#1s (W/1 New Track) [Best of]

If anyone told me in 1998 that Destiny's Child would last long enough to release a greatest hits album, I'd roll my eyes and call `em crazy. After all, their debut album was hardly a big seller, despite a Top Five hit "No, No, No, part 2." They didn't seem much more than a bubblegum En Vogue that got lucky, and it appeared that they were on a clear path to the dreaded One Hit Wonderland. But seven years, two personnel changes, four solo albums, and a string of platinum discs later, we find Destiny's Child a household name, an institution so recognizable that even your Grandmother has probably hummed to a few of their hits. DC (which plans to retire by year's end) has always been dubbed as a modern day Supremes, and, like that trio, they're much more effective as a singles act. "#1s" compiles the trio's hits (its title to the contrary, not even half of these hits reached Number One on any Billboard chart). They range from classic ("Say My Name" and "Bootylicious"), to underrated ("Girl"), to tough-skinned ("Independent Women," "Survivor," and "Lose My Breath"), to guilty pleasure fare ("Soldier" and "No, No, No, part 2"). Glamour girl Beyonce belts out these tunes at every opportunity, while Kelly and Michelle respectably hold their own. As for the three "new" songs, two of them are pretty negligible as far as I'm concerned. "Stand Up For Love" is a drippy, saccharine ballad and the hip-hop-ish "Check on It" is a blatant tie-in to Beyonce's movie, "The Pink Panther." Only "Feel the Same Way I Do" has any life and soul. But that's a small complaint compared to the rest of the tunes on this otherwise fine compilation.

(Final note: As you already know, a DualDisc version of this release is available, but consumers should be warned. The audio side of these DualDiscs isn't compatible with most PCs, so if you're looking to rip music off it, you may be better off getting the standard version instead.)

As a casual Destiny's Child fan, this is perfect for me. I admit they might be a tad overrated, but the majority of these songs are still very good. Obviously it's wonderful to have "Bills Bills Bills", "Bug A Boo", "Lose My Breath", and "Stand Up For Love" on the same disc. And who doesn't like "Bootylicious"? I personally can't think of a single track that's missing. This being the end of DC, good luck to the girls in the future, though I doubt Beyonce needs any luck at this point. Overall #1's is a super collection, and will go well with my Mariah Carey and TLC greatest hits.

great songs from start to finish, but...this disc is EXTREMELY LOUD...mastered using limiting, and designed for Ipods and car stereos...do not play in your bedroom, unless your having a Party, it will rattles your skull