Destiny's Child "Survivor" Album

	Title: Survivor Format: Album Label: Sony Released: 2001-05-01
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Tracklisting & Lyrics

Reviews

There's not much room on Destiny's Child's third album for the ghetto girl anthems that earned them mainstream light with "No, No, No" from their 1998 debut, or hits "Bills, Bills, Bills" and "Bug A Boo" from their 1999 sophomore album. They're full-fledged pop stars now, certified seven times platinum, and loving it. But Survivor is cute at best, as the talented vocal trio attempt to outdo TLC's crossover record "Waterfalls," but come up short with elementary concepts that compare guys to apple pie, refer to their bodies as bootylicious, and advocate putting on a happy face. Ten-year-old girls ought to love it. However, the extreme pop efforts work on the acoustic remake of the Bee Gees' "Emotion." But otherwise, the few good songs--the jittering, sing-along "Survivor," hypocritical "Nasty Girl," and a cappella "Gospel Medley"--leave 1997 Destiny's Child fans feeling cheated. ~Billy Johnson Jr, LAUNCH.

One listen to the eagerly anticipated third CD from the world's biggest girl group and it's clear there is one child with the most destiny. To paraphrase the hip-hop legends, "Who's house?" Beyonce's house, and with the lead vocalist producing or cowriting all of the 14 tracks, it's hard to imagine what those other two chicks even do (other than act grateful to still have a gig). Seizing creative control is a bold move for Miss Knowles, and anytime an R&B act eschews the beat of the week, they have to be commended. But the problem is that Beyonce, even with her ambition, has yet to suss out that the key to a pop-R&B smash is hook and melody. With the exception of the now-played-out title track (Can we all take a moratorium on this mighty goddess theme for a second, please?) and the equally you-go-girlish "Independent Woman Part 1," most of the tracks here lack a strong core. Beyonce crams a litany of thoughts and motifs into her mini-anthems, with samples ranging from Stevie Nicks to Tarzan Boy, but though the cuts sizzle and sparkle and throw off much attitude, Survivor is way too frenetic. Even with some strong singing and songs (most notably the laid back "Fancy"), Survivor lacks real emotion. ~Amy Linden, Amazon.com.