . . at a record store!!! BUT, it was really worth it, thank my lucky stars!!! :)
Basically, if you are looking for a more Europop feel from the Backstreet Boys, and you enjoy finding hidden gems of music, then you have found the right cd. Even now, this cd could still incite me to listen to it, even though my musical tastes have changed.
This is the Boys' European debut cd, which was later reworked for their US debut, "Backstreet Boys" (w/a different cover). .
Some of the songs that make this cd worth buying are songs like "Nobody But You" "Roll with It" "Let's Have a Party" and my all time favorite BSB song "BOYS WILL BE BOYS". . . this song is such a gem of a song, I would pay $. . . just for this song. It is very european dance discoteque, and not as pop as their normal songs. . . sort of like "Everybody (backstreet's back)" as far as it's change of pace into more dance music. . .
REVIEW OF SONGS:
1. We've Got It Goin' On-classic 10/10, most people have heard this one, and I will skip the reviews for the ones most known
2. Anywhere for You-9/10 slow song, sweet, the song is about going anywhere, doing anything for the one you love
3. Get Down (You're the One for Me)-10/10 classic
4. I'll Never Break Your Heart 10/10 classic
5. Quit Playing Games (With My Heart) 10/10 classic
6. Boys Will Be Boys -10+ such a great BSB song, I would've loved it if they threw this on the US debut! GREAT!
7. Just to Be Close to You-slow song, Kevin has a fun spoken word entrance on this song! 9/10
8. I Wanna Be With You-10/10 Just a great song!
9. Every Time I Close My Eyes-9/10 sweet slow song
10. Darlin'-9/10 probably my least favorite song on here, but still out of control great!
11. Let's Have a Party -fun, young Nicky singing on this happy European uptempo song! 9/10
12. Roll With It-8/10 great song, kind of moody though, talks about feeling sad and blue, and having to roll with it
13. Nobody But You-Kevin gets to shine on this one! 9/10
14. Don't Leave Me-Pretty good song 9/10
15. We've Got It Goin' On [Marcus Radio Mix] [*]-fab mixes , both 10/10
16. I Wanna Be With You [Amadin's Club Mix] [*] *If you buy this, make sure you get the correct copy as the track listing above. There are a few different versions of this European BSB release, (all legit) but one doesn't have the last two songs 13 and 14 and the remixes, so double check!
Hope this helps! :).
You can see a complete list of all Backstreet Boys discography, or go back to the Backstreet Boys tabs
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