NKOTB Returns with The Block: Early Album Review

The New Kids On The Block were one of the biggest boy bands in the history of music. It has been fourteen years since Donnie Wahlberg, Jordan Knight, Jonathan Knight, Joey McIntyre and Danny Wood created new music together. Now as full-grown adults the New Kids On The Block are poised to release their comeback album The Block. Will The Block be a success or should the guys never reunited in the first place?

The first single off of The Block is Summertime. The song is the perfect track for the summer. The song finds the group not trying to be anything that they are not and it works for them.

On the second single Single, The New Kids On The Block are joined by Ne-Yo and Polow Da Don. The song is produced by Polow and written by Ne-Yo. The song is one of the best on the album although it has a more urban vibe to it.

In a collaboration that was nearly two decades in the making, The New Kids are joined by New Edition on Full Service. Considering the two groups were the two biggest boy bands of the 1980's, the track is just lacking and does not live up to the hype.

Akon teams with the New Kids on Put It On My Tab. The song just does not seem to fix with New Kids image. The song is a passable pop song but nothing special.

Click Click Click is another solid track. The song is more contemporary R&B and feels age appropriate.

Polow Da Don joins the party again on Lights, Camera, Action. The track was a leftover from Usher's last album Here I Stand. The song seems like it would fit Usher better than the New Kids.

The Pussycat Dolls and Teddy Riley join the boys on the Teddy Riley produced Grown Men. The song is very different harmonically and melodically. However, the song just does not have lasting appeal.

On Big Girl Now the group is joined by Lady GaGa. The song has a definite Gwen Stefani song yet picks up at the chorus to make the track listenable.

Stare At You is the perfect way to close out the album. The song is one of the better tracks on the album and just works with your preconceived notions of the group.

It is always hard for stars from different eras to be relevant in the current time. The New Kids On The Block are the perfect example. The overuse of urban music and Autotune effects just bring the album down. The tracks just seem forced. Overall The Block gets 7.5 out of 10. If you are a fan of The New Kids On The Block make sure you pick up The Block when it is available in stores on September 2^nd.