First my background: 1. male 2. Classically trained musician and complete musical elitist. My tastes include anything from THIS to Death Metal like Lamb Of God and Arch Enemy.

This is going to be REALLY hard for me to not swear about some of the previous reviews I have read. Let me rip your arguments to shreds before I start to review this amazing album.

a) "This isn't music". Obviously you have not studied music. Yes, this is music. A collection of sounds for an artistic purpose.
b) "they don't write their own music". Read the credits in the album. Granted they did not write 100%, but JC (and Justin) are smattered around the song writing credits on this album (and 'Celebrity')
c) "They can't sing". Watch a live version of the accapella "I thought she knew" (a track on this very album). watch any of their performances. particularly ballads. All 5 of them have good tone, and are really expressive with their phrasing, and ornamentation. I don't understand why people say they "can't" sing.

Ok, now to the CD: I dug this CD out as a joke to listen to, infact! it was about 7 YEARS since I'd bought it as a pre-teen and never listened past "Bye Bye Bye". Man, was I impressed and surprised!

I can't put my finger on why. This music is just infectious. It was written that way, and to deny it, is to be ignorant. Don't forget, this is the album that holds the fastest 1 day and 1 week sales record EVER!

I'm not going to review individual tracks. The album from cover to cover just plays perfectly. The instrumental tracks are really well produced and undeniably funky, and definately dont have as many 'cliches' in the arrangements as other pop acts of the era.

The talent of all 5 members is really evident. And no, you cannot fake talent that with a computer...regardless of what you believe. In ballads the harmonies are rich, and every track brings a strong melody.

Like I said, the reason this album has aged so well compared to other pop-acts of the new millennium is really unclear. I probably attribute it to quality. Good music is always good music, and its really a shame the talented members of this pop act are no longer performing together.

If you are image conscious...or have the word "punk" in your amazon account name... then you will already have made your mind up before you hear a single track. YOU are the reason Boybands died. The image conscious killed the image of the boyband.

But if you are the type who doesn't cry over being "cool", or doesnt have to buy something just because its a "fad" then I DARE you to spend $13 and buy this. I DARE YOU TO NOT ENJOY EVERY SECOND OF THIS MONUMENTAL MASTERPIECE! Prove me wrong!

Recording artists have their defining albums, but few of them catapult those dubbed as clones into superstar status, break sales records, redefine a genre and re-introduce listeners to one of the then-future most influential performers in pop music. Such is the case with *NSYNC's 2000 effort, No Strings Attached.

In a market that included competitors such as the Backstreet Boys, 98 Degrees and LFO, it was often hard to differentiate between boy bands. The Backstreet Boys had a year earlier broken first-week sales records with the release of Millennium, seemingly solidifying their position as the reigning kings, but *NSYNC's foray into electronica, R&B and hip-hop broadened the pop music hemisphere -- and their fan base.

The 12-track knockout began with "Bye, Bye, Bye." Known just as much for the dance routine in the video, the song's hard-edged beat pushed the group through an aggressive yet toned-down male answer to Alanis Morisette's "You Oughta Know." Justin Timberlake's beatbox guided "It's Gonna Be Me," surprisingly the group's sole No. 1 hit on Billboard's Hot 100 chart, before taking an out-of-this-world jaunt with Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes on "Space Cowboy (Yippie-Yi-Yay)."

Keeping in line with hip-hop, "Just Got Paid" was a remake of Johnny Kemp's 1988 new jack swing gem that stayed remarkably true to the original (with the addition of verses by Timberlake and Chris Kirkpatrick). "It Makes Me Ill," co-written by Kandi of Xscape fame, channels the fluid R&B melodies of tracks such as TLC's "No Scrubs" and Destiny's Child's "Bills, Bills, Bills," and is the decade's answer to funk at its best. "No Strings Attached" has plenty of glass-breaking, guitar-riffed fades and beats to create an edgy groove that Michael Jackson could have created magic with during the Dangerous time period.

"Digital Get Down" is a track with not-so-subtle suggestions for the boys' girls to engage in a little cyber and phone sex. While the notion may seem a little creepy -- or a little intriguing -- the song's hybrid breakbeatz-drum `n' bass melody may prove more convincing. No boy band's album is complete without ballads, the highlight on No Strings Attached being "I Thought She Knew." The a cappella showcase featured usual lead singers Timberlake and JC Chasez taking the rare action of sharing verses with Kirkpatrick and Joey Fatone.

Though the boys failed to duplicate their success with their follow-up, Celebrity, fans of No Strings Attached say little in the way of criticism for the album, except that Jive Records should have released more singles from it. The album is a strong example that pop isn't entirely bubble gum, and that hip-hop heads and dance music aficionados can find commonality on such a mainstream compilation. It also began to differentiate the group's members, some of whom have moved on to become successful solo stars (or at least known for something other than being in *NSYNC). And, if nothing else, No Strings Attached provided the soundtrack for that killer performance at the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards, which blended all three of the album's hits and gave viewers new ideas on how to mix TV and choreography.

[...]

The follow-up to *NSYNC's self titled American debut Album felt over due, when legal actions put breaks on the anticipated release, fans desperately awaited. Fortunately, *NSYNC settled disputes with former manager, Louis J. Peralman, whom cheated the group financially,allowing them to switch record labels. JIVE RECORDS became their new home.
Promotion for the album featured the group on every show imaginable. In honor of their first single *NSYNC premiered their video "Bye, Bye, Bye" at MTV's TRL Studios live in NYC. The video was featured on MTV's "Making the Video," while the single was preformed at the TRL SUPERBOWL PRESHOW, SNOWED IN,In Studio for a two hour live program presented by MTV,and TRL.
HBO aired their hit tour live that year from Madison Square Garden,with a video release later that year, of the entire set list.
Later that year, the group preformed the hit single,in a medley at the VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS, and took home three moon men, in part to this single!
*NSYNC made it clear they had something special. In their first week U.S. sales topped, any previous competition. *NSYNC's Monster 2.3 mill in one week is an incredible feat for any artist. Add a record selling number for concert sales, and merchandise official books, toys, and loads of magazine articles, and interviews, and you have a winner all around!

I admit...I'm crazy about NSYNC, even though they're not together anymore! Wow what great harmony and JC/Justin can sing! This cd is full of great songs!

I just had to take time out and address this, really. I give you people who still talk up this CD props. The "boy bands" of yester-year were LOVED by young women and girls EVERYwhere and HATED by pretty much everyone else. You guys still showin love NOW are a surprise, but at least you stick to your guns. F**K what all these other people say, calling y'all names and sh** cause they're as closed-minded as the industry punks and casual music fans they insult. They just like something else.

By the way, I used to actually like some NSYNC stuff. Never was a huge fan, but they weren't as bad as a lot of people made them seem (or as good, but whatever lol). The CD was aright. Nothing mind blowing or touching, but good at the time I guess. It's young teen music for the most part. I don't think any of the members thought they were setting out to make a classic destined to stand the test of time. They were probably just being hugely famous, making money and having fun. Honestly, can't hate on that. Would you do it if you had the chance??