New Kids On The Block – The Block

Releasedate: 12-09-2008; Label: Universal // Interscope
By: Nina Mende

Yes, they are back! The boy band from the 80s before anybody was even thinking of Backstreet Boys, O-Town, *NSYNC and other boy bands that followed: New Kids on the Block!

New Kids on the Block (also known as NKOTB) is an award-winning American pop group that enjoyed success in the late 1980s and early 1990s as a boy band. Assembled in Boston in 1984 by producer Maurice Starr, the members consist of brothers Jordan and Jonathan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg and Danny Wood. The group went on to sell over 70 million albums worldwide, generated hundreds of millions of dollars in concert revenues, and paved the way for acts like Backstreet Boys, Take That, 98 Degrees and *NSYNC. They reunited in 2008 and took on a new style, and have also released a new album called “The Block”.

Many renowned hip-hop artists are featured such as Ne-Yo, The Pussycat Dolls, Akon and some more. All these collaborations as well as the co-production by Timbaland leave their marks and add more hip hop to the pop sound of NKOTB. The album is very danceable and great for clubs. Some songs are typical for pop and boygroups, are more the singing and chorographic kind of music, others are totally urban with beats and hip hop elements some are more R’n’B like. So this album is a journey through several different styles, passionate and full of love. “Click Click Click” has great vocals, the lyrics get stuck in your head easily, “Full Service” is the most hip hop-ish song on the album. The bonus song “Close to You” begins with one of the NKOTB’s guy’s kid talking with his daddy, really cute to listen. I like the new album of these guys despite what others say. It is interesting and doesn’t get boring because of the different styles this album contains.

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 14. Close to You (bonus)

Links:
New Kids On The Block MySpace
New Kids On The Block Official