Boy's growing pains

Back - Index - Submissions - - What is RSS? Date: Feb 14, 2003 Source: NorthJersey.com Submitted By: Gina By ED CONDRAN, Special to The Record Nick Carter says to hold off on comparisons to Justin Timberlake. WHO: Nick Carter and Vi3. WHAT: Pop. WHEN: 7 p.m. Thursday. WHERE: Hunka Bunka Ballroom, Jernee Mill Road, Sayreville, NJ. (732) 254-6701. HOW MUCH: $18. Box office or TicketMaster. The celebrated boy bands of the Nineties are growing up. Nick Lachey of 98 Degrees got married. N' Sync's Lance Bass is a wannabe astronaut. Backstreet Boys' Brian Littrell is a father. And fellow Backstreeter Nick Carter is looking for artistic identity. Carter, 22, released his solo debut, "Now or Never," in October to less than enthusiastic reviews. The release is on the brink of going gold - respectable, but hardly outstanding. That pales to Justin Timberlake's solo debut, "Justified," which was released within a week of Carter's effort and has gone double platinum without the benefit of a tour. "I'm not paying attention to what Justin has done," said Carter. "I wish him well, but I'm doing my own thing. We made two different albums. There's room for everybody. He's doing his thing. I'm doing mine." "Justified" is much funkier than anything N' Sync has produced, and Timberlake won acclaim for breaking ground. It's a different story for Carter. "Now or Never" isn't a considerable departure from the Backstreet sound. The rhythms are stronger; new beats punch up the mood behind Carter's capable voice, and the lyrics are a bit steamier. Still, Carter said, "My album definitely has a different feel to it. I want to bring a new flavor. But I had to stay within perspective. You can't just go from totally hot to totally cold. It's going to shock people. I had to slowly build into it. I have to grow into what I'm doing. It takes time." Carter says he hasn't found his songwriting touch just yet. "Writing wasn't something I did until recently. It came naturally, but at the same time I worked real hard to find how I wanted to be perceived as an artist." Writer-producer Max Martin, who has penned many of the Backstreet hits, held Carter's hand. Martin contributed "I Just Wanna Take You Home," by far the catchiest track on "Now or Never." "I'm sitting back and learning from him," Carter said. "He's like a brother or a father. He's incredibly talented." Carter is showcasing his solo material in venues such as the Hunka Bunka Ballroom in Sayreville, where he will perform Thursday, and tellingly, seats are still available. "Most fans don't know that I've played in bar bands as a drummer during Backstreet breaks," Carter said. "But this tour is obviously going to be different from that. I'll be up front. It's been a while since we [the Backstreet Boys] played in clubs. But I'm looking forward to it. It's always good to see the faces in the crowd." After Carter's tour ends in March, Backstreet will be back on track, reconvening in the studio in April. In the meantime, the credibility issue looms for Carter. "That comes over time," Carter said. "I think some of the people who you think aren't credible at the beginning of their career sometimes surprise people. Take Madonna, for instance. I'm just trying to find myself. I realize that in time I will gain credibility. Patience is a virtue." Comment on this item. Recent Comments Submitted by: johnansaz http://imrdsoacha.gov.co/silvitra-120mg-qrms Comment on this item. Next Item: Brian to participate in Phoenix Suns Celebrity Game Prev Item: BSB Fans Get Lucky Break At Bob Hope Classic