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Growing up in Anywhere USA in the late 1980s and well into the 1990s, the soundtrack for many-a youth was peppered by the music of Dorchester, Massachusetts band New Kids on the Block. Comprised of musical stalwarts Jonathan and Jordan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg, and Danny Wood, this talented quintet hit the pop culture ground running beginning in 1984 and, once their first flush of success hit, they never looked back. To be for sure, a cassette and cd copy of the groups breakthrough 1988 smash LP Hangin’ Tough found its way into my teenage music library, comfortably sharing shelf space with other favorites of the day like Chris Isaak’s Heart Shaped World and The World Won’t Listen from The Smiths. The group had chops to spare and quickly dispelled any notion with their 1990 album Step by Step that they might just be a flash in the pan.
Of course, time eventually had its way with the group and, after an awkward rebranding period where they were dressed up by the acronym ‘NKOTB’, they all eventually pursued other career pathways and went their separate ways. But there was something magical about that initial ten year span in the group’s life that transcended covers of Tiger Beat or Big Bopper. The artists that followed New Kids on the Block and count the group as an inspiration are legion – Backstreet Boys, Mark Wahlberg (an actor and musician who knows a thing or three about that far-famed group), Lady Gaga, Maurice Starr and The Pussycat Dolls were but a few popular acts that benefited by the pioneering path blazed by the group from Dorchester. Listening to their music all of these years later, it’s pretty clear what kept their music so evergreen: It was good, fun music. Full-stop.
Fortunately for purveyors of quality tunes, New Kids on the Block reunited back in 2008 for a reunion album and tour, delighting old fans while cultivating an entirely new audience. The end result of that return was the beautifully spit-polished LP The Block Revisited. That album was a perfect representation of the band as it existed just after the dawn of the Millennium and it featured some of the most sonorous tunes and harmonies that could be found that side of a Philadelphia street corner in 1955. In short, it was a triumphant return to form of a much beloved band.
With all of the above now being said, it’s still hard to believe that we’re now fifteen years out from the New Kids on the Block reunion LP The Block Revisited. Time, huh? At any rate, to mark this very important anniversary date in the life of the band, last month saw the UME release of an updated deluxe version/15th anniversary edition of NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK’s reunion album The Block Revisited. So what’s left to say with this revisit? Quite a lot, actually…
Turning the beautiful simple math of the 2008 release of The Block Revisited and upping the ante to include brand-spankin’ new collaborations with some of the very best musical artists on the 2023 music scene, this release is indeed one for the ages: The freshly shined album features seventeen new tracks and guest drop-in’s from K-Pop superstars JOSHUA, DK and DINO of SEVENTEEN for their explosive instant hit Dirty Dancing (Dem Jointz Remix), Alma Wahlberg, Tom McIntyre, and remixes by REDONE, Phantogram, Stonebridge, and Space Cowboy. These new contributions fit seamlessly and snugly into the original album’s 13 tracks which itself was no piker in the guest-artist category: New Edition and Teddy Riley, Ne-Yo and Lady Gaga welcomed the New Kids back to the proverbial block back in 2008. Make no mistake, though: The real stars of this 15th anniversary edition are none other than the original members of New Kids on the Block, and that’s as it should be. The Block Revisited highlights and showcases in gems such as 2 In The Morning and Coming Home exactly why the New Kids are the best at what they do and why they will forever be the subject of homage but never duplicated.
Do yourself a favor and check out the 15th Anniversary Edition of the New Kids on the Block’s reunion LP The Block Revisited available now wherever fine music is sold!
