Spice Girls : Releases >>
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Greatest Hits >>
Greatest Hits (CD+DVD) >>
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
Spiceworld >>
"Spice up your life", the Spice Girls advise on the first single from Spiceworld, their second album, which was made quickly to capitalise 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 their Pepsi advert. 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
Forever >>
The year 2000 saw the return of the Spice Girls as an entity after a wealth of solo projects, weddings, babies and tabloid headlines. It was inevitable that a couple of years down the line from their previous outing, Spiceworld, things were going to have changed--the girls had grown up from the day-glo, big-shoed, larger-than-life cartoon characters that they'd started out as. Forever, therefore, is the sound of the new Spice Girls, slick R&B ("Holler", "Right Back At Ya") created by star producer Rodney Jerkins (TLC, Destiny's Child, Janet Jackson), alongside instantly recognisable Spice ballads ("Goodbye", "Let Love Lead The Way"). Slick as it may be, the overwhelming impression is that Spice Girls have lost their magic sparkle--there are no ebullient calls-to-arms like "Spice Up You Life" or "Wannabe", instead it's vocoders and shuffling beats all the way. Melanie C seems to be the most out of her depth in this new environment, with her strident tones (though well-suited to the full-on pop she successfully purveys as a solo artist) sounding completely out of place amongst the soft harmonies. All the things that made the Spice Girls great are gone--the in-your-face attitude, the brash anthems, the ridiculous outfits and the total all-round pop sensibility. Everyone has to grow up eventually, but it's always sad when they forget how to have fun. --Helen Marquis
Spice Up Your Life [CD 1] >>
Pavarotti and 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, Céline 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
Headlines (Friendship Never Ends) >>
Mama/Who Do You Think You Are [CD 2] >>
Greatest Hits (Box Set) >>
