Writing's on the Wall

Not even Dionne Warwick and her mind-reading friends could have predicted that, over the course of two CDs, Destiny's Child would become one of the most successful girl groups on the planet. But successful this Houston trio is, and their sophomore CD shows why. Yes, the lineup changes as often as lead singer Beyoncé's hairstyle, but fun, disposable pop/R&B needn't be rooted in permanence, and DC is mad fun and mad catchy to boot. With the assistance of hitmakers Shek'spere and Kandi Burruss, Destiny's Child trade in effervescent, hip-shaking, finger-wagging, 'you-go-girl, kick-him-to-the-curb' anthems. The Writing's on the Wall is loaded with tracks like "Bills, Bills, Bills," which are suitable both for dancing and as topics on the Ricki Lake Show. The percolating "Bug A Boo" is irresistible, as is the sassy "So Good." To their credit, the girls can slow the pace down, and on the sultry "Temptation" they get to work their considerable chops to nice effect. But as sales and chart figures have shown, Destiny's Child are at their best when they are laying down the law to some trifling man, and/or working their own groove thang. Work it they do on this somewhat formulaic but ultimately irresistible effort. --Amy Linden