NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK – THE BLOCK (a J!-ENT Album Review)

October 24, 2008 by Dennis Amith 

“After disbanding in 1994, the group that kicked off the boy band craziness in America returns nearly 15 years later with a new album, a new sound and an overall, well-sung, well-produced, many cool collaborations and a solid album!”

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ARTIST: NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK

ALBUM: THE BLOCK

LABEL: Interscope

DURATION: 45:38

RELEASE DATE: September 2, 2008

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1. Click Click Click
2. Single
3. Big Girl Now
4. Summertime
5. 2 in the Morning
6. Grown Man
7. Dirty DAncing
8. Sexify My Love
9. Twisted
10. Full Service
11. Lights Camera Action
12. Put it on my tab
13. Stare At You

Having grown up with a sister who was a diehard New Kids on the Block fan and everything was New Kids on the Block.  She literally hogged the TV and had her VHS tapes playing over and over and had the posters all over her room.

As for me, having grown up in the time period when New Kids on the Block were popular, I can remember friends gathering together at my place and being the wannabe crooners that we were, we would try to sing some of the NKOTB slow jams ala a capella.

Now, I remember seeing television shows trying to get the group together for their 10th anniversary.  But to no avail.   Many of the members (which include the members consist of brothers Jordan and Jonathan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg, and Danny Wood) were now married, some are now parents or individuals pursuing solo projects or acting and it didn’t look like a reunion would ever be possible.

Then the announcements of a reunion and a new album came up and a lot of the female fans who supported the group during their teens were now again going crazy with the big news.

The group’s album “THE BLOCK”, their first since their 1994 album “Face the Music” was released in September and peaked as high as #2 on the Billboard Charts, #1 on the Pop Charts and was certified gold in Canada.  With a new label (Interscope), a new modern sound and the guys are back and sound absolutely awesome on this album.

I remember that before the guys called it quits, there were people accusing the group of lipsyncing and that they couldn’t sing their own songs.  The guys went on “The Arsenio Hall Show” and showed that they can sing.  Well, listening to this album, the vocals are smooth and sound is pretty cool, smooth and with collaborations with artists like Ne-Yo, New Edition, Pussycat Dolls, Akon and more, I have to admit that their musical style can’t even compare to their music now.

Sure, things are much more modern but the first thing that caught my attention was just the balance between their music and their vocals.  And it’s what you expect with collaborations with Akon, Timbaland, RedOne and Ne-Yo.    A lot of care went into making sure that the group’s comeback reached today’s audience and that America knows that these guys are truly back!

The first track “Click Click Click” features this new urban sound and mostly showcasing the group’s vocals.  A smooth, mid-tempo track produced by Akon, Hakim Abdulsamad, Nasri & Adam Messinger.

The second track “Single” features a collaboration with Ne-Yo.  A cool hip hop/R&B track.  Overall, a very tight track and is the second CD single released from the album.  The song was only released as a digital single and was produced by Polow da Don and Ne-Yo.

The third track “Big Girl Now” features a collaboration with NKOTB and music artist Lady Gaga.  A very cool upbeat track and collaboration prdocued by RedOne.  One of my favorite upbeat tracks on the entire album.

The fourth track “Summertime” is the first CD single from the album.  The song peaked at #35 in the Billboard Hot 100 and is the group’s first top 40 song since 1992.   Another upbeat track but a more happy track produced byHakim Abdulsamad, Nasri and Adam Messinger.

The fifth track “2 in the morning” is a catchy, smooth mid-tempo “near break-up” ballad that uses a bit of vocalizer on the vocals.  All in all, a very cool R&B track.  The track was produced by Emanuel Kiriakou.

The sixth track “Grown Man” features a collaboration with Pussycat Dolls and Teddy Riley.  Personally, it was great to hear GUY/Blackstreet’s Teddy Riley invovled in this song and producing it.  Also, having the ladies of the Pussycat Dolls in this smooth jam is pretty cool.

Track seven “Dirty Dancing” and track eight “Sexify My Love” were produced by RedOne.  “Dirty Dancing” is a pretty cool upbeat dance track while “Sexify My Love” is the dangerously smooth sex song.

The ninth track “Twisted” features a track produced by Timbaland.  This track is very different from the other tracks on the album.  As the others had more of an urban R&B style, this one is a very fun, vocal emphasizing track, that I’m sure Joey McIntyre fans are going to dig.  A very cool upbeat synth track that I don’t think I recall hearing Timbaland say anything on the track.

The tenth track features the Philly boy bands NKOTB and New Edition.  Produced by RedOne & Lady GaGa, the track is upbeat and I have to admit that I was listening to this song over and over to see if I can pick up any New Edition Ralph Tresvant or even Johnny Gill.  But all in all, a cool track!

The eleventh track features another collaboration with Pussycat Dolls.  Another smooth, upbeat track produced by Polow da Don.

The twelfth track “Put it on my tab” is a collaboration with Akon.  I have to say that this song was quite catchy and it is one of those songs that makes you think about you and a group of buddies all hitting up a conversation with a girl at the bar.  The track is produced by RedOne & Akon.

The thirteenth track “Stare At You” is the primary slow jam on the album.  The song is produced by Adam Messinger & Nasri and a well-sung album.  The track ends with one of the members asking their daughter if they knew the name of the group and he says, “The Block” and she says “I thought it was New Kids on the Block” and ends with him saying “That’s Right”.

There is a deluxe version of the album available with four extra tracks and the iTunes version features two exclusive tracks which includes a remix of “Summertime”.

All in all, I have to say that this album was well-produced and to have collaborations with Ne-Yo, Pussycat Dolls, Teddy Riley, New Kids on the Block, Akon, Lady GaGa and various well-known producers was a smart move on Interscope’s part in making sure that fans and also new listeners of New Kids on the Block has the reunion that they deserve.

One of the problems in the past was that boy bands were obviously sugar-coated and it was one of the major criticisms before they broke up is that the guys may have lip-synced or that they can’t sing in a live setting.

The album not only showcases their vocals but the group immediately performed live on NBC’s TODAY Show to show that they can sing and again, this album really brings out the vocals of the group.  If the group sings this good live as they do on the album, that would be very awesome!

Again, the music was well-produced and considering the people involved on this album, I didn’t expect anything less from them.

Sure, the guys are in their 30s but considering that the group returned with the support of not only their original fandom but new fans excited about the return, the synergy is right and it’s great to see the guys achieving success again.

As for their album “THE BLOCK”, it’s the first New Kids on the Block album that I can listen to entirely and say, yeah…this is all good!  So, all in all, a solid album with well-sung vocals and awesome music!  Check it out!