Here is a 100%, true-to-god, cross my heart truthful album review as an assignment for my pop music class.
N'SYNC
No Strings Attached
TRACKS
1. Bye Bye Bye
2. It’s Gonna Be Me
3. Space Cowboy (Yippie-Yi-Yay)
4. Just Got Paid
5. It Makes Me Ill
6. This I Promise You
7. No Strings Attached
8. Digital Get Down
9. Bringin’ Da Noise
10. That’s When I’ll Stop Loving You
11. I’ll Be Good For You
12. I Thought She Knew
BAND MEMBERS
Justin Timberlake
Joey Fatone
Chris Kirkpatrick
Lance Bass
JC Chasez
GUEST MUSICIANS
Lisa “Left-Eye” Lopes
PRODUCER
Richard Marx
RECORD COMPANY
Jive Records
N’Sync is a pop boyband consisting of male heart throbs Justin Timberlake, Chris Kirkpatrick, JC Chasez, Joey Fatone, and Lance Bass. No Strings Attached is their sophomore release, following their self-titled N’Sync. Produced by Richard Marx, No Strings Attached also includes Lisa “Left-Eye” Lopes of the highly respectable R&B trio, TLC, on the track entitled “Space Cowboy (Yippie-Yi-Yay).” The album’s eclectic mix of hip hop beats, innocent tender vocals, and catchy lyrics make it a vocal utopia for the ear drums; deserving a 9.5 out of ten stars.
The standout chart-topping hit, “Bye Bye Bye” is not only #1 on the Billboard charts, but is also the first track on the album. It is an exhilaratingly perfect starter for the remaining eleven that all seemingly parallel the quality of the initial track, and even reached #25 on the Adult Contemporary chart. The next single released by the band, “It’s Gonna Be Me,” was played just as often on the radio as “Bye Bye Bye” was, but was not as catchy or signature as the latter – yet N’Sync continued to dominate the world of popular music.
Some very quality and blissful tracks that weren’t as promoted by the media, were “Space Cowboy (Yippie-Yi-Yay)” and “This I Promise You.” “Space Cowboy” had the most unique mixture of pop and hip hop beats, added with very delightfully synchronized vocals by all five band members, along with guest musician Lisa “Left-Eye” Lopes’ fine contribution to the lyrics and performance of the song. On the other side of the spectrum, “This I Promise You” is a heart-filled serenade to all potential female friends of the band that is so well sung in beautiful harmony, that it may as well be very believable.
No Strings Attached is a must for all music junkies. Whether you are a fan of Phil Collins, Queen, Celine Dion, or Meatloaf, N’Sync will certainly not fail to entertain you. The vocal styling of premiere frontman Justin Timberlake could be compared to the melodious pleasure of angels crying. Production and sound quality were also remarkably well done, so impressive that Frank Zappa should be knocking on the door of Jive Records and demand a collaboration on his next album. What I would personally like to see is a collaboration between this band and Mike Patton, former singer for experimental and avant-garde bands such as Mr. Bungle and Faith No More. N’Sync, together with Patton’s renowned ability to mix and intermingle with different electronic instruments and sounds will produce a record so intense, that Cream’s Wheels of Fire. will be looked at for a second time upon determining which will be the dominating force.
Tracks such as “Digital Get Down,” “It Makes Me Ill,” and “Bringin’ da Noise” have such creative and uniquely pioneering synthesizer, sampler, and electronic techniques, that one would not be surprised to see this band releasing a deeper, more in-depth record, perhaps their most dynamic album to date in the near future. Vocal talents from all five members, distinctly Joey Fatone and JC Chasez, added with Chris Kirkpatrick’s short experimenting with beatboxing will undoubtedly someday produce N’Sync’s most talented album to date. The band’s true talents shine like twinkling starts in the sky with the a capella track, “I Thought She Knew,” which ends out the album with a blast.
No Strings Attached is recommended for everybody who has ears and is capable of comprehending the difference between music and bowel movements. Appreciators will range from 6-year-olds getting their first taste in the world of popular music, teenagers trying to find their “true self” in life, adults preparing for their midlife crisis, to even senior citizens who need something to do between reading Nancy Drew books for the 26th time in their life. Boys and girls alike will enjoy this record, whether they are blasting it from their car or hiding in the closet, shameful of admitting their adoration for N’Sync. As far as me and the majority of the world’s population is concerned, this album is appropriate for all worthy beings that appreciate what goodhearted, soulful, fun music is all about.
Christina N. @ 10:13 PM
