Customer Reviews

Face the Music

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

1994's 'Face The Music' was the New Kids' attempt to make a comeback during a time when the music industry was all about grunge and gangsta rap; looking back, the timing probably couldn't have been any worse. While the comeback was ultimately a failure (Jon Knight had bowed out early on, leaving the group as a foursome), they were certainly able to offer music lovers one last album of what I personally consider some of their best material. We begin with an interlude that is heavily influenced by East Coast hip-hop, complete with samples from Gangstarr, etc. Next up is "You Got The Flavor", produced by the one and only Teddy Riley, the godfather of New Jack Swing. Why this dance song was never picked up by Coke or Pepsi for a commercial is beyond me...

The album's first single "Dirty Dawg" follows, complete with rap verses by New Jack Era rappers Nice & Smooth ("Sometimes I Rhyme Slow", "Hip Hop Junkies"). While the song is a nice departure from fluffier hits a la "The Right Stuff", it does strike me as a tad too misogynistic. "Girls" is by far the best uptempo on the album, featuring a chorus by Joe McIntyre, verses by Jordan Knight and a rap that doesn't try to hard by Donnie Wahlberg; this probably would have been the third single had the album's promo campaign made it that far.

"If You Go Away" is probably the best ballad the New Kids ever recorded, originally released back in the fall of 1991. Sparkingly tender, this version is longer than the one heard on the radio, with a stunningly warm ending section. "Keep On Smilin" is sunny midtempo that originally appeared on the Free Willy soundtrack, BUT, it's the Teddy Riley-produced "Never Let You Go" that is the mellow 'urban' masterpiece that the New Kids should be most proud of. With an Al B. Sure-meets-early Blackstreet vibe, "Never Let You Go" was the second single from this album, and the video (shot in black and white) was laid back and smooth. Hands down, "Never Let You Go" is the best song on the album, and sounds the least dated of all.

"Keepin My Fingers Crossed" was produced by Wolf & Epic (the guys who did BBD's "Do Me!" and "I Thought It Was Me" radio mixes) and sounded dated even back in early '94 (sorry guys). [side note: Brett "Epic" Mazur is now co-lead vocalist of Crazy Town] The next song ("Mrs. Right") is probably the most 1994-sounding of all the songs on the album (think "Teddy Bear" by G-Wiz), and I always considered this one an enjoyable listen. Joey McIntyre handles the lead vocals on this one. "Since You Walked Into My Life" is another triumphantly glorious ballad in the vein of "If You Go Away" (both produced by Walter Afanasieff of Mariah Carey fame). I believe this track was originally supposed to be a solo song by Jordan Knight, but either way -- it works.

"Let's Play House" is a lighthearted midtempo lead by Jordan (another solo track?), and it works well. "I Can't Believe It's Over" (produced by Narada Michael Walden) sounds a lot like Mariah Carey's "I Don't Wanna Cry" (also produced by Walden), but it still works well to give the album its darkest ballad. The shimmering "I'll Still Be Loving You" (which seems to be a sequel to "I'll Be Loving You Forever") finds Joe McIntyre singing his lungs out -- besides "Please Don't Go Girl", I think this is his best NKOTB performance. Bravo. The final song ("I'll Be Waitin") is one of the more forgettable songs (along with "Keepin My Fingers Crossed"), but Danny Wood turns in his second best New Kid career performance (Valentine Girl" was by far his best outing).

In closing, I'd say 1994's "Face The Music" was a great album. While it may not have garnered the commercial success one would hope for, they certainly earned 'critical' praise from me: a music lover. And at the end of it all, it should *always* be about the music, right?

By far the best work New Kids On the Block ever released. Filled with R&B flavor throughout (a homage to their musical roots), sadly Face the Music did not gain the exposure it deserved. Too bad - what better way to end a long and exciting yet tumultuous journey. It was nice to see/hear the boys going back to their roots before backing out completely! Groups have come and gone, but artists such as New Edition and New Kids On the Block paved the way for the generations that followed. If NKOTB were never your cup of tea, ya gotta at least give 'em that!

This Is one of the most underated and perhaps the most slept on album I've ever heard. This is the best boy band cd by far. My Ipod is filled with classic hip hop and r&b, but this album gets the 3rd most play out of over 60 cds' on my ipod. I only play 2pac and nas more. The most surprising thing is The overall sound. Alot more R&b influenced as opposed to their pop album's.In addition there's also a lot of rap and the lyrics are impressive, and Donny Waldberg's flow sounds amazing a lot like LL cool j very smooth and shows it the most on track #7 I'll never let you go. This Cd really picks up strong during second half of the cd. Full of emotions at times upbeat very sexy, and clever and other times very dark and sad. Overall I still relate to the material and this cd inspires me still today, and I truley can't live with out it, thanks NKOTB.

