[Prasa] Back Around The Block

Led by the single "Summertime," which has sold more than 484,000 digital copies despite topping out at No. 42 on the Billboard Hot 100, "The Block" (Interscope), the first New Kids on the Block album since 1994 has "a great '80s vibe that can be enjoyed by everyone," group member Jordan Knight says.

Making a new album was spurred on by bandmate Donnie Wahlberg, "who was the loudest and pushed the hardest in terms of getting going on the music. His excitement was really infectious," fellow NKOTB member Joey McIntyre says.

Among the contributors here are Bryan-Michael Cox, RedOne, Timbaland, Akon and the Pussycat Dolls. Ne-Yo guests on "Single," while one-time boy band rival New Edition lends a hand on "Full Service."

NKOTB begins an extensive reunion tour Sept. 18 in Toronto. "This is, I think, a classy show, and we want to make it a world class show," McIntyre says. But, he adds, "there's not gonna be any Ferris wheels or ... trapezes, not too many tricks. We're sticking to the basics. We're working with great lighting and sound and video, but as a stage, I think, it's simple."