Dance Revolution (by The Slumber Party Girls, Pop)

The Slumber Party Girls consists of five 15- and 16-year-old girls recruited in an exhaustive nationwide talent search. Their press kit emphasizes their "diversity" -- and if that means a Puerto Rican/African American, a Mexican/El Salvadorian, a Memphis Southern belle, a Long Island Italian, and a Chinese/Japanese/Hawaiian/Filipina, all gorgeous and slim, then diversity was indeed achieved. Their debut CD, DANCE REVOLUTION, offers gently wholesome messages of self-esteem and girlfriend-power. "Eavesdroppin'," for example, promotes truthfulness and criticizes gossip. For pre-teen dance-party fun you could do a whole lot worse.

Normally projects like this sound pretty lame, despite (or maybe because of) the heavy weight of good intentions. But the surprise here is that the Slumber Party Girls' CD is a lot of fun. The songs are clever and well-produced, and the singing is energetic and appealing. Arrangements allow the vocals to be heard loud and clear, and there even appears to be some fun-loving personal chemistry among the five young women, who gamely strut their diversity stuff on 15 hip-hop, R&B, dance, reggae, and rock-tinged pop confections.

Released on: October 24, 2006
Label: Geffen Records
Genre: Pop