With Destiny's Child main songwriter Beyonce Knowles preparing to launch her solo career, her two sidekicks seem to be intent on churning out as much product as possible before they finally have to stand on their own two feet. Six months after the impressively slick Survivor, then, the R'n'B stars are back with the ultimate seasonal marketing ploy - a Christmas album. Eight Days of Christmas is every bit as bad as the cynics might expect; medleys of festive 'classics' such as Frosty the Snowman, a ridiculously overwrought version of Silent Night and endless sentimental mush about roasting chestnuts, log fires and the importance of sharing and caring. Even the band's trademark sharp beats can't cut through slush as deep as this and by the end most music lovers will be fervently praying for the arrival of January.
