 Spice Girls The Girls' first post-Ginger release is a thoroughly satisfying disco-drenched EP that proves once and for all, it doesn't really matter who is in the Spice Girls and who isn't. It's pop, man – they could almost have Reba McIntyre as lead singer and it would still work with production values this good. Actually, I'm pleased to see that Mel C is becoming more and more of a focal point for the group, because Mel C is my runaway favorite Spice. The title track is the group's loving send-off to Geri, featuring lines like "Goodbye my friend (I know you're gone, you said you're gone, but I can still feel you here)" which are vague enough that you can still sort of make it more about your ex-boyfriend than about Ginger Spice … but the music is classic Spice Girls and ultimately it's just a good song, never mind the message. A fine new addition to the Spice Rack. "Christmas Wrapping" is a weird but fun one in the tradition of Elton John's "Step Into Christmas" – the British b-side holiday cash-in. But the great thing about it is it is totally the opposite of what you'd expect. In fact, musically I can't really compare it to anything except perhaps some alternate-reality Erasure single produced by Chic. Good song, perfect for shakin' my ass under the mistletoe. Also included are fun live covers of "Sisters Are Doin' it For Themselves" and "We Are Family" (hey, there is a Chic connection) – the former is a bit rough, but the latter is pretty great. It's a shame that the Spice Girls are so easily written off by the music media, because they're definitely one of the most enjoyable pop groups around. Here's to hoping that this won't be a real Goodbye.
Review by Yassir Jehosephat |