Black & Blue is the fourth studio album by American boy bandBackstreet Boys. It was released on November 21, 2000, by Jive Records. The album recorded the best international sales in a week for an album in history by selling over 5 million copies globally in its first week of sales.[4][5] In the United States, Black & Blue sold 1.5 million copies in its first week of release,[6] making the Backstreet Boys the first group in Soundscan history to have million-plus first-week sales with back-to-back albums. It sold over 15 million copies worldwide.[7][8]
The first single from the album was "Shape of My Heart," followed by "The Call," and "More than That." The band members wrote two songs and co-wrote five songs on this album, more than on previous albums. To promote the album, the band embarked on the Black & Blue World Tour in 2001.
Background
The album was recorded from July 1, 2000, to September 2000.[1][2] In August 2000, the band gave fans their first glimpse of the album, including the track "It's True" on a series of CDs made available through Burger King.[9]Backstreet Boys member AJ McLean stated that it would incorporate genres of rock, R&B, hip-hop, and country.[3] He also revealed that Nick Carter and Kevin Richardson would be playing on the drums and piano respectively.[3]
According to Entertainment Weekly editor David Browne, the album title is a nod to their two musical sides: Black (as in the R&B inflections of their upbeat tracks) and Blue (their inclination toward mushy crooning).[10] It also represented Lou Pearlman's abuse and bruises.[11] Browne wrote that "The Call" (a dance-pop song) "tells how to cheat on your mate by telling her your cell phone battery's low!, but it also has the blowsy feel of a rejected show tune".[12]Rolling Stone's Barry Walters called it "the album's most frenzied cut".[13] The second track "Shape of My Heart" was described by Browne as a "predictable ballad",[12] while AllMusic's editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote that "the song flows as gracefully as 'I Want It That Way', prove that the Backstreet Boys do teen pop ballads better than anyone."[14] The third track "Get Another Boyfriend" uses "drama-crazed harmonies" and was described by Walters as "the album's most frenzied cut".[13] Erlewine wrote that the track is a "dead ringer for 'It's Gonna Be Me' crossed with 'Baby One More Time'".[14] Walters wrote that "not even R&B kingpin Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins can erase the Scandinavian sparkle from the fourth track "Shining Star".[13]
Walters wrote the sixth track, "The Answer to Our Life," which "bounces along on a perky melody inspired by their Swedish mentors."[13] The seventh track, "Everyone," celebrates themselves and the power of their audience. Browne wrote that the song is "a clunky foot stomper, which continues the self-congratulatory tradition of their earlier 'We've Got It Goin' On' and 'Larger than Life.'"[12] The eighth track, the ballad "More than That", was praised by critics. Entertainment Weekly praised "the graceful way their voices blend on the chorus," [12] while Rolling Stone praised "the symphonic splendor of the track."[13] The ninth track, "Time," was written by the band members. Browne called it "piffle,"[12] while Walters said that it "could've sprung from any substandard Nashville jingle meister."[13] The tenth track, "Not for Me," received positive reviews. Browne praised "the spunky way they vault into the track."[12] Browne wrote that "Time" & the 11th track "Yes I Will" appeared to be vying in a contest for "Next Big Wedding Song," [12] but still acknowledged "the suave manner in which they engage in their trademark vocal swapping track" on the latter song.[13] The 12th track, "It's True," is another ballad in the same vein as the others, while the last track, "How Did I Fall in Love with You," is sung by Howie D and Brian Littrell while the rest of the group does background.[citation needed]
Upon its release, Black & Blue received generally favorable reviews from music critics, with an aggregate score of 61/100 based on ten critics from Metacritic.[15]
Stephen Thomas Erlewine opined that "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."[14]Billboard staff wrote that "Beyond ballads, Black & Blue crackles with funk-inflected uptempo ditties that are notable for their rough edges."[15] Barry Walters of Rolling Stone stated that "the Boys still harmonize as well as the faceless background singers who prop up lesser pop puppets."[13]Q wrote that "The sound has changed little, and the level of emoting none. Still, thunderous grooves such as 'Everyone' and 'Shining Star' continue to be virtually irresistible, while the quieter moments, including the hit single 'Shape of My Heart' will wow the ladies and the more sensitive gents for a while yet."[15]CDNow labeled it "unquestionably the most seamless boy band release of the year."[15]
David Browne wrote for Entertainment Weekly that "Black & Blue merely maintains a holding pattern, recycling their past and doing little to establish a firm future."[12] Rebecca Dien-Johns of Yahoo! Music wrote, "Unfortunately, over a third of the songs on this album are ballads, and most of them are fillers at that."[19] Natalie Nichols of Los Angeles Times compared the album to a pinball machine and said that "listening to these 13 songs is a bit like pinging around inside one of those old-fashioned amusement devices. Giant grinding beats slam you from pole to pole, there are lots of flashy effects, the environment is completely artificial, and once the ball is launched, you can see exactly where it's going."[16]Robert Christgau gave the album a "dud" rating in his Consumer Guide.[17]
Commercial performance
Black & Blue debuted at number one in the US Billboard 200 after selling 1.6 million copies in its first week at retail in the US. The feat made them the first act in history to achieve sales of more than a million copies in the first week with back-to-back releases. The album held the number-one spot in its second week, selling an additional 689,000 copies.[20] On December 18, 2000, the album was certified eight times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America for shipments of over eight million copies in the United States.[21] As of March 2015, the album sold 5,936,000 copies in the US according to Nielsen Music.[22] It also sold 992,000 units at the BMG Music Club as of February 2003.[23]
Internationally, the album recorded the best sales in a week for an album in history by selling over 5 million copies in its first week of sales.[4][5]
^As of March 2015, the album has sold 5,936,000 copies in the US according to Nielsen SoundScan, which does not count albums sold through clubs like the BMG Music Club, where it sold 992,000 units as of February 2003.[22][23] Combined, it has sold over 6,928,000 copies in the United States.
