Robert Christgau: Dean of American Rock Critics

Consumer Guide:
  User's Guide
  Grades 1990-
  Grades 1969-89
  And It Don't Stop
Books:
  Book Reports
  Is It Still Good to Ya?
  Going Into the City
  Consumer Guide: 90s
  Grown Up All Wrong
  Consumer Guide: 80s
  Consumer Guide: 70s
  Any Old Way You Choose It
  Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough
Xgau Sez
Writings:
  And It Don't Stop
  CG Columns
  Rock&Roll& [new]
  Rock&Roll& [old]
  Music Essays
  Music Reviews
  Book Reviews
  NAJP Blog
  Playboy
  Blender
  Rolling Stone
  Billboard
  Video Reviews
  Pazz & Jop
  Recyclables
  Newsprint
  Lists
  Miscellany
Bibliography
NPR
Web Site:
  Home
  Site Map
  Contact
  What's New?
    RSS
Carola Dibbell:
  Carola's Website
  Archive
CG Search:
Google Search:
Twitter:

'N Sync

  • 'N Sync [RCA, 1998] Neither
  • No Strings Attached [BMG, 2000] *
  • Celebrity [Jive, 2001] *
  • Greatest Hits [Jive, 2005]  

Consumer Guide Reviews:

'N Sync [RCA, 1998] Neither

No Strings Attached [BMG, 2000]
the beats their statement, the ballads their way of life ("I Thought She Knew," "It Makes Me Ill") *

Celebrity [Jive, 2001]
they survive "writing their own songs," and they positively enjoy their bells and whistles ("Selfish," "Do Your Thing") *

Greatest Hits [Jive, 2005]
Long ago and far away, serious young men regarded boy groups as the direst threat to their musical way of life. But that was before September 11 taught us what a threat is and American Idol taught us what crap is. This modest 12-song summation tops anything Boyz II Men could muster, and though it lacks a masterpiece to equal the Backstreet Boys' "I Want It That Way," everyone this side of Nick Carter's mama knows that Justin Timberlake was a lead singer of vastly superior chops, wit, and emotional delicacy. "I Want You Back" "It's Gonna Be Me," and "Bye Bye Bye" are prefab rhythm at its most efficient. And ballads that once were icky as inescapable objects of obsession are now kinda touching as artifacts. [Blender: 4]  

See Also