Aqua
With one of every 12 homes in their native Denmark in possession of Aqua's debut album, the tiny Scandinavian nation must be shakin' some big-time booty. Led by frisky singers Lene Grawford Nystrøm and René Dif, the bubblegum quartet serves up sticky-sweet melodies and fizzy synthbeats, many of which sound like hyperactive takes on ABBA songs. Case in point is the band's randy smash hit, "Barbie Girl." Though now the subject of a lawsuit by Mattel (which deems the song detrimental to their doll's image), it is the year's best novelty record, a cartoonish anthem you'll need surgery to remove from your head. Unfortunately, the rest of the album fails to measure up, and only unexpected flourishes like the classical harpsichord on "My Oh My" keep Aquarium from tanking. (MCA)
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