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Spice  >>

Putting aside the Girl Power phenomenon--really, what were the chances five scantily-clad birds flashing their knickers with kung-fu kicks wouldn't make it in the music industry?--the Spice Girls really do mean something: great singles. There's not a dog in their whole back-catalogue. They kicked off their career with "Wannabe", "Say You'll Be There" and "2 Become 1"--that's the pop equivalent of an Olympic gold in the triathlon. They're all here on Spice, along with the live favourite "If You Can't Dance"--one that Geri always looked particularly picked-upon whilst singing--and that irresistible champagne effervescence of pop history in the making. The only mistake they made at this point in their career was not releasing the slinky R&B track "Naked" as a single; and if that's because the video plot automatically suggests itself as too obvious, it's not as if that curtailed any other facet of their career. --Caitlin Moran

Greatest Hits  >>

Extremely limited four disc (threeCDs + PAL/Region 0 DVD) Gift Set edition of the 2007 compilation features a bonus DVD, a bonus Karaoke CD, a bonus remix CD, postcards, a friendship bracelet and more. The 15 track album features two new songs ('Voodoo' and 'Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)') while the DVD contains 12 of their music videos. The karaoke CD includes 13 sing-a-long tracks and the remix disc closes out the set with 11 remixed classics. EMI.

Spiceworld  >>

"Spice up your life," the Spice Girls advise on the first single from Spiceworld, their second album, which was made quickly to capitalize on the movie of the same name. If that sounds more like an advertising slogan than a call for variety, solidarity, and fun, it's not the only time the disc echoes the language of a carefully planned campaign: The chorus of "Move Over" is built around the phrase "Generation Next," the rallying cry of the Brits' Pepsi spot. And if, in turn, you come to the conclusion that this record isn't nearly as much fun as its predecessor, you're right. Any question about the creative input of Scary, Posh, Baby, Ginger, and Sporty into their own music is moot; like "Candle in the Wind 1997," Spiceworld was made to be bought, not listened to. Sure, they trade vocals this time, leaning less on the Bananarama-style gang approach of their debut, and yeah, the Motown-lite confection "Stop" doesn't exactly hurt the ear, but this disc is ultimately a bigger insult than anything a bunch of diehard anarchists such as Chumbawamba could imagine--without the kick of "Tubthumping." It also ends on a note so jarring as to settle the group firmly in the avant-garde with the fake-lounge "Lady Is a Vamp," which unfortunately praises Jackie O and Marilyn Monroe in the same verse, then ups the ante with a shout-out to Sandy Denny(!) as a Spicy role model. All together now: Uh huh. --Rickey Wright

Chicken Little  >>

This soundtrack offers a pretty standard mix of new songs, old chestnuts, and excerpts from the score (here by John Debney). On the new tip, Joss Stone and Patti LaBelle engage in an overheated battle of the divas on CD opener "Stir It Up," a bouncy piece of fluff that sounds more like Aretha Franklin circa "Freeway of Love" than classic soul. Other originals include Barenaked Ladies' "One Little Slip" (this movie's answer to Counting Crows' "Accidentally in Love" from Shrek 2) and the Cheetah Girls' peppy-but-bland cover of "Shake Your Tail Feather." But the real highlights are the songs performed by the movie's vocal cast, which includes Joan Cusack, Garry Marshall, Zach Braff, Steve Zahn, and Amy Sedaris. Their group cover of Elton John and Kiki Dee's "Don¹t Go Breaking My Heart," for instance, sounds as if half of them were drunk in the recording studio (and this is meant as a compliment.) Braff's a cappella version of "We Are the Champions" is smashing and Cusack and Zahn's take on the Spice Girls' "Wannabe" is completely demented. The kids will laugh; their parents will laugh even harder for completely different reasons. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Greatest Hits  >>

After much speculation and rumour the Spice Girls announced their reunion tour and Greatest Hits album to the world's media this summer. Fifty five million records sold, an astonishing 9 UK no. 1 singles, three back-to-back Christmas no. 1 singles and with 'Wannabe' the biggest selling single ever by an all female group, the Spice Girls have very little to prove. The band are never out of the media spotlight, the British tabloids and women's magazines adore them and the British public can't get enough. 3.5 million people worldwide have registered for tour tickets, 1 million of those were from the UK.

