Unbreakable (Backstreet Boys Album) - Music and Composition

Music and Composition

The Backstreet Boys fully abandoned the Max Martin sound of many of their early hits and, instead, worked with different producers to sound like an adult vocal group. Dan Muckala, producer and co-songwriter of the group's hit single "Incomplete" from their last album Never Gone, is the producer of the bulk of the material. However, other producers like Emanuel Kiriakou, John Shanks and Billy Mann worked on the album too. Fellow boy band veteran JC Chasez of *NSYNC takes the Backstreet Boys into upbeat pop territory familiar to both goups with his production and songwriting skills.

The sound leans to adult contemporary and contemporary pop music and features interwoven choral harmonies, piano, strings, and use of guitar and drums.

The closing track of the album, "Unsuspecting Sunday Afternoon", is broken into two different parts. The first part leads off the album, and is a one minute a cappella version of the chorus, listed as "Intro" on the record. The second track "Everything But Mine" is a synth heavy dance track produced by Dan Muckala. It strays from typical BSB territory with its electro inspired offbeat riff. The third song and lead single "Inconsolable" was produced by Emanuel Kiriakou and written by Emmanuel, Lindy Robbins and Jess Cates. It features the trademark emotional boy band romantic lyrics with very heartfelt vocals. "Something That I Already Know" was described as "a classic Backstreet Boys pop-rock ballad." The song is co-written by Kara DioGuardi and David Hodges and it also features "slick power-ballad choruses." "Helpless When She Smiles" was produced by John Shanks and is another pop ballad. It is a more visionary offering with an intriguing piano melody that provides some edge. The sixth track "Any Other Way" traffics in clips of funk guitar comparable to Maroon 5. It is a funk rocker with a minor-key tune.

"One in a Million", which conjures memories of the stuttering eight-note beats of "Larger Than Life", has elements of hip-hop and reggae. The eighth track "Panic" add rock elements to the group's sound and is another more adventurous outing; beginning with a dubby drum & bass rhythm. "You Can Let Go" was described as a "dreamy" ballad, while "Trouble Is" was deemed as "another big ballad with a mildly rootsy groove, that could actually do well on country radio, where melodrama rules. The eleventh track "Treat Me Right" was deemed as "the standout track" on the album, which is generated via a co-writing/production credit from one-time rival JC Chasez, ex-member of *NSYNC. It is an electropop song, and utilises the group's vocal interplay to admirable effect. "Love Will Keep You Up All Night" was classified as a "montage of almost every love-song ever written and with a chorus reminiscent of Aerosmith’s "I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing’. "Unmistakable" was considered "one of the stronger tracks on the album." The song features very strong vocal arrangements and instrumentation. The second part of "Unsuspecting Sunday Afternoon" closes out the album, and is about three and half minutes in length. Commencing with only a piano, the song then adds a live drum beat and orchestral instruments, followed by an electric guitar solo and atmospheric harmonies. All four members co-wrote the song and hailed it as the best song in the album.