Music
New Kids On The Block: 'The Block'
Released on Monday, Sep 8 2008
Published Monday, Sep 8 2008, 17:52 BST | By Nick Levine | 11 comments
Still, you can't blame the reformed five-piece for being a bit touchy about their name - they haven't been "new" since they released their debut album in 1986; and with a collective age of 190, only your grandfather could call them "kids" without having to swallow a snigger. Sadly, on this, their first record in 14 years, Danny, Donnie, Joey, Jordan and Jonathan have resolutely refused to grow old gracefully.
While Take That, the British boyband they inspired, have eased into the middle of the road since reforming, New Kids - sorry, "The Block" - want to show they can still cut it with the youngsters. With production from hip R&B beatsmiths (RedOne, Polow Da Don and the ubiquitous Timbaland all contribute), and cameos from Ne-Yo, Akon and the Pussycat Dolls, The Block is the sort of album *N SYNC might make if they reunited in 2008. There's flashy, synthy R&B for the uptempo cuts, sultry, minimal R&B for the midtempo ones and just two gooey ballads.
As its enviable cast list would suggest, The Block sounds pretty good as it plays, particularly the exuberant 'Twisted' and the Aretha-sampling 'Grown Man'. The trouble comes when you pay any degree of attention to the lyrics, which run the gamut all the way from sexy to sexual to sex-obsessed. There's a song about making a sex tape, a song about S&M, a song called 'Sexify My Love', a song where the New Kids essentially dry-hump the Pussycat Dolls for three minutes and a song where we learn that their ideal woman, who's blessed with a "pretty pretty face", an "itty bitty waist" and "big ol' hips", looks remarkably like Jessica Rabbit.
By the time these self-styled Sex Gods are pledging to "fill you up-up, pump you up-up, 'til the tip-top, drip-drop..." on track eleven, their obsession with getting laid has become really quite tiresome. The Block may raise several questions about how we expect men in their (late) thirties to behave, but it does at least settle one matter definitively. Why did NKOTB release 'Summertime', the most old-fashioned track here, as the album's lead single? Because, for all its faults, it has an innocence that the rest of this crass, rather creepy album is lacking.
More: New Kids On The Block, Music
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nkotb have had IT,got IT,and always will...
I'm absolutely lovin' the block!!!!
So many reviewers have decided that his album is not good just because the targeted fanbase. It's a form of discrimination. It's as if these fans, women in their late 20's to late 30's, don't matter. This is a very good album. The music SOUNDS fantastic. Did you listen to it or just read the lyrics, or worse, did you go off of a previous reviewers opinion. Because, I have to tell you, the word "creepy" has popped up in at least 4 reviews I've read. Someone isn't being original!!!! At least find a different word if you really feel that way about it. And, as far as the subject matter, I guess Justin Timberlake can "sing" half an album of sex-related material since he's in his twenties and is appealing to the younger set, but artists over 35 aren't supposed to sing about it to women over 25? Again, discrimination. And also, you only picked out the songs that fit the review you want to give. There are a number of songs, like "2 in the Morning" aren't about sex. "Single" isn't even about sex. Please learn to give a fair and balanced review. I rate the album 5 stars!
Your reviewer clearly made up their mind before listening to the cd. It is incredible. Yes, I have been a New Kids fan since the late 1980s, but I can honestly say this is the best they've ever produced. It's fun, sexy, current, and true to their group. Love them all. Can't get enough. They are hotter than ever and their songs are true to their adult life experiences - listen to 2 in the morning or Don't Cry and tell me you hear something that's all about sex. I'm tired of male reviewers automatically dismissing this group because of their appeal to teenage girls. We're still here after 20 years. Apparently that doesn't mean much unless you're the Rolling Stones . . . My 5 rating also goes for the cd. The review gets a -5.
Really like this album, best songs are Dirty Dancing, 2 In The Morning, Big Girl Now, Single, Tick, Tick, Tick. Cool R&B tracks, mixed with electro pop/dance. Much better than Take That's "safe" comeback album.
Chinyere, London, on September 14th, 2008
Their video just looks so wrong!
Their video just looks so wrong!
More like New OAP's on the Block. What's the matter?, run out of cash so it back to making appallingly bad records and coming out with the usual "we 're doing for our fans" crap. ENOUGH!!!!
Don't diss New Kids!
Actually, they've mentioned in multiple interviews that they've made this album quite personal and honest this time around. It's relevant to what's going on in their lives right now. They released Summertime as their first single because they wanted to invite their fans back to the party and remind them of what they used to sound like before releasing what they sound like now. I thought it was a brilliant idea because they have captured a lot of fans from the younger generation as well. This is a great dance album and I can see why it is selling so well on Amazon under its appropriate categories. My 5 stars is also for the album.
Actually, the album is excellent, if you, as a reviewer had spent time listening to it without having made up your mind to hate it before it even started. And making fun of their name... How many groups out there don't fit their name? The Eagles? The Beach Boys? Garbage? 20 years later and their critics haven't changed a bit. Good thing neither this reunion isn't for people like you. It's for the fans. And we couldn't be happier. And my 5 rating is for the album, not the review.
good or bad, they have a huge following fans so it's not important anymore ^_^