Forever  >>

Since we last heard from them, the Spice Girls have hired new producers and writers, hoping to adopt an R&B edge with harder beats and a grittier sound. Gone are the cuddly wannabes of yesteryear, replaced by thinner, tougher glamazons of the new millennium Spice World. But Forever's strategy is a serious misstep--one that will disappoint their old fans and alienate new ones. "Holler," the first single, is standard-issue urban pop, with a beat you've heard before and terribly generic lyrics, promising to make you "do things you thought you would never do." As a matter of fact, you've heard all of this before: for "Tell Me Why," the Girls bite the computer-generated voice from TLC's Fan Mail, and borrow the vocoder from Cher's "Believe" sessions. "Right Back at Ya," their official comeback anthem, is trite and predictable: "Our friendship is forever," Baby Spice testifies. "You thought we wouldn't make it this far," Sporty sneers, and she's right. But they haven't made it yet--and with this material they don't deserve to. --Courtney Kemp

Pavarotti & Friends - For The Children Of Liberia  >>

Is music for a good cause a good cause for music? Not really, if you expect artistry. But this smorgasbord of popular international musical stars brings together extreme musical genres for an excellent purpose, and is enjoyable enough for almost anyone. Pavarotti's relaxed and buoyant leadership and still gorgeous tenor add beauty to the rock/pop selections. Trisha Yearwood, Celine Dion, and Stevie Wonder impressively hold their own against Opera Spice; but the other artists pale against the master's presence. The Spice Girls will never be confused with Anonymous 4; Zucchero's growling is scary; Florent Pagny exemplifies French rock; and Pino Daniele's breathy tenor is mellow and soothing. Best for those wanting to experience Pavarotti's vocal beauty in a more popular idiom. --Barbara Eisner Bayer

Elton John And Tim Rice's Aida (1999 Concept Album)  >>

Following hot on the heels of their enormously successful collaboration for The Lion King, Elton John and Tim Rice have once again culled their talents to create another Disney contemporary musical, based this time on Verdi's opera Aida. The album, recorded by some of the biggest talents of pop, country, and R&B, features songs from the stage show, which recounts the well-known tale of a love triangle further complicated by slavery, royalty, and the armed forces. John duets to great effect with country crooner LeAnn Rimes, the enchanting Janet Jackson, and the lovely Lulu of To Sir with Love fame. Lush and lively, the soundtrack hits a hoot of a (decidedly not highbrow) high point with the infectious pop of the Spice Girls warbling the merits of undergarments on "My Strongest Suit" ("Always wear underwear/Anytime, anywhere"). Lenny Kravitz funks things up with "Like Father Like Son." Shania Twain's husky emoting makes a fine pop ballad of the brief "Amneris' Letter." "Not Me" chronicles the goodness of love as Boyz II Men coo dreamily, their harmonies nestling into John's sumptuous score. --Paige La Grone

The London Double Bass Sound  >>

A landmark recording in the history of Double Bass playing, The London Double Bass Sound combines the talents of Gary Karr, arranger Daryl Runswick, and a core ensemble of London's leading Double Bass players-Paul Kimber, Richard Lewis, Roger Linley, Tom Martin, Kevin Rundell, Mary Scully, Steven Williams and Stacy Watton. All eight currently fill, or have recently occupied, the principal or co-principal chairs in London's leading orchestras.

Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)  >>

UK two track CD pressing of the first single taken from the reunited girl group's 2007 Greatest Hits CD (which features two new recordings). This is also their first single since 2000! A trademark big Spice Girls ballad, 'Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)' will be the official 2007 Children In Need Christmas charity single in the UK. This CD single also features 'Wannabe' (Soul Seekerz 2007 Remix). EMI.