Teen Dreams

The lowdown on some of the class of the idol rich:

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Backstreet Boys: The studly quintet is up for a best new artist Grammy and is the 1990s New Kids on the Block--except this group can really sing.

The look: Suburban kids wear urban clothes and strike dour poses.

The sound: R&B; lite.

The bottom line: Their debut album was the third-best seller of 1998, and the follow-up is due in April.

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‘N Sync: A less-threatening version of the Backstreet Boys, this wholesome foursome is the most popular MTV act of the moment.

The look: Suburban kids wear suburban clothes and strike heartfelt poses.

The sound: R&B; ultra-lite.

The bottom line: The group, which will appear April 16 at the Great Western Forum and April 18 at the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim, sold 5.7 million albums in 1998.

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Spice Girls: The British troupe may have lost Ginger Spice, but its reps insist rumors of a breakup are wrong.

The sound: Fizzy dance pop, although their new song is a more mature-sounding ballad.

The look: Aerobics instructors visit a London nightclub.

The bottom line: They’ve sold about 11 million albums in the U.S., cashed in at the box office with the film “Spice World” and have a new hit, “Goodbye.”

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Hanson: They won a measure of critical success for playing instruments and “MMMBop,” but appear to have lost some fan following already.

The sound: Think the Spin Doctors as a Nickelodeon act.

The look: Swiss Family Robinson meets Leif Garrett.

The bottom line: Their first album sold more than 10 million copies, but their “Live From Albertine” concert album has tanked.

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Britney Spears: The former Mickey Mouse Club member sounds older than her 17 years on her new album, until you notice the song titles include “Soda Pop” and “E-Mail My Heart.”

The sound: Heartfelt, heavily produced power pop.

The look: Fresh-scrubbed teen mag cover girl who likely dots her I’s with hearts.

The bottom line: Her “ . . . Baby One More Time” single started this year at No. 1.

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98 Degrees: This cute-boy squad in the Backstreet mold has tapped into some big-name synergy by recording “True to Your Heart” with Stevie Wonder for the film “Mulan.”

The sound: Boyz II Men-influenced harmonies.

The look: A Disney vision of R&B.;

The bottom line: The quartet’s second album has enjoyed only modest sales, but the “Because of You” single notched 14 weeks in the Billboard Top 10.