Title: Pop Star Aaron Carter Has Matured, and so Has His Music
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Date: July 8, 2001
Source: SECTION: A&E; Pg. F6
Author: Kevin C. Johnson Post-Dispatch Pop Music Critic
Topic: Summer 2001 Concert Review
At what point did 13-year-old Aaron Carter, younger brother to Backstreet Boys heartthrob Nick Carter, become a star in his own right, one big enough to sell out his own concert at the Fox Theatre Friday night?
When we got one of our first major looks at the younger Carter with his insufferable, self-titled 1998 CD and an opening slot on a Backstreet Boys' tour the same year, he was an unnecessary addition to the already crowded pop population. But puberty has been good to Carter.
Though he's still growing into his voice, he has at least matured, cut his hair, mustered up some stage presence, and learned better dance moves. The music is better, too; it's still elementary but not so kindergarten. In front of a crowd that seemed hugely kindergarten, Carter delivered an 80-minute set that was silly, inoffensive, innocent and, most importantly, not the end of good music as we know it despite the presence of a "funky robot" and a series of fright wigs.
"Tell Me What You Want" and "Real Good Time" were among the songs from Carter's 2 million-selling "Aaron's Party (Come Get It)" CD, a likable and energetic come-up from his debut that included songs performed here like "Get Wild" and "Shake It." "Iko Iko" (yes, that "Iko Iko") from "Aaron's Party" was a winner among this crowd, as was another cover, the popular "I Want Candy."
Carter even tackled the Gap Band's "Outstanding" and left it unsoiled. "Outstanding" probably satisfied his band, itching to funk out with breaks into P-Funk and Outkast territory. "That's How I Beat Shaq" meant it was time to break out the basketball hoop and Los Angeles Lakers jerseys, as well as a dumb fake telephone conversation with Shaquille O'Neal.
Carter's missing his three-point throws three times in a row is not how he beat Shaq. Confetti, balloons and more party mayhem accompanied the title track that closed the concert.
A*Teens, a coed pop group who were perfectly photogenic and positively robotic (let's call them popbots), opened with listless songs from its recent CD "Teen Spirit."
Much better were songs from the group's 1999 CD "The Abba Generation." It was during "Dancing Queen" when children and their parents could be seen mouthing the lyrics together, and that in itself is remarkable.
