{$The Spice Girls}, as well as their managers and songwriters, are nothing if not clever, and {^Spiceworld}, the group's second album, illustrates exactly how sharp they are. Conventional wisdom dictates that {^Spiceworld} should be a weak facsimile of {^Spice}, which itself featured a handful of great singles surrounded by filler. Conventional wisdom, in this case, is wrong -- {^Spiceworld} is a better record than its predecessor, boasting a more consistent (and catchier) set of songs and an intoxicating sense of fun. Instead of merely rewriting {^Spice}, {^Spiceworld} consolidates and expands the group's style, adding {\Latin} flourishes ({&"Spice Up Your Life"}), kitschy {\blues} ({&"The Lady Is a Vamp"}), and stomping, neo-{@Motown} {\blue-eyed soul} in the vein of {$Culture Club} ({&"Stop"}). The girls -- {$Mel C.} in particular -- are actually turning into good vocalists, and each song plays to their strengths, giving each {$Spice} a chance to shine. Best of all, each song has a strong melody and a strong, solid beat, whether it's a {\ballad} or a {\dance} number. It's a pure, unadulterated guilty pleasure and some of the best manufactured mainstream {\dance-pop} of the late '90s. [The Japanese edition of {^Spiceworld} adds a bonus track, {&"Step to Me."}] ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide