Title: From kid star to teen sensation
Source: New Straits Times (Malaysia)
Source: Entertainment; Pg. 19
Date: October 6, 2002
Topic: Another Earthquake Album Review
AT ONLY 14 years of age, Aaron Carter, kid brother to Backstreet Boy Nick Carter, has managed to become a true-blue teenybopper pop star. Since he began at the age of seven, Aaron has become a platinum-selling singer and a TV regular on such kiddie channels as Nickelodeon and Disney.
Even in the early days, Aaron performed occasionally with the Backstreet Boys in an attempt to gain international exposure. Within a few months, he landed a recording contract with a Europe-based company. His self-titled debut album, released in 1998, was certified a best seller in many European and Asian countries. With the release of his second album, Aaron moved up a notch to emerge a teen sensation, supporting national acts like Britney Spears worldwide. In mid 2002, he released Aaron's Party (Come Get It), which made him a household name and extended his reach to the target teen-pop audience.
Aaron has had a lot of growing up to do in the past five years. He didn't quite know what to expect when he started professionally as a singer - and it seems as though the young singer is already a veteran of sorts. As a singer, dancer and actor, Aaron has accumulated more fans than he can count by doing what comes naturally.
In keeping up with the times, and perhaps even venturing farther out musically, Another Earthquake, his fourth solo album, can be likened to a fantastic voyage filled with spirited songs and infectious grooves.
The album begins full throttle with the title track, followed by To All The Girls, a sparkling sweet love dedication to his huge base of young female fans. Aaron gets in the ballad mode with Keep Believing, yet another gentle note to his female fans.
Elsewhere, the Baja Men lend an island feel to the album's beach party anthem, Summertime. The fast-paced In My Ride is about Aaron's obsession with sports cars and driving, and the excitement that comes from driving. (Aaron is a couple of years away from getting his driving permit.)
The uplifting America A.O. is Aaron's contributing to boost the American teen spirit. Also in the dance vein is 2 Good 2 B True framed by ska-punk rhythms.
Historically, teen idols have had to navigate through the difficult years to succeed in the adult pop world. When the voice changes, the career path changes as well. Aaron's voice change, noticeable on his last album, Oh Aaron, but in full effect on his latest album, doesn't, however strip away his charm.
In a bizarre turn of events, this maturity coincides with a selection of 10 songs all tuned to getting the party started rather than puppy love fantasies. The songwriting is sturdy and is considerably better than anything he's written earlier.
In that sense, Another Earthquake is the first Aaron Carter album that's actually fun for the intended audience. Even with the voice change, this album sounds like a smooth transition for the young teen in making a deep dent in the teen-pop universe. Whether he's crooning, singing or rapping, Aaron sounds self-assured and determined to make his mark.
Like Aaron, his fans, too, have grown up with him. Although the new album comes at the tail end of the boy-band phenomenon, it's a real testament to Aaron's production and songwriting team that Another Earthquake is his best album to date. Years from now, it will stand as an overlooked hidden treasure of the teen-pop movement of the early 2000s.
Another Earthquake, released on Jive Records and distributed by BMG Malaysia, is now available at leading music stores throughout Malaysia.
GRAPHIC: (STF) - Aaron Carter returns this month to the pop forefront with AnotherEarthquake, an album designed to firmly establish the young singer as afull-fledged pop star. 2 pix without caption.
