New Kids on the Block, Nkotb - Face the Music

Sorry I let the Haters influence me...

So, if you haven't heard, NKOTB are back and have a new album, "The Block", coming out on September 2nd. I'm going to see them on Tour. Surprisingly, my love for them is back and apparently never died. I really regret that I didn't buy this CD 14 years ago. I was too embarrassed because they weren't "cool" anymore.
By FAR their best work. The whole album is good. Yes, it has a 90's vibe to it but that's when it came out. As I listened I kept thinking...these could easily be Boyz II Men songs. The Boyz were huge in the mid nineties so that says a lot. Vocally, it's their strongest and style wise, their most mature. I think the biggest mistake they made was releasing "Dirty Dawg" as the first single. It's my least favorite. I think they tried to hard to prove they had grown up.
Anyway, If you Go Away is an amazing track. I also love "I'll Still be Loving you" "Girls", "Mrs. Right"...um never mind I like all of them. It's that good. Sad that to this day, people are still judging them based on music and marketing controlled by "the machine" and not the guys themselves. They are way more talented than they are given credit for. For a clip of "If you go away" live, check out Arsenio Hall, NKOTB on YouTube. July 21, 2008

An Underrated Gem : Possibly Their Greatest Album

Its ironic that so few people even know about the existence of this 1994 album. It was considered a 'flop' by the record company (to date, it has sold around 135,000 copies in the United States, according to Billboard Magazine), and eventually resulted in NKOTB disbanding.

Thats sad, because "Face the Music" is one of the best, if not THE best New Kids on the Block album. As a long time supporter of the guys, "Hangin' Tough" is obviously my favorite New Kids album, simply because of associative reasons and the fact that it literally was the soundtrack of my life for a few solid years in my pre-teens, but musically, "Face the Music" is much more mature, and definitely more lyrically creative.

Also, the tunes are a whole lot stronger. The disc's best cut, "If you Go Away", was actually a HUGE success in Asia, though it didn't quite get any mainstream success in the US. The other single, "Dirty Dawg", have the boys deliberately trying to reach out to the hip-hop/funk audience, with some interesting results. Biased as I am about all things remotely connected to the New Kids, of course I love this song as well.

"Face the Music" is longer than all of the other New Kids albums, and it also lets its two minor members (Danny Wood and Jonathan Knight) come to the fore a bit more than usual (these two guys are notorious for shying away from lead vocal status). Its a great, early '90s slice of progressive pop, and the disc boasts of some EXCELLENT production - seriously, on a good stereo system, the production just soars - get it and find out for yourself.

Four Stars. This isn't my favorite New Kids album, but its clearly their best one, in terms of musicianship and creativity. A must-buy. May 30, 2008

Best boy band cd ever!!! Simply Brilliant!!!

This Is one of the most underated and perhaps the most slept on album I've ever heard. This is the best boy band cd by far. My Ipod is filled with classic hip hop and r&b, but this album gets the 3rd most play out of over 60 cds' on my ipod. I only play 2pac and nas more. The most surprising thing is The overall sound. Alot more R&b influenced as opposed to their pop album's.In addition there's also a lot of rap and the lyrics are impressive, and Donny Waldberg's flow sounds amazing a lot like LL cool j very smooth and shows it the most on track #7 I'll never let you go. This Cd really picks up strong during second half of the cd. Full of emotions at times upbeat very sexy, and clever and other times very dark and sad. Overall I still relate to the material and this cd inspires me still today, and I truley can't live with out it, thanks NKOTB.

#2 You got the flavor- 5/5 Outstanding start off track. Definitely a car bumper. sick beat, sick hook, and sick flow at the end. ''enough said.
#3 Dirty dogg- 3.5/5 first release off album, actually my least favorite, but still relevant today.
#4 Girls- 5/5 great melody. great rap delivered by Donnie W. His 2nd best flow on the album.
#5 If you go away- 4/5 2nd single release beautiful song.
#6 Keep on smilin''-4/5 Nice upbeat song to get you going through life.
#7 I'll never let you go 5/5 -Most impressing track perhaps on the cd. Beautiful song and beat, and once again Donny delivers a great rhyme, his best by far and does it without tryin' to hard.
#8 Keepin my fingers crossed 5/5- great story still see it happen every day.
#9 Mrs. Right 5/5 -My favorite track because I relate to the situation so well, has happened to me before. ''baby let me know the deal cuz I gotta know if its for real.
#10 Since You walked into my life 5/5- probably the best ballad I've ever heard and I will definitely play at my wedding someday.
#11 Let's play house 5/5- would make a good proposal song, I love it though very upbeat, sexy and clever.
#12 I can't believe its over 5/5- The saddest song on the cd, Danny Wood leads vocals, and is pretty good, but Jordan Knight's amazing high note at the end,completes the song.(watch out Mariah carey)
#13 I'll still be loving you 5/5- Joey Mac still got it his voice. He really lets it pour out. great output.
#14 I'll be waitin 5/5- great outro good way for the group to go out. I'm still waitin'' January 8, 2006

The Best Album Ever!!

I have been prasing this album since it came out in 1994. It is the most underrated yet wonderful album ever recorded! There are 3 songs on this album that are simply heaven. First and foremost is the beautiful "IF YOU GO AWAY" which still holds rank as my "favorite song ever" all these years later. It's mix of beautiful melodic music and perfectly sung vocals by Jordan Knight and Joey McIntyre make this song the most wonderful tune ever released. As far as an R&B ballad goes, it doesn't get better than this.

"Since You Walked Into My Life" is another heavenly classic, again containing the perfect mix of beatiful music with amazing vocals by Knight and McIntyre. This song should have been their first single off this album.

And finally "I Can't Believe It's Over," a heartfelt power ballad is perhaps Jordan Knight's most amazing vocal work ever. Again containing unforgettable melodic music combined with Knight's power vocals make this the absolute king of "break up" songs for broken lovers.

The 3 songs mentioned above make this the most wonderful album of all time, but there is lots more great stuff on this album too! If you are a lover of R&B magic, do NOT miss this album. 11 years later, it's still "The Best Album Ever!"
peace. October 28, 2005

NKOTB

This item was the best CD!!! I do not understand why this did not sell as well a previous albums because this is FANTASTIC! Every track was wonderful and shouldn't songs be judged by the tempo, melody and beat, anyway?
Track number 5 is the BEST!! if you go away has always been my favorite and always will.
If you should happen to pass this CD someday, be sure to listen to track 5 and 7. August 12, 2005

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