Destiny Fulfilled

have never quite seemed like a true group, possibly because always took the spotlight in the group's hits and videos. When the group went their separate ways in the wake of the blockbuster success of 2001's , it was easy to assume that the split was permanent, a suspicion that only grew when became a superstar with her 2003 solo debut, . As it turns out, she was reluctant to leave the group behind -- an attachment that might have been telegraphed by the fact that her solo album shared a title with a song from -- because she reunited with and for 2004's . To put it mildly, this is not quite like returning to , nor is it like a reunion; it is not the reunion of a supergroup, nor is it a case of the sum being greater than the parts. This is a retreat to 's comfortable status quo, where take a backseat, both intentionally and not, to the undeniable star that is . She can seduce and shout, she can sound strong and sexy, and she steals every song on . Not that are bad singers. They are sweet, classy vocalists, cooing their leads nicely and providing warm harmonies on the choruses, but they're overpowered by the powerhouse of , who sounds larger than life even when she's quiet. begins with an invigorating opening salvo of two hard-driving cuts, then slides into a series of nine slow-grooving tracks. Throughout it all, the harmonies sound good, and a few cuts stand out -- glides by on a sexy sample, and the nimble wins points for being livelier than the rest. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine