Thursday, Jun. 18, 2009

2. Hangin' Tough by New Kids On The Block

Twenty years on and you can still almost hear the screaming from the fanatical female fans. The truth is, though, that the New Kids took a while to become main men. In fact, Colombia Records came close to dropping the act until a Florida radio station put their song "Please Don't Go Girl" on heavy rotation and the group started to pick up speed. This album started to fly thanks to the title track, "You Got It (The Right Stuff)" and "I'll Be Loving You (Forever)." Of course the screaming didn't last but after all, the very raison d'être of boy bands is to be the temporary flavor of the month.

TIME's Take: "They are as scrubbed up as the Bay City Rollers and as menacing as lap cats."