Atomic Kitten

Rather than merely issue Atomic Kitten's second album a few months after its initial U.K. release date, Virgin U.S. took the opportunity to make the trio's stateside debut a combination of songs from that album (Feels So Good) and 2001's Right Now. This self-titled album came out just after group member Natasha emerged victorious in the U.K.'s 21st Rear of the Year competition. (It's true; look it up.) Both of the U.K. albums represented here fared extremely well in the group's homeland and spawned several Top Ten hits, all of which are included on this. Two numbingly tedious remakes — one of the Bangles' "Eternal Flame," another of Blondie's version of "Tide Is High" — are balanced by a small clutch of dance-pop songs that rank favorably with any of their American competitors. "Be with You" is the clear-cut best, a glitter-speckled ode to new love that samples ELO's "Last Train to London." "Right Now," co-written by group mastermind Andy McClusky (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark), is another gushing wave of energy heavily indebted to disco, though it holds the umpteenth use of the "do it to me now" line. Along with a couple decent ballads, Atomic Kitten should be more than enough to win the group some fame in the States.