New Kids on the Block - The Block [Deluxe Edition]
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Free Music Notes for The Block [Deluxe Edition]
Free Music Review: Back on the Block
Hit: 5 Stars
The good:
I liked this album as a whole - I expected upbeat, pop, club cuts and it is exactly what I got. Given the nature of the guys' solo efforts, I'm not surprised this is the direction they took on this comeback. While some of these songs are unabashed pop songs, they sound nothing like the 80's material that made them famous. I'm glad that they did not attempt to duplicate their 80's sound. It would have been foolish.
Given the current Puritanical climate of the country, I wasn't surprised to see complaints against the sexual references in some of the songs. However, I was rather relieved they did not attempt to write Barney-like "I love you, you love me, we're so happy" hackneyed, high school poetry lyrics, the kind that made them famous. It would have been embarrassing to attempt to have songs with innocent lyrics at their age. They are grown men now and the lyrics reflect it. I think some of their lyrics are tongue-in-cheek - and it appears they did want to have some fun with this album instead of taking themselves so seriously. Some of the lyrics are downright amusing. It's not too hard to see humor in the lyrics of "Lights, Camera, Action" or "Grown Man".
What I liked best about the album is the vocals - with the stand outs of course being Jordan's nuanced vocals and Joe's powerhouse singing. Even if Joe did seem to blow the others out of the water, his power is impressive. I've always contended combining Jordan and Joe would produce the perfect singer. Jordan cannot belt and Joe lacks the emotionality that Jordan has.
Donnie's emergence on this album as a vocal player was interesting - he was the mastermind behind the reunion, bamboozling the guys back in. Donnie has remarkably stepped up his vocal game - I always considered him the weakest singer of the group - but his voice and technique are considerably better than yesteryear. Still, his vocals pale in comparison to Jordan's or Joe's. His emergence as being the "leader" of the group is interesting as well. How the pendulum swings.
This isn't a complaint as much as it is an observation but what most surprised me about the album is I did not care for any of the ballads. The upbeat, dance songs have more bite and more engagement from the guys where the ballads seem flat and obligatory. The ballads are overly dramatic and the clashing of vocals makes the guys' voices appear weak. It's as if the ballads and dance songs are meant for two different albums. The context and message between them are as different as night and day.
The annoyances:
An immediate annoyance was the sharing of vocals - they did not take turns singing verses in their hey-day and I'm not sure why they felt the need to do it now.
Donnie vocally dominates the album - singing most of the songs and the verses. Now, at the risk of sounding derogatory towards Donnie - and as much as I like the guy - his voice nor his technique is the best and why he was allowed to vocally dominate is beyond me.
Speaking of vocally dominating, the clashing of Joe's explosive power against the vocals of the other guys is maddening. Joe pretty much drowns everyone. Joe's vocals are so much louder than the other guys that it's as if Joe's microphone was turned up to the max during the recording sessions. It seems whoever mastered this album was unsure of how to handle Joe's powerhouse vocals. The most obvious of this is in "Don't Cry" where Joe's vocals are so loud it sounds as if Jordan is straining to reach Joe's heights. The clashing of vocal styles make this song almost unbearable to listen to. The song would have fared much better if Joe or Jordan had sang it solo. They sang "Click Click Click" and "Single" well together but why they clashed on the ballads is beyond me.
Ironically, one of the finest moments on the album was where Joe's vocal power was well enveloped in the crescendo of "One Song". His ad-libs ending the song perfectly suited his voice as well.
The use of auto-tune in "2 in the Morning" is stupid, making the vocals sound unnatural. Also, this song would have sounded better if Jordan had sang it alone - his vocals fit this style of music better than Donnie's chop-chop style he used in the song.
Finally, where the heck is Danny? I heard him briefly in two songs but he did not sing a single verse on the album. He had one of the best voices in the group and for him to be nearly silent on this album is a bit odd.
A curiosity: Jordan had a hand in the writing of two the songs and Danny zero - which given their heavy input on earlier NKOTB albums strikes me as a bit odd.
Free Music Review: The Best 'Block' yet!:)
Hit: 5 Stars
I am a coward. I bought the NKOTB's reunion CD "The Block" months ago-and for months it sat on top of my dresser. Why? Because I could not bare to find out that perhaps they would not live up to my memories of them. Then one day I took the CD and brought it along as I drove my three nephews to the Mall. They were listening to their hip hop music and on the return trip I asked them Auntie could take a turn listening to some music-and I popped in "The Block". What can I say? I was enchanted. Delighted. OVERJOYED. They are BETTER than ever if that is possible. "Hangin' Tough' had always been my fave New Kids song-I think "Dirty Dancing" has taken that mantle. "Full Service", and "Grown Man" have also taken a hold of this old fan's heart. I love the entire CD but those three songs are the ones I listen to over and over again. I never got to see the New Kids in concert (don't ask!) but now I intend to. If their 2009 and 2010 Cruises had not been sold out I would have been there. But I will be eventually. I actually bought the red-covered "Block" first-then the blue-cover "Deluxe" edition! Well-that's a Blockhead for ya!
Buy "The Block"! You won't be disappointed! Highly recommend. :)
Free Music Review: the block delux edition
Hit: 5 Stars
All NKOTB fans have been waiting so long for this and Our boys didn't let us down. :o)Free Music Review: Viva The Block!~Joey McIntyre
Hit: 5 Stars
WOW! What to say! This album is amazing! Any New Kids Fan, new or old should get this album. Its a mix of today's top hits, with some of their old music. All ages will definitely enjoy this CD! They performed most of these songs at their Reunion Tour, and Full Service Tour. Here's how I would rate this album!
Click Click Click- 5/5 Joey/Jordan/Donnie on lead
Single- 5/5 Donnie/Joey/Ne-yo on lead
Big Girl Now- 3/5 Jordan/Donnie/Lady Gaga on lead
Summertime- 5/5 Joey/Jordan/Donnie on lead
2 In The Morning- 5/5 Jordan/Donnie on lead
Grown Man- 4/5 Donnie on lead
Dirty Dancing- 5/5 Donnie/Jordan on lead
Sexify My Love- Donnie/Jordan on lead
Twisted- 4.5/5 Joey on lead
Full Service- 5/5 Jordan/Donnie/Joey/New Edition on lead
Lights Camera Action- 2/5 Joey/Jordan/Donnie
Put It On My Tab- 4/5 Jordan on lead
Stare At You- 5/5 Joey on lead
One Song- 4/5 Jordan/Donnie/Joey on lead
Don't Cry- 4/5 Jordan on lead w/ some Joey
Officially Over- 4/5 Joey/Donnie/Jordan on lead
Looking Like Danger- 4/5 Jordan/Joey/Donnie on lead
Close To You- 5/5 Joey on lead
Free Music Review: Already played countless times
Hit: 5 Stars
Now I'm sure I played my "Hangin' Tough" and "Step by Step" TAPES a ridiculous number of times, in fact, I think I had to purchase "Hangin' Tough" twice because the first cassette wore out. Trust me, while the style is slightly different, updated in my opinion, these guys still have what it takes to create a wonderful and very enjoyable album. I drove between LA and San Diego yesterday, and never once considered playing a different album.
I was playing the music at work the other day, and others were definitely impressed...it's about time people finally woke up and realized NKOTB is for real! Many of us New Kids fans have dealt with naysayers before and there are still some out there, but anyone with half an ear for decent music cannot deny the strength and quality of this album.