Released: October 14
Christmas comes early as the Backstreet Boys celebrate the holidays like only they know how.
Boasting a blend of classics and originals, ‘A Very Backstreet Christmas’ is the best-selling group’s first-ever festive release and celebrates their love of the season.
“We’ve been wanting to do a Christmas album for nearly 30 years now and we’re beyond excited that it’s finally happening,” says Howie Dorough of the boys’ new LP.
“We had such a fun experience putting our BSB twist on some of our favourite Christmas classics and can’t wait to be part of our fans’ holiday season.”
With traditional cuts like White Christmas, Silent Night, and Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas sitting alongside three brand-new original songs – Christmas In New York, Together, and Happy Days – the album channels the season through the eyes of one of the 1990s most successful groups.
Their smooth R&B take on The Christmas Song showcases the vocal blend of Howie, AJ McLean, Kevin Richardson, Nick Carter, and Brian Littrell perfectly, while a slick, contemporary take on Last Christmas immediately earns its place on our holiday playlist.
Largely a mid-tempo affair, cuts like Same Old Lang Syne and I’ll Be Home For Christmas are drenched in nostalgia, evoking the spirit of the season, while their take on This Christmas packs a punch mid-way through the set.
An early highlight of the covers, an a cappella take on Winter Wonderland, more than proves the boys’ vocal chops, but it’s the originals that really shine here and, in a rare occurrence, have us longing for a holiday album of new material.
Christmas In New York conjures images of the season in the Big Apple and holds its own against any of the tracks on the record, while Together celebrates the spirit of the festive period in style.
Closer Happy Days steps away from the strictly-Christmas formula for a party jam perfect for the holiday festivities, with a beat that defies you to dance your worries away – a tonic we could all use a sip of right now.
On paper, a Backstreet Boys Christmas album could go one of two ways, so it’s the most pleasant of surprises that ‘A Very Backstreet Christmas’ is so good and a reminder that, ahead of the band’s 30th anniversary next year, they’re remain as strong as ever.
‘A Very Backstreet Christmas’ is available now.
