Writing's On The Wall, The - Destiny's Child > Reviews > The child that should be in all eyes

Author's product rating:   

Originality
Lyrics
Quality and consistency of tracks
Value for Money

Advantages:	Very catchy songs, a lot of big hits, work with a lot of artists on the album, a lot of tracks, great variation between tracks
Disadvantages:	A lot of slow songs can get repetitive first listen - through

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Destiny's Child are a band that I have only discovered fairly recently. I first heard them sing their popular song 'Bills Bills Bills' about 6 months ago. Ever since then, I have loved all that I have heard from this exceptional band, so I was extremely happy to find the album in my stocking this Christmas.

The band are actually one that are currently having difficulties, with various new members coming into the group and several leaving over the past couple of years, but yet, the standard of the music remains exceptional throughout.

The R&B group have certainly worked very hard on this album and it shows. Alongside the extra CD which comes in the newer Limited Edition version of the album, there are a total of 21 tracks, which is a lot by anyone's standards.

The title from the album - 'The Writing on the Wall' is explained within the first track.

'How do we avoid all this cheating and backstabbing?'

'Isn't it obvious - the writing's on the wall.'

This is basically saying that the album is for all of the people (mainly girls) who have been cheated on and disrespected in some way or another. To explain this further, between each track there is a 'Thou Shalt...' for a guide for men to avoid losing their girlfriends. For example 'Thou Shalt Pay Bills' before the song 'Bills Bills Bills'.

Here is a quick briefing of all the tracks:

CD One

1. Intro (The Writing's on the Wall) - A dialogue over a beat which explains the ideas behind the album, not so much a song as a talk.

2. So Good - upbeat, irregularly base-d song which has a catchy melody, though doesn't quite reach the standard of some of the other songs.

3. Bills Bills Bills - the first song to really get anywhere in the Uk for this band makes this song one worth listening to. Very catchy and annoyingly likeable, even though the lyrics don't always make sense.

4. Confessions (featuring Missy Elliott) - A slower, but still beat-orientated Pink style song which is good, though isn't a classic.

5. Bug A Boo - a fast and loveable song that captures the heart and soul of everyone. My favourite on the album and a real classic in R&B terms.

6. Temptation - Another really good song. Deceptively brilliant, this song incorporates the melody of 'This Old Man, he Played One' into the main chorus, but into more of a sexy style, which makes this song amusing and beautifully emotional.

7. Now That's She Gone - Another slow song, very ballad-y, perhaps less of a typical Destiny's Child song in that it is much more relaxed and slow all over.

8. Where'd You Go - slightly more upbeat again, this song has a very uplifting beat. Not a classic - but certainly enjoyable and loveable. It certainly doesn't stand out, but I think it would do on any other album - all the songs are so good that this song, which is still good doesn't get the respect it deserves.

9. Hey Ladies - A very party-y song, even though it is in the minor is all this song is. I personally prefer the faster rappier songs, so I like this one a lot. A very nice guitar bass accompaniment as well.

10. If You Leave (featuring Next) - Another slow but amiable song. It is very much in the style of a ballad and is enjoyable. One of those that grows on you.

11. Jumpin, Jumpin - A song that was released earlier this year (or last year if you are reading this in 2001), this song takes some getting used to before it becomes likeable, but is nevertheless good.

12. Say My Name - A big hit for Destiny's Child within the first couple of months in the year 2000, this song is guaranteed to get everyone dancing purely because it is so loveable and dancey.

13. She Can't Love You - A flamenco style intro leads to a Whitney style song which makes a plesant change from the heavy beat ballads, which although good, are starting to get a bit irritating by this stage in the album.

14. Stay - A very Mariah Carey corny harmony in the background leads to a very Mariah Carey style song. Very slow and very amiable.

15. Sweet Sixteen - Another slow song, although thankfully the last one of its kind on the album, this song is very pleasant but quite boring in that it never really seems to move from its original harmony all the way through the song.

16. Outro (Amazing Grace Dedicated to Andretta Tillman) - A Very Nice A-cappella (no accompaniment) finish to the album really shows off the talent of these songs in a very gospel-type way.

17. Get On The Bus - A mediocre song that doesn't really have any definitive characteristics. Just another nice R&B style song that blends in with the album well.

CD Two

1. Independent Women Part One - The most recent and perhaps most famous song on the album is this one, maybe because it was the theme tune for the new Charlie's Angels album. Upbeat and catchy, one of the best songs on the album.

2. Independent Women Part Two - The less well known Part Two of Independent Women features a very carnivally sound accompaniment to lyrics that are very similar to Part One.

3. Eight Days Of Xmas - A truly brilliant song that, in my opinion, should have gone on the original album. Not only original and funky, but amusing and seasonal, which makes this song a real success.

4. No No No (Wyclef Mix) - Part 2 of the less well-known No No No series which featured on the first album for Destiny's Child, this song is catchy and very likeable.

Considering this album has 8 songs that Destiny's Child have released, and some amazing new tracks, this is almost a glorified Greatest Hits album, however, it is really unbelieveable because of the number of tracks and the constant quality of all of them.

Also, the fact that they work with so many different artists and producers makes this album so varied and exceptional in every way.

I strongly recommend that people buy this album who are into R&B or Destiny's Child, or even artists such as Mariah Carey as all of these elements are captured within the album. A very good buy.