New Kids' Joey McIntyre strikes out solo again

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By Gary Graff

DETROIT (Billboard) - After spending the past year with the New Kids on the Block reunion, Joey McIntyre is striking while the iron is hot and resuming his solo career.

McIntyre will release a seven-song EP, "Here We Go Again," Tuesday (November 17) via digital retailers. The set includes the title-track first single and other collaborations with producer-writers Brent Paschke, Drew Ryan Scott and Gabe Lopez.

"Every two or three years I just get itchy and I want to make a new record," McIntyre told Billboard.com, "and being out on the road and performing so much only encouraged me more. It was quite an experience the last couple years with the New Kids; it definitely inspired me to write some stuff. And I think that after being part of a group, you kind of want to do your own thing again."

McIntyre, who has released four previous solo albums, said he started work on "Here We Go Again" two days after New Kids on the Block finished their world tour July 19. The first session produced the song "Out of Nothing at All." After that, McIntyre said, "we were psyched" and proceeded with the rest of the disc.

"I like the idea of doing the EP, seven or eight songs," he said. "After that it becomes a prolonged project, usually. It's the album process. It could go another six months. This sort of shot out of the cannon, and out of that came these seven songs."

In addition to the digital release, he's offering a limited-edition Mac Pac 3000 "goodie bag" that includes a CD copy of "Here We Go Again," photos and a booklet with liner notes and lyrics.

McIntyre plans to tour in the new year -- "Think January," according to his website -- and will regroup with New Kids on the Block for a May 14-17 cruise from Florida to the Bahamas. He said the group is also "talking about surrounding that cruise with some cool shows" and does not rule out the possibility of another New Kids album.

"Timing is everything," McIntyre said. "Basically what I'm saying is, the door is wide open. Right now we're doing individual stuff, but we're in touch as well. We just want to feel good about what we do."

(Editing by Sheri Linden at Reuters)