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Despite millions of album sales, 'N Sync are an obvious No. 2 to label mates the Backstreet Boys. Fittingly, they try harder--too hard, in fact--through most of their second non-Christmas disc, No Strings Attached. The quintet and Strings' dozen-plus producers fill these 47 minutes with bland ballads by Diane Warren and Richard Marx, mildly funky workouts like a cover of Johnny Kemp's "Just Got Paid" and the muddled "Space Cowboy," and gimmicks such as "Digital Get Down" that hardly lend credence to whatever career-longevity claims they might want to lodge. This is a guaranteed smash, but judged on the merits of its weak material and less than compelling vocal performances, No Strings Attached should be long forgotten by the time the Backstreeters' next CD arrives. --Rickey Wright