Record Rewind 2.0

The Backstreet Boys are gearing up for the 25th anniversary of their landmark album “Millennium.” While I plan to properly review that album closer to its actual release day, I figure now is a good time to cover what I think is their second best album. Picture this: it’s 2006 and you’re the four remaining Backstreet Boys; AJ McLean, Nick Carter, Howie Dorough and Brian Littrell. You took a four-year hiatus from anything boy band-related before returning with an intended “big” comeback album. But that album, “Never Gone,” veered too far from your classic dance-pop sound that it flailed, and now one of your bandmates, Kevin Richardson, has left to pursue solo ventures. What do you do? You return to the studio and to your roots, but with a slightly different, more personal approach. Out comes “Unbreakable,” the Backstreet Boys’ sixth album released on Oct. 30, 2007. With this album, the boys wanted to combine the teen pop sound they cut their teeth on with a more grown-up pop rock s...

After breaking into the mainstream in 2005, Panic! at the Disco have been held up as one of the most iconic emo bands and a core piece of the “Emo Trinity,” along with their contemporaries Fall Out Boy and My Chemical Romance. This sentiment is not without merit, as evidenced by their strong debut album. Panic! started in Las Vegas in 2004 as a blink-182 cover band led by guitarist and songwriter Ryan Ross and drummer Spencer Smith, who attended high school together. Ross started out as primary vocalist, but after recruiting Brendon Urie and bassist Brent Wilson, it was decided that Urie would be the frontman. Eventually they got the attention of Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz and were signed to Decaydance Records, despite having never performed live. The next year, and after four months of recording, the band released “A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out” on Sept. 27, 2005. Almost 20 years later, it still holds up as a great piece of pop punk culture. Following an intro that mimics turning t...

  Before Adam Young sang about seeing 10 million fireflies as Owl City, indietronica’s poster band was The Postal Service, a supergroup consisting of lead singer Ben Gibbard, producer Jimmy Tamborello and backing vocalist Jenny Lewis. The group was short-lived; they knew to strike while the iron was hot and burn bright before quickly going out on their own terms. Their only studio album to date is “Give Up,” released on Feb. 18, 2003. Opener “The District Sleeps Alone Tonight” starts out with glitchy electronic instrumentation as Gibbard sings about a dying relationship where he is at fault. But as the song progresses, it becomes more rhythmic and upbeat as Gibbard starts to realize that his partner deserves better than him. He resigns himself to being a lonely stranger as the song ends. “Such Great Heights” contrasts twinkly beats with low bass and sharp percussion, perfectly evoking feelings of falling in love. The lyrics use compelling imagery, like shaped clay and answering ma...

  Regina Spektor's third album “Soviet Kitsch” was released as her major label debut on Aug. 17, 2004. A humbly impactful outing, many songs on “Soviet Kitsch” are driven by piano. The album's opener is the wistful "Ode to Divorce,” where Spektor narrates one's inability to let go of their broken marriage. The song features sparse instrumentation aside from piano, kick drum and strings, allowing Spektor’s vocals to shine through. On "Poor Little Rich Boy,” she attempts to expose the titular character to his wrongdoings. The clacking percussion is reminiscent of a ticking clock, which changes in tempo towards the end of the song. This gives it a sense of urgency. "Carbon Monoxide" plays out like a father-daughter argument, wherein the daughter complains that she is unprepared for adulthood.  "The Flowers" continues track 1’s theme of refusal to let go of a dead relationship, symbolized by items unattended to, like flowers and papers. "Us...

  I first connected with Rilo Kiley’s music after hearing “Portions for Foxes” on “Grey’s Anatomy.” It made me want to check out its parent album, the band’s third overall. Rilo Kiley released “More Adventurous” on Aug. 17, 2004 as their major label debut. Opener "It's a Hit" runs through all of frontwoman Jenny Lewis's frustrations with mainstream culture, including politics, writer's block and religion. As the song goes on and Lewis covers more topics, it evolves from a simple rock song to implement a horn section. It evokes a marching band when coupled with Jason Boesel’s drumming.  "Does He Love You?" details a years-long marital affair from the mistress's perspective, building up the stakes to crescendo in an orchestral coda. The aforementioned “Portions for Foxes" sees Lewis release all of pent-up emotions in a one night stand, but the standout here is lead guitarist Blake Sennett, whose playing gives the song its backbone. "Ripchord...

For any music fan, listening to the Killers’ debut is arguably a rite of passage. Rightfully so, as that debut album was “Hot Fuss,” released on June 7, 2004. The album opener, "Jenny Was a Friend of Mine", plays out like a police interrogation of a suspect in the titular character's murder set to a catchy riff. Lead single "Mr. Brightside" is a simple yet infectious song about infidelity. "Smile Like You Mean It" deals with the dreadful realization that time moves faster than you want it to. "Somebody Told Me" sounds like the perfect introductory song to a Killers novice thanks to the superb drum work from Ronnie Vannucci Jr. and dynamic vocals from Brandon Flowers. "All These Things That I've Done" brings in choir the Sweet Inspirations to help Flowers plead to God to help him through his pain. "Andy, You're a Star" features an old-fashioned sounding guitar riff that plays while Flowers questions his glorificat...