#2 You got the flavor- 5/5 Outstanding start off track. Definitely a car bumper. sick beat, sick hook, and sick flow at the end. ''enough said.
#3 Dirty dogg- 3.5/5 first release off album, actually my least favorite, but still relevant today.
#4 Girls- 5/5 great melody. great rap delivered by Donnie W. His 2nd best flow on the album.
#5 If you go away- 4/5 2nd single release beautiful song.
#6 Keep on smilin''-4/5 Nice upbeat song to get you going through life.
#7 I'll never let you go 5/5 -Most impressing track perhaps on the cd. Beautiful song and beat, and once again Donny delivers a great rhyme, his best by far and does it without tryin' to hard.
#8 Keepin my fingers crossed 5/5- great story still see it happen every day.
#9 Mrs. Right 5/5 -My favorite track because I relate to the situation so well, has happened to me before. ''baby let me know the deal cuz I gotta know if its for real.
#10 Since You walked into my life 5/5- probably the best ballad I've ever heard and I will definitely play at my wedding someday.
#11 Let's play house 5/5- would make a good proposal song, I love it though very upbeat, sexy and clever.
#12 I can't believe its over 5/5- The saddest song on the cd, Danny Wood leads vocals, and is pretty good, but Jordan Knight's amazing high note at the end,completes the song.(watch out Mariah carey)
#13 I'll still be loving you 5/5- Joey Mac still got it his voice. He really lets it pour out. great output.
#14 I'll be waitin 5/5- great outro good way for the group to go out. I'm still waitin''

I have been prasing this album since it came out in 1994. It is the most underrated yet wonderful album ever recorded! There are 3 songs on this album that are simply heaven. First and foremost is the beautiful "IF YOU GO AWAY" which still holds rank as my "favorite song ever" all these years later. It's mix of beautiful melodic music and perfectly sung vocals by Jordan Knight and Joey McIntyre make this song the most wonderful tune ever released. As far as an R&B ballad goes, it doesn't get better than this.

"Since You Walked Into My Life" is another heavenly classic, again containing the perfect mix of beatiful music with amazing vocals by Knight and McIntyre. This song should have been their first single off this album.

And finally "I Can't Believe It's Over," a heartfelt power ballad is perhaps Jordan Knight's most amazing vocal work ever. Again containing unforgettable melodic music combined with Knight's power vocals make this the absolute king of "break up" songs for broken lovers.

The 3 songs mentioned above make this the most wonderful album of all time, but there is lots more great stuff on this album too! If you are a lover of R&B magic, do NOT miss this album. 11 years later, it's still "The Best Album Ever!"
peace.

Unfortunately for NKOTB, this album came at a time well beyond their glory days and during a time when everyone was listening to grunge. But even more unfortunate for all those music lovers out there, they missed one of the best pop albums out there! Throughout their careers, NKOTB was bashed as critics called them untalented, copycats, and over-produced. This album puts all of those criticisms to shame. The guys wrote most of the music, produced almost everything, and showed once and for just how much talent they really have. All it took was stepping out from producer and founder Maurice Starr's shadow. The guys produced 14 wonderful songs that were all over the place - from ballads, to dance tunes, to just good music. If only this album had either come at a better time or received more hype - more fans would have flocked to NKOTB and realized once and for all what a talented set of guys they were! So whether a Blockhead or not, definitely check this out!

I thought that "Face The Music" was the best album from 1994. No other album from that year came close, though there were a few that nearly toppled it. It was good pop and I liked that the members were involved in the writing of it. But maybe they ran out of things to do and that's why the album didn't do well. People moved on to other artists that year, and I was going, why aren't they onto NKOTB? But I liked "Never Gonna Let You Go" (my favorite), Dirty Dawg, You Got The Flava, If You Go Away, Keeping My Fingers Crossed, I'll Be Waiting and others. This was really overlooked that year, and if it comes up on some "lost CD" series 20 years from now, they need to acknowledge and respect it!

Its ironic that so few people even know about the existence of this 1994 album. It was considered a 'flop' by the record company (to date, it has sold around 135,000 copies in the United States, according to Billboard Magazine), and eventually resulted in NKOTB disbanding.

Thats sad, because "Face the Music" is one of the best, if not THE best New Kids on the Block album. As a long time supporter of the guys, "Hangin' Tough" is obviously my favorite New Kids album, simply because of associative reasons and the fact that it literally was the soundtrack of my life for a few solid years in my pre-teens, but musically, "Face the Music" is much more mature, and definitely more lyrically creative.

Also, the tunes are a whole lot stronger. The disc's best cut, "If you Go Away", was actually a HUGE success in Asia, though it didn't quite get any mainstream success in the US. The other single, "Dirty Dawg", have the boys deliberately trying to reach out to the hip-hop/funk audience, with some interesting results. Biased as I am about all things remotely connected to the New Kids, of course I love this song as well.

"Face the Music" is longer than all of the other New Kids albums, and it also lets its two minor members (Danny Wood and Jonathan Knight) come to the fore a bit more than usual (these two guys are notorious for shying away from lead vocal status). Its a great, early '90s slice of progressive pop, and the disc boasts of some EXCELLENT production - seriously, on a good stereo system, the production just soars - get it and find out for yourself.

Four Stars. This isn't my favorite New Kids album, but its clearly their best one, in terms of musicianship and creativity. A must-buy.

NKOTB find their sound on this, their 4th LP. Brilliant from start to finish. A hard edged, urban-oriented masterpiece.

This item was the best CD!!! I do not understand why this did not sell as well a previous albums because this is FANTASTIC! Every track was wonderful and shouldn't songs be judged by the tempo, melody and beat, anyway?
Track number 5 is the BEST!! if you go away has always been my favorite and always will.
If you should happen to pass this CD someday, be sure to listen to track 5 and 7.

This album is by far their best. Most people don't even know about it. The fab five had a chance to do some writing and producing on this album. This is a much more mature musical venture for new kids. I highly recommend this album especially since you can buy it for so cheap of amazon.com and on ebay. Worth 15 bucks but you probably won't have to pay that.