- reviewed by Chris G.

When I think of Destiny's Child's music, I imagine the sound of vanilla, over-produced crappy plastic tunes floating through my ears. Their's is the sound of TRL during the platinum days, when 1000+ teeny boppers filled the streets of Times Square (those days are gone by the way). I was just never into them, never bought an album, and am only vaguely familiar with their music through the many videos that have flashed across the TV screen. How then can I possibly review their latest album? Well gotdamn, I have ears. All it takes is a push of the play button and a fresh unbiased mind ready to spill the goods.

Coming from that standpoint Destiny Fulfilled is a decent listen. Which means the fast forward button was rarely used. Going in, the expectation was that I'd do a lot of the 30-second dip and bounce. more..

- reviewed by Chris G.

When I think of Destiny's Child's music, I imagine the sound of vanilla, over-produced crappy plastic tunes floating through my ears. Their's is the sound of TRL during the platinum days, when 1000+ teeny boppers filled the streets of Times Square (those days are gone by the way). I was just never into them, never bought an album, and am only vaguely familiar with their music through the many videos that have flashed across the TV screen. How then can I possibly review their latest album? Well gotdamn, I have ears. All it takes is a push of the play button and a fresh unbiased mind ready to spill the goods.

Coming from that standpoint Destiny Fulfilled is a decent listen. Which means the fast forward button was rarely used. Going in, the expectation was that I'd do a lot of the 30-second dip and bounce. That's when you listen, get to the chorus of a song and by that time just can't take it anymore - "Next". That didn't happen here.

As listeners we sometimes forget that the artists we've been listening to over the past five-ten years are actually people. In Destiny's Child's case they have been jiggling bootylilcious on stages since the age of 16. It's become noticeable that many of these young artists, from Lil Bow Wow to Britney Spears to Christina Aguilera, making the shift from playful adolescent themed music to something that better reflects their current mindstate can be difficult. Lil Bow Wow lost the braids and the Lil; Christina slipped her ass into a thong and got pissed when people were shocked; and Britney Spears gave the hand to her audience proclaiming that she wasn't a kid, got married in Vegas, got that annulled and then married again a few months later to a backup dancer. Now Britney has put her career on hold so she can be a stay at home mom.

Britney really reflects the confusion that young artists face in the transition between adulthood and a fanbase built on Barney music. Well, it probably feels that way when they listen to their back catalog.

On this album Destiny's Child faced a similar circumstance in that their lives have changed dramatically from the time between albums. Beyonce's explosion as a solo artist was the obvious change. How would she feel going back to sharing stage and mic time? The underlying change is that the two principal members (Kelly and Beyonce) are in love. Is that why they called the album Destiny Fullfilled? Listening to it, they could have called it A Love Letter to U. More on that later, but those two elements softer hearts and a group reunion that seemed to me as a nice gesture by Beyonce, more than an artistic move, is what makes this an album that shows the DC girls in a period of transition in their lives; both professionally and personally.

The beautiful thing is that they pulled it off. The first single "Lose My Breath" is what I'd expect from Destiny's Child: overproduced pop music. Man that song is unappealing. There is so much going on that the lyrics are blurred and you damn sure lose your breath trying to keep up. The second single "Soldier" is more the tempo of the album. The accompanying video is what got me to sit down and listen to the album. There is no question that Beyonce had a hand in writing this one. If it's not an ode to Jigga than maybe "T-Shirt" is, or maybe "Cater 2 U" or maybe "Love". You get the picture. There is a lot of talk about love on the album. Kelly uses her relationship with Dallas Cowboy safety Roy Williams as a reference point for her vocal inflections. Behind much of this is a feeling of authenticity, a gotdamn love letter to the boys.

The chorus of "Soldier" raised my eyebrow for a minute.. "If his status ain't hood/I ain't checking for him/better be street if he looking at me/ I need soldier and he's got to stand up for me/known to carry big things if you know what I mean." .. What the hell are they doing, preaching the glory of street thugs to impressionable young girls? Sure, put that message out there. Then I calmed down when I remembered that women love bad boys. DC ain't talking bout the dude snatched up with three dimes in his pocket or a drug kingpin, not even someone who murdered someone's fam. It's that sense of adventure and protection that a confident man brings to the table simplified into that street nugget.

"If" is one of the best songs on the album. Supported by the tinkling of chords Natalie Cole's "Inseperable" (most recently used for Lloyd Bank's "Karma") but dashed up enough to make it even more intoxicating. The entire song is a display of vocal gymnastics on the issues of trust and the strength of their love. Despite any problems there may be in the relationship, if you think you can find the same love somewhere else, you'll find that you've made a mistake. Yeah, I like that one.

Musically the album is on the mellow side, with stripped down production that gives it a warm feel. Sampling isn't dismissed and is best displayed on the steady bounce of "Free." "Through With Love" takes the stripped down approach too damn far. It sounds like they didn't no what else to do with it and said .. "Oh well, just keep singing." It's also the only song to say to hell with the love theme. Sitting there like an obvious plant to get people talking about the Jay and Bee thing coming to an end. It's monotonous and got the skip button. By the next song it's back to the love thing and admittedly by this time it started to wear me out. Enough already. Get married and send the invitation express mail, snail mail, whatever, I'll be there.

Will there be another Destiny's Child album, is this their Black Album? I'd make a nice bet on that. Whether Beyonce's career flops or continues to skyrocket, this union has run its course. On the album Kelly and Beyonce are virtually indisinguishable. Hmmm. That may be because Beyonce does the majority of the lead vocals. Don't feel sorry for Kelly, another album would likely make some noise. Anyone notice her puffed up fabulous hairdo? That sh-t is outrageous. I just get the feeling that they want her to shine on the pub for the album with hopes that her next solo joint does the Jiffy pop. Michelle on the other hand.. we've all seen the 106th and Park trip and fall. She's on her last legs, and her wailing on this album stands out just as much as that fall. She's not the best singer. Hopefully she has banked those Destiny's Child checks and gets her fair share of the publishing royalties. You done good as the third wheel, this tricycle has evolved, though, it's time to move on.

On further thought.. Destiny Fullfilled is an appropriate title: they've released a decent album which will put a period on the group's future. Not an excalmation point, which would have been right for a crazy, off the meter album.. just something that says, "OK, we're done." They're not saying this is the end, and they probably won't. The official word is they are "leaving their options open." My guess is the next time this group gets together, it'll be after they've all had kids and are sporting dresses four sizes bigger than they're wearing today.