This came out in 2003 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
I could remind you that, in my ever-so-humble opinion, Melanie Chisholm — perhaps better known as Sporty Spice — seemed to be the only one of the Spice Girls who was able to carry a tune without the aid of a very large bucket and several roadies.
Likewise, I could remind you that Mel C, as she is also known, is but one of just two Girls — Geri (Ginger) Halliwell being the other — who has managed to put out a post-Spice album that could actually be enjoyned without the aid of large amounts of alcohol and irony. Finally, I could inform you that in comparison to said album — 1999’s Northern Star, for those keeping score at home — Sporty’s followup Reason is a slightly more soulful and mature disc, with deeper grooves, smoother vibes, plenty of Alanis-style rock balladry and not much pop fluff to speak of. All of which is well and good.
Trouble is, I just can’t imagine who’s supposed to care. I can’t see old Spice fans embracing her new grownup approach. Nor can I see her suddenly winning over folks who have been dismissing her for years. When you look at it that way, I can’t see much reason for Reason to be.
