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NICK CARTER Now or Never
THE first song, Help Me, got me a bit dumbfounded. Had I erred by putting Bon Jovi on instead of the former Backstreet Boys stalwart? Or was it Bryan Adams? Nope. I had the right CD. I joke not. He does sound like Bon Jovi or Bryan Adams almost throughout the album, his ‘new' raspy and crispy voice obviously fooling me.

Maybe, just maybe, he has reached puberty. But whatever hormonal change he has gone true, Nick has jolted many with this album.

Why, you might ask. He has gone totally in the opposite direction of his labelmate Justin Timberlake (did I just mention his name again? Forgive me, for I have sinned!).

This is not as sotong-like as I had thought it would be. This is a happy pop-rock album that has proved sceptics wrong. Nobody thought MTV would give him a chance, but we all know that the songs from this album are riding high.

I can understand why, although admitting to liking his music comes as a bit of an embarrassment. Like admitting one likes Modern Talking.

He does a mean Bryan Adams in the superb ballads Do I Have To Cry For You and Heart Without A Home (I'll Be Yours).

Heck, he even puts on the mask of Def Leppard in the everybody-sing-along American pop rock fare, Girls In The USA, Duncan Sheik's I Got You and Blow Your Mind that has Roxette written all over it.

This is different. It's not vintage but it is fairly decent. Now, why didn't he sing like this when he was with the BB? Hmm...

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