Mare may have touched on this a bit in her reply to Reb, but while we're on the subject...
What has been your favorite BSB era and why?
I would have to say... Millennium and Black & Blue era. I just remember the craziness of Millennium like it was yesterday! Back then, I was a fool in being both an *NSYNC and Backstreet fan, sometimes even liking *NSYNC over Backstreet and rooting for their videos to beat BSB and come in at #1 on TRL. Gosh I was a fucking idiot!
Hahahaha!! But I fell in love with their styles, loved the Disney concert, looked through the album booklet constantly, listened to "Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely" constantly (that was my 90's life jam), "Don't Want You Back" was the coolest track ever, I always skipped "I Need You Tonight", and "Don't Wanna Lose You Now" and "Back To Your Heart" were the most romantic songs, I felt, that didn't get the recognition that they deserved. Millennium was just a great time in general.
Now, Black & Blue, despite it being seemingly dark and haunting with AJ's lifestyle during that time, I actually found myself LOVING AJ's vocals on this album. Yeah, I'm weird like that, hahaha. I remember buying their album wayyyy after it came out, after I had treated my family to sushi for dinner and begging them to take a detour to Walmart so I could purchase the album with my birthday money. I remember opening the CD, seeing the graffiti words and thinking it was the wrong CD placed inside; I was convinced it was a CD that belonged to Ja Rule or something... until I actually took the time and read "Backstreet Boys".
But "More Than That" became one of my ultimate favorite BSB songs to date, "Get Another Boyfriend", "Everyone", and "Not For Me" were the shit and should've been singles, and I fell hopelessly in love with "How Did I Fall In Love With You" and Howard's vocals. I enjoyed watching their concerts online at that time, and I believe it was around this time that I actually got into fanfiction.
I'm with you on Never Gone being a fave era too, because it was their grand return after AJ's rehab and quite a departure from the Boys' we knew back with Black & Blue. I did also like Unbreakable because that was the time that I managed to stay on top of everything Backstreet, with the multiple fanboards I joined and whatnot. Ugh, this answer turned out longer than it should have been! Hahahaha. But yes, Millennium and Black & Blue were my favorite eras, with Never Gone and Unbreakable a close second!