Kristen Waldon
Staff writer
The men from New Kids on the Block are back and better than ever.
I remember watching my favorite boy band, NKTOB. Every girl swooned over Jordan and Jon Knight, Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg and Danny Wood. But they are not boys anymore. They have grown up and so has their music.
New Kids on the Block released their newest album called “10” on April 2.
The album has slow groove melodies and some fun, up-beat dance tunes. There are several tracks on this album that is fun and fresh for all types of listeners. The album has some of the deepest lyrics about the beginning and ending of a great love story.
“Remix (I Like The)” this about reminiscing of old times in high school, which is personal for me since I am approaching my 10-year reunion at my own high school.
The song “Surviving You” this song about a man trying to get over a ex girlfriend, but there is a simple and unique beauty in the lyrics. While there are a couple of upbeat fun dance tunes like “The Whisper” and “Crash”. There is a song for me does not quit mesh well with the album. “Now or Never” sounds raw and under developed, the song lacks the tone and emotion needed to complete this album.
I believe that with age has brought the men to a point where they have created better lyrics and music about love, loss and everything in between. I feel that they are trying to keep their older fans while picking up the newer generations who do not know who they are, but soon will.
The upcoming tour called The Package Tour will begin on May 31in Uncasville, Conn. and ends July 5 in Los Angles. Also going on tour with NKOTB will be 98 Degrees and Boyz II Men.
The guys have released two other albums in the last six years since they reunited in 2007.
In May 2011 the album with fellow boy band group Backstreet Boys called “NKOTBSB.” This album mixed both groups’ popular songs and brought them together to create the last song on the album, which was a fun mix of all the top hits from both groups.
The group released an album called “The Block” on September 2008. The first song by the group is “Summertime”, which is a fun song with a great beat to slow dance to. “2 in the Morning” is the slow groove with a great story line with it in the lyrics, this one of my favorites by the NKOTB since they got back together. The song “Single” with Ne-Yo (R&B singer/ songwriter) is great mix of club beats with an amazing rap by Wahlberg at the beginning of the song. This album brought a certain maturity to the sound of NKOTB.
So kick it old school with the new album from one of my favorite bands.