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All Music Guide Review
Youngstown is a shameless attempt to meld the Backstreet Boys with Boyz II Men. That may sound harsh, but their debut album Let's Roll pulls no punches and makes no apologies about being a set of well-scrubbed, calculated, moderately catchy, teen-oriented dance-pop. "I'll Be Your Everything, " the first single, was showcased on the soundtrack to Disney's headache-inducing summer 1999 flick Inspector Gadget, is a passable dance diversion, as are a few other cuts, including a couple of ballads, but overall, the record doesn't make much of an impact. Youngstown can sing, but they lack a distinct personality, and their music is similarly generic -- not bad as a radio hit, but not really substantial to carry a full album. -- Stephen Thomas Erlewine

youngstown - let's roll - hollywood
this is a different type of boy band then the other collections of boy bands we've been seeing springing up almost every month. youngstown,comprised of sammy, dallas, and dc combine r&b with pop, and their terrific harmonies make this an easy cd to listen to for both sexes. though, as all boy bands, their music is aimed at females, their r&b and occasional rapping will grab guys as well. they don't just sing to girls who long to stand next to them, in fact one track "jamie lee" is a tribute to one member of the trio's mother. this is a funky and original cd.

~ak


Music [dot com] Review
YOUNGSTOWN - Let’s Roll
Release Date: 9/28/99
Hollywood Records

While hot act like the Backstreet Boys seems to appeal solely to young pop fans and remain untouched by fans of other genres, it may be a challenge for a pop act to create tunes that have a broader appeal. This is exactly what makes Let’s Roll, the debut album from Youngstown, so appealing. Avoiding any signs of pretentiousness that can be found on many pop records, Youngstown debut is a sheer refreshing delight. It’s opener "Pedal to the Steel" is a well played rock song with a small dosage of rap that seems to fit in perfectly. This opener is bold and delivers a simple message: You never know what to expect on this album. The song manages to perfectly blend fluent harmonies, pop, rap and rock in a way that will light sparks of surprise in many listeners. The group has many more such sparks on the record. "I’ll Be Your Everything" is an endearing sing-a-long track for the amusing film, Inspector Gadget, which brings out the child in every listener. Incorporating small bits of the theme from the animated series upon which the movie was based, the song will remind listener’s of the innocence of the film, much like the way Bobbie Brown’s "Every Little Step" brought out the good-natured fun in the film Ghostbusters II. "Through your eyes" is a funky, well-sing song that retains its resonance eve as the next track begins. Despite its title, "Loose My Cool" keeps a cool head, perfectly combining the bands rock instincts (which include the easily heard use of an electric guitar). This song features the boys at their best, the main vocals are crystal clear and their harmonies are blended perfectly.


The boys of Youngstown may indeed be young, and Let’s Roll may be their debut record, but they sing with the voices of experience. The Ohio-based trio (from Youngstown, in fact), comprised of James Dallas, DC and Sam Lopez are all in their young twenties, but they have each been singing since they were teenagers. In Atlanta, the band spent a full year and a half on the album. They wanted to make their debut perfect and special. From gentle ballads like "Early Frost," which begs a lover to "remember me," to the keyboard-laden "Don’t Worry,’ which seems to be written on the spur of the moment, but still quite refreshing ("If you need me/I’ll be on the dance floor/getting my groove on/please don’t get in my way"). The album can be appreciated by just about any open-minded listener. The ability to transcend genres is one of the true signs of a masterpiece and certainly says something about a band’s level of talent. Here’s a prediction: this young group will have a long career ahead of them.

-- Nick Sergi --

Hiponline's Review

OVERALL RATING: 5/10
Youngstown is another boy band. They aren't very distinct, but they aren't the worst of the genre either. The first track, "Pedal To The Steel", oddly steals an AC/DC riff, and the next track starts with the familiar Inspector Gadget intro. The song was the first single for that movie's soundtrack, but isn't the best song on this record.

"I'll Be Your Everything" has a good chorus, tapping your subconscious. The band's choruses grow on and with you. The problem is that the album lulls in the middle and gets aggravating during "Don't Worry".

Youngstown actually wrote some of the tracks. Surprised? I was. That is an oddity in today's pop market. And even though every song is cookie cutter and full of great vocals, this album isn't going to blow anybody's doors off.

+ cc morris

CDNOW REVIEW
Shiny happy boy-bands are multiplying like weeds, and, as they grow in number, the pickings get a little slimmer. The latest entry, the Ohio-based trio Youngstown, is neither the best nor the worst of the lot. Youngstown boasts the wispy soul patches and puppy-dog expressions that seem to be required boy-band accessories, but it's got a shade more soul, too. In a genre where parachute pants are considered street, Youngstown, with its reliance on R&B-inflected ballads, is almost funky, at least by comparison.

There's otherwise little to distinguish the trio from similar acts, like the (much better) Backstreet Boys or (the much worse) EYC. A little thin-voiced but mostly agreeable, Youngstown has crafted a debut that hews closely to the formula of the day: lots of ballads, soaring harmonies, entry-level dance pop. It's all safe and unsurprising, but given the relatively advanced ages of the band's members (average age: 22) no one could blame them for sticking with what works, while they still can.

Allison Stewart


BARNES AND NOBLE REVIEW

Youngstown is a shameless attempt to meld the Backstreet Boys with Boyz II Men. That may sound harsh, but their debut album Let's Roll pulls no punches and makes no apologies about being a set of well-scrubbed, calculated, moderately catchy, teen-oriented dance-pop. "I'll Be Your Everything, " the first single, was showcased on the soundtrack to
Disney's headache-inducing summer 1999 flick Inspector Gadget, is a passable dance diversion, as are a few other cuts, including a couple of ballads, but overall, the record doesn't make much of an impact.

Youngstown can sing, but they lack a distinct personality, and their music is similarly generic -- not bad as a radio hit, but not really substantial to carry a full album. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide