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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
"The Block" Is Good, September 2, 2008
When I heard earlier in the year that the 80s band New Kids on the Block was putting out another album, I was rather skeptical. We've seen boy bands come and go, and then attempt to make a comeback. Well, after listening to this new album 'The Block' I can say that I'm surprised and delighted. Yes, there is a certain cheesy factor that comes to play considering this is a boy band and a group that had popularity in the 1980s and a bit of the 90s. BUT, unlike groups like The Backstreet Boys that attempt to shed their 'boy band' image and make more mature music ... that is in turn very dull and lacks the spirit that made them popular to begin with, New Kids really stepped it up and made it sound as if they belonged in this pop/club/r&b genre that this album is set in.
The Good: I think the best songs are those that feature the harmony parts. These songs felt fresher and more true to the whole 'New Kids' image and style. "Summertime" and "Single" are two songs that really stand out because while they're produced by current producers, the group really takes these songs and makes them fun, a tad bit cheesy, but still good. Other songs that stood out were "Stare At You", "Full Service" and "Twisted". While you may be slightly embarrassed to be caught rocking it out to New Kids on the Block, I think these songs which are rather R&B/Dance orientated will satisfy any reservations you may have.
The Bad: Perhaps this is the boy-band syndrome; the songs that attempt to be overly sensual and seductive and just fall a bit flat. "Grown Man" for instance alludes to how these 'New Kids' are going to give their women some 'grown man'. This attempt to be sexual and the lyrics just didn't seem like The New Kids on the Block at all. "Big Girl Now", while featuring the hip up and coming artist Lady Gaga was another let down with how out of place it sounded.
Some of the other songs were good (nothing in my opinion was horrible or un-listenable) but really didn't impress me or have me hitting the repeat button. There were other songs that I felt were really good but these are all on the special edition, which is what I recommend you buy because it's worth it just for the extra songs that really help to balance out the cd. Buy this, you'll probably be surprised how much you enjoy it.
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8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Back On The Block, September 2, 2008
If you grew up in the late 80's early 90's you can't have missed out New Kids On The Block, one of the most popular boybands of all time, almost in the same league as Madonna and Prince at one time. Maurice Starr the founder of the first ever boy band New Edition wanted something more and created New Kids on The Block in 1984 containing Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg (Mark's Brother) Jordan & Jonathan Knight and Danny Wood. The concept proved succcessful and after releasing their sophmore album "Hangin' Tough", in 1988 they were the ultimate teen idols. They combined ballads like "I'll Be Loving You (Forever)", and "Please Don't Go Girl" with uptempo swagger like "You Got It (The Right Stuff), "Hangin' Tough" and "Step by Step" (the title track of their third album). Having said that, they were the predecessors to bands lik Take That, East 17 and Backstreet Boys. But like most Boy Bands, it doesn't go on forever and this was the case for the them aswell. After "Hangin' Tough" they took a 3 year hiatus from recording, and when their 4th album "Face The Music" finally dropped in 1994, it was too late. Other boybands like Take That had arrived, their fans had grown up and started listening to other things, they were also getting older themselves and tried to force themselves into a new tougher image of young adults instead (Now calling themselves NKOTB). On top of that, they were also accused of lipsynching (which was proven false BTW). A band that could once fill arenas were now going on a tour on local clubs. reluctant to face their popularity diminish, they called it a day and disbanded during the same year. None of the boys had a successful solo career either, the closest was a comeback #10 hit for Jordan Knight in 1999 with "Give It To You".
Quite unexpected they announced their reunion in 2008 and their new album "The Block" was released. On this album all of the 5 original members are back on the block again. The sound is very much grown up, most of the songs seem to deal with sex and being adults, something that they failed with on their last album. They have also contacted top producers like Polow Da Don, Timbaland and Teddy Riley aswell as RedOne in order to stay fresh and apply to current musical trends. On the surface it looks like a smart move considering they're too old to sing teen-pop but when Take That made a comeback 2 years ago, they were grown up wihout proving they have more sex now and without the desperation of applying to current trends. The songs are not bad here soundwise, and the singles "Summer Time", "Single" (With Ne-Yo) are pretty good aswell as the first song "Click Click Click" with a hot beat. But the sex songs are getting tiresome after a while with two corny duets "Big Girl Now" with LadyGaga and "Grown Man" with Pussycat Dolls, both with the same result. "Dirty Dancing" make references of the 80's flick and "Sexify My Like" got an apparent meaning. Timbaland produced "Twisted" is nothing special while the erotic "Lights Camera Action" from Polow was an Usher lefover. "Put It On My Tab" feature a trademark Akon hook and uses clichés like "You can tell her, drinks on me/Cause I got money to burn, as it really does grows on trees/ Cause her beautiful body got me willing to party/And she got a big hold on me". "Full Service" a duet with New Edition however is fun just for the case of the collaboration and the beats are fine aswell as "2 In The Morning" one of few non sex songs. Closer "Stare At You" is the closest to a ballad you get here, another sweet song.
Overall, While it's hard to expect them to make teen-pop and it cool that they don't sound like a bunch of boring old men it's just too one sided. Yes, they grew up and they like to meet ladies (aren't they all married man anyway?) But most of the songs follow the same formula, it's quite a shame since the production is quite enjoyable. But if we pretend they're not the same band that did "Please Don't Go Girl" and "Hangin' Tough" and just listen to the beats and hooks this album is alright and infact much better then alot of music out there right now. I just wished it was more varied. 3 stars is the final verdict
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I'd Give it 6 If I Could, September 3, 2008
This is a great album. Whether you're a new 'new kids' fan or an old one, this album will not disappoint. NKOTB went thru the extra steps to make sure that each song was an all or nothing effort. Lady Gaga, Ne-Yo, Pussycat Dolls, New Edition and many others make great appearances on this album (including a production by Timbaland). But be forewarned... this is not...I repeat NOT...the 80s/90s boyband you once knew. Forget the #1 balads. You won't find that here. The 'kids' have certainly grown up, and their music and lyrics reflect that. This is not a kidd-ish dance album...it's reflective of today's R&B/Pop sexy standards. Sex is the standard...that's a fact of life... and without flat out saying that, the 'kids' have included some songs with some serious adult undertones. Let's face it....their fan base is now in the range of 30-ish, and what their fans listen to has changed over the last 20 years....so the 'kids' knew that they too had to change to fit to what was currently being played on those fans' mp3 players. So! Gone are the 'ohohohohoh' and cheesy keyboards that we all once loved back in the day.... they've now been replaced by a sound that certainly has done a good job of keeping up and changing with the times. Buy the album....and listen to it with an UNBIAS view of who NKOTB once was. This is a new band thru and thru. It may be a reunion for those of us 'block heads'....but it really can not possibly be compared to Hangin' Tough or Step by Step. And this is both in the song types/sounds....and in their voices. Apparently the years have been kind to their voices and ability to haromonize. They are better at that then they were in the past. Possibly because the bar has been raised by other 'accapella' singing boy bands like Nsync. Now I don't claim them to have sung accapella on this album (they did not)...but pop in Hangin' Tough and then follow it up with a few songs from this album, and the difference will hit you in the face. It's that much better. And the songs are that much richer. Fuller.
A few side notes: The album version of "Click Click Click" is slightly different then the version that leaked out on to the internet and file sharing sites, like Limewire a few months ago. Their is a new interlude and some tone and backround elements were stylized. Also, I'd suggest getting the deluxe version of this album. It includes 4 bonus tracks and also unlocks a 'deluxe' section of NKOTB's website. The 4 bonus tracks are 'okay'...but track 15 "Don't Cry" is well worth the price of admission. It's probably the closest thing you'll find to a encore of the 'kids' 90's balads..... a little more up-beat then your average balad, but some great harmonizing and lyrics. All total, I personally like Grown Man, Full Service, Click Click Click, and Dirty Dancing best.
Speaking of lyrics... I am compeled to comment on a few 'bad' reviews that are lingering out there concerning the choice of lyrics on this album. I realize that you can't please all of the people all of the time. But one person even went as far to say that the sex-type lyrics and songs merely only represent the shallowness of what the 'kids' stand for. All I can say to that is... check your reality meter. Lyrics in songs normally have nothing to do with what an artist stands for. I think a certain artist named Eminem proved that. And if your looking to avoid adult undertones in your music, you may want to just turn your radio off completely. (LOL)
So, in conclusion... buy it... forget about the boy band stereotypes...forget about what you once knew was 'nkotb'....loose the bias....listen to it...and enjoy it as a NEW band.
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