From The Associated Press

Backstreet Boys, “This Is Us” (Jive Records)

The newest CD from the Backstreet Boys features a number of uptempo, club-sounding songs — but the weak effort from this quartet won’t have you running to the dance floor.

“This Is Us,” the group’s seventh studio album, is full of boring, uneventful tracks — though hitmaking producers like RedOne, T-Pain, Jim Jonsin and Ryan Tedder help out.

What may be most disappointing is that Swedish producer Max Martin — who helmed classic grooves for the boy band like “I Want it That Way” and “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)” — fails to present anything as addictive on “This Is Us.”

“Straight Through My Heart,” the lead single, is too average as is “She’s a Dream,” a poorly written love tale. The worst is “PDA,” where the boys claim they will be “kissing, touching with my hands all over your booty” at Starbucks, the club, restaurant, grocery store, movies and beach. Stop. Please. Thank you.

At times, the production of the songs proves to be too powerful — pushing the boys to the background, especially on the Britney Spears-sounding “Masquerade.”

The group should have recorded more songs with Claude Kelly, Soulshock and Karlin. Those producers work on “Bye Bye Love” and “If I Knew Then,” the only standouts on the dragging “This Is Us.”

CHECK THIS TRACK OUT: “Bye Bye Love” is the most refreshing song this CD offers.