Assuming you’ve lived without a radio, Destiny’s Child are a threesome (no jokes, please) of very talented singers. They include Mrs Jay Z – Beyonce Knowles, Kelly Rowland (guilty of dire Nelly collaborations and naff movie cameos not to mention grammatically incorrect solo records) and the other one (Michelle Williams, in case you were wondering). They’re one of the biggest all female groups, with album sales in excess of 40 million. Countless hit singles (well more than two) that are perfect for dirty dance floor antics. For said antics, sir would recommend ‘Bootylicious’, ‘Lose My Breath’ and ‘Soldier’.

Which means?

Well obviously 40 squillion albums is chicken feed, so Destiny’s Child are looking to up clock up a few more sales.

Is it much cop?

I must admit to normally instantly disliking compilation albums. They take good songs out of their context but with a pop/R&B acts, they’re perfect. The albums are usually written around the singles any way with the rest of tracks as fillers.

How many good tracks?

There are 16 tracks on this album, which might sound like a lot, but it turns out I know and more importantly, like more Destiny’s Childs songs than I thought I did. ‘Independent Women Pt1’, ‘Survivor’, ‘Lose My Breath’, ‘Emotion’, ‘Soldier’, ‘Bootylicious’, ‘Jumpin, Jumpin’,  ‘Say My Name’ and ‘Girl’.

And the worst?

The ‘hits’ are well spread across the album, which can be a good or bad thing, depending on your point of view. Of course, to help the ‘hits’ sound good, they have to be surrounded by the most mediocre remixes and cast-offs. The first track and coincidently the first single is ‘Stand Up for Love’, a well-meaning, song for a worthwhile children’s charity (World Children’s Day). When it should be heart warming, I just keep thinking it sounds like something Whitney Houston, should have recorded in her Bodyguard era (before she joined the ranks of Robert Downey Jr as a drug addict/fanatic).

Biggest disappointment?

The Child’s softer moments have the unfortunate pop expected failing that good singers fall into. They use the song as a vocal exercise to show how high they can go and it’s always pitch perfect but these kind of vocals, are far more woeful than soulful.   

Verdict:

Overall, this is a great album; all the tracks you’ll want are included. It’s just unfortunate that after one listen, you’re going to skip over a quarter of what you’ve paid for.

(3/5)

Release Date: 24 October 2005

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