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SURVIVOR
Destiny's Child
(Columbia/Sony)
What ever happened to leaving them wanting more?
In the old days, "Stop ... in the name of love," was all an R&B super-trio had to say to get into the history books. Now Destiny's Child feels compelled to pack every available sentiment of female empowerment into all the hip-hop goodness a CD can hold.
It's too much of a good thing.
Despite its catchy charm - and there's enough of that to assure chart-topping status - there's a desperate, suffocating feeling to parts of Survivor. There's a song here called The Story of Beauty that attempts to stuff what sounds like an entire newspaper column about sexual abuse into a three-minute pop song. Admirable effort, but it sounds like an effort, too - bewildering to listen to. Hearing the breathless gusts of layered vocals whipped along by machine-driven funk beats, I feel like yelling, "Hey! Relax! Slow down. You're on top of the pop world. You have nothing to prove."
Having said that (I don't think they heard me), there are many uplifting moments, thanks to soulful vocal work that has rarely sounded better, miles above what was heard on Say My Name. Sexy and stylish songs balance out the mush bulking the second half of the CD. The playful Apple Pie A La Mode and Sexy Daddy are highlights. And Bootylicious - are we sensing a theme here? - is a fun romp driven by the guitar line from Stevie Nicks's Edge of Seventeen. Of course, Destiny's Child doesn't seem to know when to stop. So do yourself - and them - a favour and hit stop before you get to the embarrassing conclusion of the record, Thank You. You're welcome.
Track Listing
1. Independent Women Part I
2. Survivor
3. Bootylicious
4. Nasty Girl
5. Fancy
6. Apple Pie A La Mode
7. Sexy Daddy
8. Independent Women Part II
9. Happy Face
10. Emotion
11. Dangerously In Love
12. Brown Eyes
13. The Story Of Beauty
14. Gospel Medley
15. Outro (DC-3) Thank You