Pop's top franchise energetically shows it's come a long wayBy David Lindquist Indianapolis Star August 17, 2001
Sure, it's fun to be a rock star.
But none of the heavies -- Springsteen, Jagger or Bono -- have indulged themselves the way the members of 'N Sync did Thursday night at the RCA Dome.
The "PopOdyssey" tour lets the vocal group fly on elevated cables, ride mechanical bulls, bounce on romper room balls and stick to Velcro walls a la David Letterman.
An audience of about 32,000 attended the program of sensory overload, the latest achievement of pop's top franchise.
'N Sync, together for a solid five years, screened some nostalgic video footage at the top of the show. From a thin Joey Fatone to JC Chasez in a buzz cut, they've come a long way.
Beyond millions invested to entertain their fans, the group is thriving through confident risk-taking.
It's never been more obvious that things revolve around an axis of Chasez and Justin Timberlake -- two legitimate talents giving a good name to boy bands.
On new album Celebrity, Chasez breaks creative ground with "The Two of Us", a catchy ballad grafted to a complex dance beat.
This is the signature sound of "dirty pop" (a group-sanctioned phrase). It's jittery, cut-and-paste R&B -- and it's connecting with demographics far beyond pre-teen girls.
The visual "gag" (another 'N Sync saying) that accompanied "The Two of Us" was equally impressive.
After a massive video screen "unzipped" in the middle, the group rode an escalator down its opposite side.
Chasez's other Celebrity high point is "Up Against the Wall", a steamy rock-disco hybrid that flirts with adult themes.
Timberlake, meanwhile, excels when he's in pain.
Critical badgering figured in his writing of "Pop", the set-opening rant that took the group from a pyramid at the center of the dome and down a lengthy walkway before arriving at a 200-foot-wide stage.
A broken heart -- fictional as far as Britney Spears and the general public are aware -- inspired Timberlake's "Gone".
After displaying nice acting chops in "Gone"'s short, black-and-white film, Timberlake stole the show with a simple, soulful vocal rendition.
While PopOdyssey looked great, the sound quality was inconsistent.
In terms of art, Chasez and Timberlake will arrive when their lyrics make heartfelt connections to rival Thursday night's eye candy.
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