Face The Music: The New Kids Back On The Block (I)

Who can believe it!!!

It's now twenty five years since the best pop group in the world, New Kids On The Block, burst back onto the pop scene to launch their long-awaited, highly-anticipated comeback after a three year hiatus. They released their fifth album Face The Music on the 25th January 1994 - and Blockheads the world over went crazy. This was the second coming of the original - and as far as we're concerned - best boy band ever. We couldn't wait to find out what Face the Music was like. It was New Kids. So their album had to be great... right???

It was widely hailed as their comeback album and it was hoped to be the one to put them back right at the top of the pop block. But for many years, Face The Music had been considered to be the 'lost album.' Why? Because it was the least talked about album; the one that sold possibly the fewest number of copies; and the album from which the group rarely performed any of the tracks. Furthermore it's an album which a lot of die-hard fans have claimed they didn't even know was released (?) or waited years after it was first released to purchase - which might explain why it only sold around 27, 000 copies in its first week.

Why? How? Really? Seriously!!!

All this is incredibly ironic considering Face The Music was expected to do extremely well, and that it was probably one of their strongest albums both musically and lyrically which showcased their talent as well as a new sound for the band. Many fans who bought the album would argue that it's their best - but then, wouldn't every Blockhead say that about every New Kids' album?

Face The Music: The making of the album

In 1993 after two years out of the public eye, New Kids On The Block went back into the studio and started working on their fourth studio album. Jonathan Knight and his brother Jordan; Donnie Wahlberg; Danny Wood, and Joe McIntyre all had strong ideas about the direction in which they wanted the group to be heading. The New Kids wanted a harder, slicker image, and wanted to appeal to a more mature crowd. They abbreviated their name to NKOTB. In an interview with the fabulous Clive Warren in 1994 on London's Capital Radio in order to promote Face the Music, Donnie Wahlberg - often considered the group's unofficial leader - explained the reason for the new abbreviated name:

"It was the only way we could hold on to what we had and go somewhere new. We're not kids anymore necessarily, we're not new anymore by any means..."

Keen to put out a more mature sound and influenced by popular Nineties' new jack swing, the New Kids really pushed for creative control and input and were determined that on this album, fans were going to get the real sound of the New Kids. However the group's founder and producer Maurice Starr, who was instrumental in their success the first time round, felt that they should stick to the same tried-and-tested formula that made them household names. Rejecting most of the material that NKOTB wanted to record, Starr insisted they use his own compositions which didn't go down too well with the boys and in a move that shocked fans, they decided to part ways with the producer who helped put them, well, on the block. As Danny Wood explained in the same interview: 

"Maurice Starr was an older man who was into an old style of music... we'd go into the studio, put down a couple of tracks and then get into the car and put on some KRS-1 or Public Enemy..."

What - no Stylistics??? No Frank Sinatra???

FACE THE MUSIC: The return

After a few false starts and recording hitches, the New Kids returned in January 1994. And not with the whimper that some people (i.e. - press, former fans etc.) had anticipated but with a bang. A very loud, almighty bang - and Blockheads had a reason to smile again! The boys did press conferences, magazine interviews, TV appearances, radio interviews phone-ins... you name it they did it all in a bid to get their new album out there.

Face The Music was their first album without Starr at the helm, and the New Kids had written and produced most of this album with the help of renowned producer and RnB artist, Guy and Blackstreet's legendary Teddy Riley who'd worked with Michael Jackson, SWV, and Bobby Brown among many of hip-hop and RnB's big names. Great things were expected from this album.

THE TRACKS

Face The Music featured fourteen tracks which ranged from up-tempo hip-hop ballards, showcasing Donnie's rapping abilities, to more soulful ballads that had "Jordan singing his butt off" (Joey's words!) There was also a reworking of If You Go Away, and rap duo Nice n' Smooth featured on Dirty Dawg.

1. Intro: Face the Music

This intro is just over two minutes. It features the guys talking about the past, contemplating the future, and philosophizing against a slamming hip hop background. Great intro that sets the tone for what's to come.

2. You Got the Flavor

The first song on the album and how awesome was this! You couldn't help but jam when this was on, and from the first time you hear You Got The Flavor, you just know that NKOTB had indeed produced an amazing album. A slick hip-hop tune that won't leave your head for days. And Jordan's vocals sound deliciously smooth on this track. A great start to the album.

3. Dirty Dawg

That song that created all the controversy and made everyone sit up and notice that the New Kids were back on the block. But it also proved that haters are always going to hate, and people are always going to take offence when none was meant (pretty much like life in the twenty-first century!) even when you produce a bitchin' track with a cool rap verse skillfully delivered by rap duo Nice n Smooth.

4. Girls

Dirty Dawg saw the New Kids accused of hating on women, but with Girls, the boys are singing about how much they adore the fairer sex. This chilled up-tempo song has something of a Summertime vibe to it, with Donnie showcasing his rapping abilities. A great sing-along-in-the car song.

5. If You Go Away

An oldie but a goodie from 1991 with a slightly different arrangement. Great for taking the old fans down memory lane and brilliant for introducing the new fans to their old stuff.

6. Keep on Smilin'

No doubt Blockheads couldn't wait to watch the movie Free Willy when they heard that Keep On Smilin' was on the soundtrack. Great melody, upbeat with a feel-good factor.

7. Never Let You Go

The second release from the album after Dirty Dawg. Soulful, heartfelt, and ballad-y, featuring a rap from Donnie, and Jordan saying the words every Blockhead longed to hear! Yes, we really felt as though he was singing it to us and us alone! And Jordan-fans were not amused by the rather risqué video that accompanied the track. Jordan - how could you?

8. Keepin' My Fingers Crossed

NKOTB were always about  'positivity' and this song contains a moral message about guns, gangs and and making wise decisions, as well as the need for a better way of life. Great gospel-esque beginning of this track before it gives way to new jack swing beats. Awesome track and definitely a fan favourite.

9. Mrs. Right

Joe McIntyre  has the vocals in this sweet song about looking for the right person. "Are you really Mrs. Right?" sings Joey. "Yes, I am," shriek back millions of Blockheads!

10. Since You Walked into My Life

Jordan and Joey share the vocals in this beautiful and meaningful ballad. The boys' vocals complement each others, with Jordan's sounding incredibly rich and velvety - like the best chocolate shake you ever tasted!

11. Let's Play House

A great song with a cool hip-hop vibe that gets you dancing, with Jordan tantalizingly asking us, 'Can you imagine what we can do alone, turn off the phone, I'll teach you passion, come inside your happy home'.

Jordan, you don't have to tell us twice!

12. I Can't Believe It's Over

If ever there was an ultimate break-up song, this would be it. You can hear the emotion in Jordan's powerful voice and those of you who love his falsetto vocals won't be disappointed!

13. I'll Still Be Loving You

An awesome ballard and strong vocals from the youngest New Kid as Joey takes the lead again.

14. I'll Be Waitin'

This time it's Danny Wood who takes the lead vocals in the last track of the album.

Photos by Angel Noire

GIF: Wix