Survivor

05/07/2001 5:55 PM, Yahoo! Music
Billy Johnson Jr

ThereÆs not much room on DestinyÆs ChildÆs 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.