Backstreet's Back! ...and so are the rest of the 90s.

The new albums dropping this week (10/4 – 10/10) are keeping us on our musical toes here at ACRN. We’re loving the mixture of 1990s clusterfuck and indie rock frontrunners, sprinkled with a pinch of high school nostalgia.

Brace yourself: this week’s releases include albums by Aqua, Backstreet Boys, Everclear and KISS.

Aqua’s Greatest Hits album drops Tuesday. A few of us Rock Lobsters decided that this album couldn’t possibly have more than ten songs on it, all being different variations of “Barbie Girl.” However, we were surprised to find that it contains 19 excruciatingly awesome tracks.

The highly anticipated new album from the Backstreet Boys is finally here as well. Thankfully, the Boys are staying true to their previously cheesy nature in titling the album This Is Us. While not all the critics are loving it, fans apparently are. Every snippet on the Web related to this album contains some sort of reader comment that professes “NICK I LOVE YOU MARRY ME!” This vague, cryptic proclamation can be found in several different languages. The Boys are now trucking on sans Kevin, so trashy goatee fans, grab your tissues.

This week’s third band to fall victim to false hopes of revitalizing their 1990s popularity is Everclear with their release of In a Different Light. While this band has been active in recent years, let’s face it: nothing they’ve made recently can even compare to So Much for the Afterglow. Sorry boys, but having a track on a Now That’s What I Call Music compilation no longer merits praise for high musical quality.

Something is definitely in the water in the Land of the Washed-Out 1990s Superstars. That something must the lust for one last chance at the spotlight. We don’t know what’s going on, but we’re not mad about it.

KISS is digging up the old Crayola paints and suiting up (in typical fashion, of course, with outrageous boots and black, shiny futuresuits) for another run at this whole rock-n-roll-with-your-tongue-out thing. Their new album, Sonic Boom, is sure to cause commotion – keep your eyes and ears out.

As for a solid high school throwback, Christian rock band Relient K is dropping its sixth album, Forget and Not Slow Down. Be sure to check out ACRN's official review.

Ultra buzzed-about Gossip’s new album, Music for Men, is another interesting release as this particular album has had the hands of well-known producer Rick Rubin. Not to mention, fierce frontwoman Beth Ditto has lately been the topic of much, well, gossip, no pun intended. (Okay, fine, pun intended.) Judge for yourself on Spinner.

String quartet Osso is releasing Run Rabbit Run this week. Interestingly enough, this album is a revamp of the songs on Enjoy Your Rabbit, a Sufjan Stevens album. The connection? Osso performed on tracks from Stevens’ Illinois. Check it out on Spinner.

Nelsonville Music Festival 2009 performer Alela Diane’s new EP, Alela and Alina, features vocals by fresh folk face Alina Hardin. The songs on this stunning folksy teaser (which you should check out on Spinner) leave us hoping she’ll be back this year for our listening pleasure with a fresh set of beautiful ballads under her belt.

Other notable albums this week include releases from two sets of European duos, including Danish band The Raveonettes with In and Out of Control (which can be heard on Spinner) and French band AIR with Love 2 (which also can be heard on Spinner). HORSE the Band is releasing Desperate Living, and to all HORSE fans, trust us – this album, produced by Xiu Xiu's Jamie Stewart, doesn’t disappoint. If you’re still wary, check out our review. Poppy, lovable Noah and the Whale is proving that the band should be deemed a notable newcomer with the release of The First Days of Spring, which can be heard on NPR.

Well, that’s it for this week’s earful. Come back again next week for another rundown of what’s to come. Until then, check out the other lobster-licious content on our brand spankin’ new site.
--Courtney Baldasare, ACRN Reviews Editor