 Spice Girls The Spice Girls' second album is one of the most egregious "product" albums ever made: every cut is facile and phony, derivative and passionless. That said, this is one of the most purely enjoyable albums ever. Catchy (familiar) melodies, punchy (safe) production, and the indefatigable personalities of the Girls shining though each (bubblegum) song. It's a shame so many people dismiss the Spice Girls as weightless and annoying when their songs are so brilliantly fun. Get that chip off your shoulder and spice up your life already! Of all the superstar robot-groups to ever come along, the Spice Girls rate closer to the Monkees in terms of lasting appeal than to New Kids on the Block. I mean, try listening to a NKOTB album nowadays, it's a pretty trying experience. Now there was a band that didn't even have the benefit of melody, yet managed to sell millions of thousands of albums. Maybe that makes them even better; I get a little confused at that point. I can see how someone without a sense of irony about how the music industry works would find groups like the Spice Girls offensive. Yet anyone trying to read more into their plastic feminist posturing and banal lyrics than simply "this is mindless fun" is looking to be frustrated. Spiceworld is an album that demands to simply be enjoyed, whether you be a 13 year old girl or someone who wishes they were a 13 year old girl. "Spice Up Your Life" is a fun flamenco number that is fun and similar to flamenco. "Stop" is a Motown ripoff that pips off the Motown sound. "Too Much" is a great, slinky ol' ballad. "Saturday Night Divas" and "Never Give Up On The Good Times" raise the disco ante. "Move Over" is the one track I could do without, as it is basically the Pepsi commercial in extended form. Still a good song though. "Do It" continues the streak, featuring Mel C in fine form. In fact, it's Mel C (Sporty) who emerges throughout the record as the most appealing Spice Girl by far. Hers is the most distinctive voice, and while in parts she is almost laughably amateurish, mostly she just sounds really cool. It is a triumph for great bad-singers everywhere (and I include myself here) that the Spice Girls have had so much success while not really having da skills that pay da bills. It's easy just to go with the flow during an album like Spiceworld, not realizing that you're being conned. But con me, Girls. "Denying" tries (semi-successfully) to recapture the glory of "Wannabe" (from Spice), but while it may not become a standard, at least it has the line "You think you're so cool/hey you big man, you're old school." I defy you to find a line as spellbindingly obvious yet as insanely perfect as that one in all of Gershwin, and that includes Gershwin '79. "Viva Forever" is like one of those Spanish-flavored Madonna songs, probably because it aims for that. Yet it is also akin to Abba and Erasure, melodically. It's the track that I always forget about in the shadow of the bombastic hits, but it really might be the most sublime moment on Spiceworld. More songs like this and credibility would not be a problem; critics like me wouldn't even have to make the reference to bubblegum. The song is somewhat unfortunately followed by the silly and tedious "The Lady is a Vamp," in which the Girls imagine themselves in that iconic sorority that includes Jackie O, Marilyn, and Charlie's Angels. Well, aren't they? Yet they also mention Ziggy Marley – whom I didn't realize must be a feminist figure somehow. I should add that this is one of the rare faux '20s songs that I just don't like to hear … in the tradition of the Bay City Rollers' "Shoorah Shoorah For Hollywood." Yuck. Seven hits, one miss, and one draw. Incredible album. I only wish they had added the b-side "Outer Space Girls" to the track listing, but then they obviously don't need my marketing advice.
Review by Pardo |