New Kids on the Block showing slightly different hairstyles - now and way back when.

Play it by Ear

New Kids on the Block

By: Derek Campbell

Posted: 9/15/08

In 1986, five young boys from Boston released their first (and self-titled) album, "New Kids on the Block." The group saw little success and even less radio airtime in the beginning.

They were not down for long though. With some major promotion and a few million screaming pre-teen girls, they produced three more albums (and a Christmas album) in the late '80s and early '90s, yielding several Billboard-topping singles and earning multi-platinum status on every album released.

New Kids on the Block (NKOTB) paved the way for future boy bands such as *NSync and the Backstreet Boys, who also enjoyed similar success and stardom.

Oh, by the way: they were kind of a big deal.

Now, 14 years after their last single was released, the group has reunited to appeal to their former fans, also gearing the sounds and lyrics toward their children's ears. NKOTB teamed up with artists Ne-Yo, the Pussycat Dolls, Akon and the also newly-reunited New Edition to produce their new album, "The Block."

While the first two singles released from this album, "Summertime" and "Single," have enjoyed some success, "The Block" is definitely worth a listen all the way through. The influences of the different artists involved can be heard in each song and NKOTB fans from the past will be pleasantly surprised by their new, more mature sound.

The album also features a song, "Twisted," produced by mega sound master Timbaland, who has lent his ear to artists Justin Timberlake, Nelly Furtado and Missy Elliott, to name a few. This song is sure to be a hit in dance clubs around the globe.

With a little mix of their mushy lyrics of the past, some R&B influence and the experiences of the last 14 years, the (not-so) New Kids on the Block have definitely made a strong comeback in the new millennium.

"The Block" debuted last week at number two in album sales on the Billboard 200 showing the New Kids still have "the right stuff."

dcampbell@unews.com