November 1, 2000 12:08

LITTRELL TRANSLATION

Judging by the emails [b]NME.COM[/b] has received since previewing the album, the fans can hardly wait for 'Black & Blue'...

BACKSTREET BOY BRIAN LITTRELL has been talking about the band's new album and how it is "a lot different" from the group's last effort Millennium.

'Black & Blue' is released on 20 November, and Littrell reckons the group have stretched themselves to good effect on the LP.

According to Littrell, "I think 'Black & Blue' is a lot different.
It's a lot more diverse, I think, than the 'Millennium' album. When 'Millennium' came out, it was kind of the songs for the time. Going into the millennium, it was kind of monumental for every human being on this earth. With 'Black & Blue', I think it's a little more diverse song to song."

Since exclusively previewing 'Black & Blue' last week, NME.COM has been deluged with emails from Backstreet Boys fans worldwide. Among the comments are hopes that it is "just like 'Millennium'' and that it "whoops *N Sync's ass".

There has, however, been some concern over the proposed sleeve for the album.

On this note Littrell explains to www.launch.com "The album is titled 'Black & Blue', and it's just gonna be half black and half blue, with the words 'Black & Blue' on it."

Clarifying the band's decision, he continues: "We decided not to go with the picture on the cover just to kinda differentiate ourselves once again from the normal picture on the front. You know, even alternative groups and rock groups now are doing their picture on the front. And so we'd like to try to something a little different."

Finally Backstreet fans with @backstreetboys.com email addresses are
advised to evacuate their mailboxes in the next two days: the band are removing the email service from their site. A statement on the site reads: "Please note: The backstreetboys.com email service will be closed as of November 3rd. We apologise for this and hope you enjoyed using the service in the meanwhile!"

Backstreet Boys' new single 'Shape Of My Heart', which comes with a full picture sleeve, is released on Monday (6 November).