I was in a really boy band-y mood this past weekend, and I guess some of that has carried over to this week, meaning today's song is one of many getting play from me. Three person boy band B3 was made up of American members, but they were one of those "big in Germany" boy bands (Germany seems to have an exceptionally high boy band tolerance--or at least used to...I do wonder about that now, but that's a post for another time) that were never successful in America. They started out being to the Bee Gees what the A*Teens initially were to ABBA: their first album (released in 2002 and titled First) was made up solely of Bee Gee covers. Like the A*Teens, though, they moved on to original material for their following albums, 2003's N.Y.B3 and 2004's Living For The Weekend. I think in the Internet pop world they may be best known for songs from their third album, especially for "All The Girls" ("all the girls on the concert scene/wear their miniskirts and real tight jeans;" technically kind of in between the second and third albums--it was on a re-edition of the second album and on the third album)), but they did have at least some good songs from their second album. I like "You're My Angel" (repetitive as the chorus may be; it's the pumping beat that comes in during the first chorus that does it, that and the "oh-woah-oh"s, which remind me of another song I can't place), one of the singles from that album, but I like the song I'm posting today a lot more.Easy Way Out--written by the brilliant Epicentre team of Fredrik Thomander and Anders Wikström (they've done loads of great stuff, but if we're talking about boy bands LMNT's "Juliet" needs special mention; they also did Natural's "Put Your Arms Around Me," a recent obsession of mine--thanks for that, David!) as well as Daniel Metreyeon, formerly one-half of the American duo React (speaking of which, how did I not realize their album was on iTunes until now?)...the other half of which was Tim Cruz, who, after his time in React, joined B3 and became one of two founding members who made it to the group's end. Daniel also co-wrote several of B3's other songs, including the aforementioned "All The Girls," and the Berman Brothers, the guys behind (in addition to other projects) React, were involved with many B3 songs as well.
What was I talking about again? Oh yeah, "Easy Way Out." It's rare that I can ever put into words what distinguishes a good boy band song from a not-good one, but whatever it is that makes one good, "Easy Way Out" has it. I mean, is "catchy mid-to-up-tempo boy band song with chorus that's got a surprising sweet-in-an-anguished-way feel to it" really going to tell you anything? It's great, especially that chorus, which is fantastic.
To buy B3's second album N.Y.B.3, go here (physical) or here (digital).
Next up: maybe another boy band...or not!
