E-Mail This Article to a Friend Backstreet's back? All right…

BACKSTREET BOYS. Word is that Britney Spears mastermind Max Martin has hooked the Boys into some newfangled scheme of his called "alternative rock." What, you’re shocked? C’mon — if Unwritten Law and Liz Phair didn’t already learn you, teen pop won: now everybody uses pro songwriters and sings like a pussy. Listening to "Incomplete," the first song to be leaked from the Backstreet comeback disc, we realized just how hard emo singers have ripped these guys off — seriously, if this track doesn’t become a hit, maybe the Used can do something with it. Even better, "Incomplete" is itself a straight-up ripoff of Gary Jules’s cover of Tears for Fears’ "Mad World." (FYI: since covered by third-string emo kids Finch and Evergreen Terrace.) Admit it: you love this shit. Backstreet are back at Avalon — insert oh-how-the-mighty-have-fallen laughter here — on March 24, at the beginning of the long, long road back to the top. Or maybe at least to the upper bottom. Tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m.; call (617) 931-2000.

ERASURE. June 3 at Avalon: on sale Friday at noon, call (617) 931-2000.

STRAYLIGHT RUN. April 3 at Axis: on sale Saturday at 10 a.m., call (617) 931-2000.

SNOW PATROL. May 21 at Avalon: on sale Saturday at 10 a.m., call (617) 931-2000.

THE DECEMBERISTS. May 25 at Avalon: on sale Saturday at 10 a.m., call (617) 931-2000.

GARBAGE. April 17 at Avalon: on sale Saturday at noon, call (617) 931-2000.