Review of 
Aquarium
Review by Wes Wilson
for Rant Magazine
Listen to Barbie Girl while reading!
These songs require a RealAudio player
Listen to Lollipop(Candyman) While reading!
     When people like to take good pictures, they don't buy those nifty disposable jobs you find in Revco and Wal-Mart.  Expensive 35mm cameras with quality lighting equipment and well researched subject matter are what a true artist needs to pull off deep and masterful work.  But if one is going to a party, those disposable gizmos are the perfect thing to shove into your back pocket.

     Aqua's recent release, Aquarium, is the disposable pop junk that get shoved in your back pocket before going out.  Bouncy, light-hearted, and completely addictive, this 11 song salute to The Real McCoy manages to wedge itself into the back of the skull and play itself ALL DAY LONG.  Some people like having be-boppy dance tracks quickening their walking pace, but at the request of my co-workers, I should point out that some people don't.  For those allergic to pop crap, this is ragweed.  But I'm not allergic, and god help me, I liked it.  Catchy tunes like Lollipop (Candyman) and Happy Boys and Girls kept me bobbing in my seat and typing faster than usual.

     The real gem of this album has to be the controversial Barbie Girl.  Under current litigation from Mattel, Aqua asserts that Barbie Girl is a social commentary and not a direct jab at the infamous (notorious?) plastic femme fatale', but serious doubts keep me from feeling Aqua will get out of this one unscathed.  Despite the disclaimer on the CD cover, Mattel will probably get their pound of flesh long after gay bars play each of these tunes to death.  <and from what I hear, they did! 04/01/98>

Review by Wes Wilson
images stolen from a bunch of different Aqua web sites
To listen to more nifty Aqua songs, pay this guy a visit!