About twenty years after they made their presence felt as the only boy band around, New Kids On The Block (NKOTB) reunited in 2008 and make a comeback after their split in 1994. They have shed the boy image to a more ‘men’ - mature tag.

The Boston-based boy band that paved the way for future boybands like *NSYNC, East 17, Take That, The Backstreet Boys, Boyzone. NKOTB consist of brothers Jonathan Knight, Jordan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg and Danny Wood. For company on this album they have roped in Akon, Ne – Yo, New Edition, Timbaland, The Pussycat Dolls and Teddy Riley that add a little spice to a fairly average album, which is pretty enjoyable even at the very first listen. Their songs still point to one thing – girls, girls and more girls with the emphasis more on sex and adulthood. Hardcore I’d say. The sound is still the bubble gum pop, R & B with a striking mix of electronica laced on a few tracks. 

The opener hand clapping on Click Click Click has a seductive vibe and is sure to be a hit with the women who once tuned into them as adolescent young girls. Dirty Dancing makes references of the 80's flick. From the breezy single Summertime, to the erotic Lights, Camera, Action its good Pop/R&B/Dance stuff.

Keeping with the times, the boys have used the Auto tune program gimmick that manipulates a singer’s vocals so that they sound almost computerized, remember Cher’s ‘Believe’? Thus you have Dirty Dancing, Sexify my love, Twisted and Full Service in one straight line.

Sadly, this removes the originality of the singer though it amplifies it in some ways and adds a dash of creativity. The boys who range in age from 35-39, still manage to catch your attention keeping with the changing music scenario during their days and now.

Rating: ****

Reviewed By Verus Ferreira