Inspirational lyrics? Not here. Influential melodies? Not a chance. Boy band amazingness? Yes, times a million. New Kids On the Block are back and better than ever with their new album The Block.
It’s been 14 years since NKOTB last released an album and over 20 since the formation of the original boy band. But not all things change in time and neither did the Kids. Sure, they’re middle aged now with wives and kids, obviously the members themselves have matured, but that doesn’t mean their music had to. Sure, the lyrics are a little more risqué and the Kids make several references to their new “Grown Man” status, but die-hard fans need not worry––underneath all the vocoders remain the five boys who had teenage girls “hangin tough” for over a decade of No. 1 hits. To call The Block anything but a boy band masterpiece is ludicrous.
The Block shows NKOTB is back full force and at their best, with assistance from modern production tools (also called the magic touch of Timbaland) and Top 40 sensations including The Pussycat Dolls, Ne-Yo, Akon and new artist Lady Gaga.
Highlights of the album include the extremely sexually suggestive “Full Service,” featuring the Kids former rivals New Edition, in which the Kids offer females worldwide their mechanical services. “You ain’t gotta do it yourself baby / I’m gonna give you the full service / You ain’t even gotta get out your seat.”
The album’s first single, “Summertime,” peaked at No. 36 on the Billboard 100 and despite the cheesy and hauntingly repetitive lyrics, the Kids nicely display their harmony and lingering ability to make more than 20 seconds of “ooooh” sound like sheer musical genius.
The greatness ensues with “2 in the Morning,” a slow and deeply meaningful ballad from a tormented boyfriend to his extremely pissed girlfriend. “Stare At You” and the Akon assisted “Put It On My Tab” slow down the album pace and reminders that nothing–not even 20 years––will make the Kids write or sing about anything besides cover girls and their endless, undying love for any countless number of women.
Although The Block is possibly one of the best comeback albums of all time, “Click Click Click” and “Lights, Camera, Action” are both just awful. Donnie Wahlburg demonstrates his inability to rap on both and no one was kind enough to tell him how terrible it is and, somehow, both of these disasters made it onto the 14-track album.
Bad attempts at rapping aside, The Block is everything NKOTB fans could hope for and more. A perfect 10, 100 golden stars and 24 thumbs up––each member gets five thumbs up except Donnie––for this bubble-gum pop gem.
